Traction Boards

isaac2098

TJ Enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2018
Messages
192
Location
Connecticut
Can't seem to find a true in depth thread about traction boards that stay on topic. I am looking to purchase a set as winter is about to be here in the Northeast and they seem like they could be useful in slippery situations. I do not have a winch and am looking to have at least SOME insurance in case I get stuck or need to help someone else. Pretty easy to see that Maxtrax is the most reputable in the industry and I see the ARB Tred Pros are also respected. I know some of you will have opinions against these because of storage issues and how well they will actually perform over a winch but these are significantly less than a winch and portable. It would be great if some of you could comment on your personal experience or thoughts toward traction boards.
 
They work excellent from what I’ve seen. If you can get foldable ones it will help with storage as well.
 
I carry a set of these. They are attached to the rear of my tool box with bungee cords. I've tested them in my driveway and they could take the weight of the Jeep driving over them. I got these before I put a winch on the front bumper but never had to use them. I'll gladly use them if the need arises or to help someone else out, esp a passenger car or such.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N19T98Z/?tag=wranglerorg-20

IMG_20200101_152033.jpg
 
Last edited:
Look for actual reviews by people who actually used or tested them. You will find a few in the overland oriented forums and various other places. A lot of them are posting from Australia. Seems to me that most people with a strong opinion have never used them but by gawd they are gonna justify their purchase. When I bought mine Maxtrax and Treds were the gold standard but over priced IMO. Lots of the less expensive brands would either break or lose the nubs in their first use per actual real world users. I bought set for my truck that was fairly inexpensive, had good reviews from actual users, and they worked perfectly the one time I needed them and only burnt a few nubs. Unfortunately they aren't made anymore. At least not under the same brand name.
 
I've used them before and wasn't all that impressed. I think they work in very specific situations and take up a lot of space in the Jeep. If you are planning on doing solo mud or sand adventures where you are unable to find a winch point, they might be useful. Otherwise I'd want a winch.
 
I've used them before and wasn't all that impressed. I think they work in very specific situations and take up a lot of space in the Jeep. If you are planning on doing solo mud or sand adventures where you are unable to find a winch point, they might be useful. Otherwise I'd want a winch.

I can't really think of a time or place where I wished I had a pair of traction boards enough to give up the space they require. If I were to get some, it would be the short ones Sri has.

Generally I view them as decoration the same way hilifts and rotopax usually are.
 
I can't really think of a time or place where I wished I had a pair of traction boards enough to give up the space they require. If I were to get some, it would be the short ones Sri has.

Generally I view them as decoration the same way hilifts and rotopax usually are.

I can see them being useful in the sand or light road snow for a passenger car with street tires. I did test them at the edge of my drive way. Fully expected them to crack when I drove over back and forth couple times - but they did not which surprised me. So I kept them. Amazon reviews for that item are decent from the few that have used them once or twice.
 
My personal experience is that they are not needed... A friend and I went to a pretty hardcore off-road park more so suited for SxS than Jeeps before I got mine and we had gotten stuck trying to turn around on a very tight and muddy trail. His whole front end was in a ditch almost down to his frame. His mud tires, 4wd, and lockers were doing nothing but digging him in more. No one to pull us out, and not enough recovery equipment to do a reverse winch if we wanted/if possible (no snatch blocks, he was new-ish also)... He was about to throw in the towel and pay a very expensive Uber or other ride when I started breaking off branches then sawing bigger ones off with a handsaw. Kept throwing them down behind the wheels like a track board. Got out with just a bit of slippage... totally wish I took a pic or video of the situation.
 
These things are mandatory over here, just like 79 series Cruisers, $20k GVM upgrades and Snorkels.

I've just bought a set of short Treds for the camper. I can see a use on sand but hope I'll never use em. Damn expensive things though, Justified the cost and then went and bought a pack of the Treds branded mounts. Then found you get one mount for 60 bucks, not two. After swearing a lot about overpriced crap spent another $60 on the other mount.
 
They work fairly well mostly in situations like mud or sand when you’ve lost momentum and need to get rolling again. The big thing is to not spin tires on them as it’ll melt them pretty quickly.

I could see keeping them in the Jeep depending on the terrain. None of that terrain is terribly common near me, however if I do an Alaska trip I’d probably pick up a set.
 
...

I’ve never taken them on a Jeep trip but I’ll usually toss them in the truck bed in the winter. I’ve helped a few cars get unstuck with them.


A while back i had a pair of long strips of corse floor scrubber material. They worked pretty well for getting cars unstuck on icy city streets. Plus they were easy to store.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Apparition
Ive never needed one around here. We used trak-out mats for a construction job not to long ago. First truck to drive on one and the mat spun out from the tire. Tried again and again. Each truck that drove on them would slip them out.
 
I recovered a brand new JL Rubicon that had slid on a wet grass side hill and ended against vine covered fence. It was like ice.

I pulled the back at a 45* angle and had him turn the front tires. The front slid and stayed against fence. Using the traction boards the front went where the tires were aimed.

It was slow going with only two boards. We had to winch until it flattened out. If I had 2 sets we could have had a board under the front and rear tire at all times instead of keeping the winch on the rear and walking the front. I now have 2 sets. Mud, snow and sand are the only times I would see packing them. I have 2 sets now.
 
I have these

MAXSA 20333 Escaper Buddy Traction Mats for Off-Road Mud, Sand, & Snow Vehicle Extraction (Set of 2), Orange

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AV2HONS/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I’ve never taken them on a Jeep trip but I’ll usually toss them in the truck bed in the winter. I’ve helped a few cars get unstuck with them.
Wanted to add to this, I would only get the tow rope out for someone I know (not talking wheeling) I’ll let anybody who needs them use the traction boards to get unstuck.