greg00
Member Since: 08 Dec 2017
Location: Zurich
Posts: 162
  
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Do I need them in the Pyrenees or Morocco?
We use offroad trails a lot, but if there‘s an easier way to get where we want to, we‘ll take it.
I always carry an air compressor, pressure gauge to deflate tyres, shovel and some recovery tools like snatch strap, shackles ect. But they‘re useless since we travel alone ... without winch.
Every cool overlander has them attached somewhere next to a hilift jack but it seems more like style than tool to me, since we don‘t do extreme offroad driving.
Who has Maxtrax and really needed them for good?
Last edited by greg00 on 22nd Apr 2020 6:57 am. Edited 1 time in total
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 21st Apr 2020 6:21 pm |
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TigerRecovery
Member Since: 31 May 2017
Location: Long Stratton, Norwich, Norfolk
Posts: 901
  
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I bought some to take to both locations, let's just say they've got the original cable ties holding them together. 1972 Range Rover Classic 2 door V8
2013 Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - SCRAPPED
2016 Land Rover Discovery 4 Landmark
2022 Volvo XC40 T5 PHEV 282HP FWD 3 cylinder!
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| 21st Apr 2020 7:01 pm |
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greg00
Member Since: 08 Dec 2017
Location: Zurich
Posts: 162
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But they must look fantastic.
I never buy stuff for the looks but these smell like adventure 8) 
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| 21st Apr 2020 9:10 pm |
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stiff
Member Since: 17 Jul 2017
Location: Either cashpoint or garage...
Posts: 293
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Depends on which routes you use, where you go and when in the year. For some of the Pyrenees you don’t even need a 4x4 
But out of about 6 Pyrenees trips have used recovery boards a couple of times (but only a couple).
As for Morocco....this year’s trip is canceled so can’t comment yet  MY2008 D3 - It got me hooked...gone
MY2012 D4 - It kept me hooked...gone
MY2007 D3 - Mid-Life crisis toy continues driving me to bankruptcy...
MY2018 "D5" Si6 - But is it a "true" LR...discuss...but now gone
Back in a D4 with a lot of extras....
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| 22nd Apr 2020 5:24 am |
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CongoBoy
Member Since: 05 Mar 2019
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 529
  
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My experience with sand mats/recovery boards is that, the one time that you decide to leave them off and not take them with you, will be the time that you need them!! 2008 D3 HSE Stornoway Grey (UK)
2008 D3 HSE Izmir Blue- South African Spec. (Zimbabwe)
2005 FFRR SC V8- Java Black
1995 D1 300 Tdi Blue - (Sourced from the UK, shipped to Namibia, driven by me to RD Congo, then Zambia, now retired in Zimbabwe)
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| 22nd Apr 2020 6:03 am |
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greg00
Member Since: 08 Dec 2017
Location: Zurich
Posts: 162
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stiff wrote:Depends on which routes you use, where you go and when in the year. For some of the Pyrenees you don’t even need a 4x4
But out of about 6 Pyrenees trips have used recovery boards a couple of times (but only a couple).
As for Morocco....this year’s trip is canceled so can’t comment yet
Were the boards essential for recovery or would you have gotten out without them? ... with shovel, rocks, wood ect.
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| 22nd Apr 2020 6:30 am |
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greg00
Member Since: 08 Dec 2017
Location: Zurich
Posts: 162
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I‘m trying to find out if the recovery tracks are more in the ‚2nd spare wheel‘ category or an essential tool for these regions and normal conditions.
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| 22nd Apr 2020 7:04 am |
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James W
Member Since: 27 Mar 2008
Location: Riyadh, KSA
Posts: 3079
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I would like a set but since doing less stuff off-road since the girls came along I can't really justify them. I think they would be most useful for helping to get yourself out of sand, especially as you can dig with them too. If you're using them to the extent I've seen on Expedition Overland etc, then you've arguably gone too far into trouble on your own anyway.
I have tried to justify buying a set to myself by thinking I could use them as levelling ramps for the caravan  D4 XS, gone, much loved, never forgotten
2018 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography - Gone to someone with less sense and more time to enjoy it 
2016 Toyota Hilux Invincible - Liberating experience
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| 22nd Apr 2020 7:42 am |
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Dan_W
Member Since: 10 Mar 2020
Location: Kent
Posts: 52
 
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I decided to get myself a knock off pair for green laning, I had some of the really heavy old school waffle boards when I use to go out in my Suzuki Jimny years ago and they got me out of trouble a couple of times when on my own.
Nothing like the sand you would need to deal with in the Pyrenees but they did help me reduce the approach angle of an obstacle and once to support/extend the edge of a narrow trail for a friend to get through in his 90. This really was a squeaky bum moment  . It was quite a big drop to the side and we had already committed ourselves and couldn't reverse out. I defo learnt a lot of lessons that day.
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| 22nd Apr 2020 8:38 am |
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Ivan
Member Since: 01 Mar 2011
Location: Malvern Worcestershire
Posts: 692
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Took sand mats to both Morocco and Libya (quite a while ago) and never used them. Have also done a lot of sand driving when we used to live in Aus and recovery mainly consisted of airing down your tyres and getting a pull from another vehicle.
HTH
Ivan 2013 RR Vogue SE SDV8
2013 Freelander 2 HSE Luxury SD4
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| 22nd Apr 2020 8:47 am |
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stiff
Member Since: 17 Jul 2017
Location: Either cashpoint or garage...
Posts: 293
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greg00 wrote:Were the boards essential for recovery or would you have gotten out without them? ... with shovel, rocks, wood ect.
Essential ? Good question...Definitely easier and quicker using them rather trying to do a bit of track building.
Was never because of mud - Really due to negotiating deep, deep ruts on track sections destroyed by water run-off after storms earlier in the year. Easier to position, adjust, use....then re-position for next vehicle....and repeat... MY2008 D3 - It got me hooked...gone
MY2012 D4 - It kept me hooked...gone
MY2007 D3 - Mid-Life crisis toy continues driving me to bankruptcy...
MY2018 "D5" Si6 - But is it a "true" LR...discuss...but now gone
Back in a D4 with a lot of extras....
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| 22nd Apr 2020 12:09 pm |
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greg00
Member Since: 08 Dec 2017
Location: Zurich
Posts: 162
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Thank you for all your advice.
I‘m officially confused on what to decide now
Should I flip a coin?
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| 22nd Apr 2020 9:15 pm |
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TigerRecovery
Member Since: 31 May 2017
Location: Long Stratton, Norwich, Norfolk
Posts: 901
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greg00 wrote:I‘m trying to find out if the recovery tracks are more in the ‚2nd spare wheel‘ category or an essential tool for these regions and normal conditions.
I took one of those too, didn't even use the one I was carrying. The most essential tool is the IID Blue Tooth diagnostic tool, it gives you something to play with. 1972 Range Rover Classic 2 door V8
2013 Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - SCRAPPED
2016 Land Rover Discovery 4 Landmark
2022 Volvo XC40 T5 PHEV 282HP FWD 3 cylinder!
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| 22nd Apr 2020 9:18 pm |
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greg00
Member Since: 08 Dec 2017
Location: Zurich
Posts: 162
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The IID Tool was my second upgrade right after the 265/65/r18 KO2.
To be fair, I originally bought it to lower the D3 to bump stop so I can clear my garage (2.1m) with the hard shell roof top tent attached 
Maybe I‘ll buy these cheap Maxtrax knock-off first. If they get used, I‘ll upgrade to Maxtrax. Does that make sense or should I just go ahead and just cry once?
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| 23rd Apr 2020 8:41 am |
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Dan_W
Member Since: 10 Mar 2020
Location: Kent
Posts: 52
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I haven't used the cheapo ones yet but they seem on on the face of it. Checkout the video below, this swayed it for me as the light use mine are likely to get i thought they would be adequate for me.
One thing to note is they don't stack as snug as the genuine ones and the 2 together are 12cm high so this may sway your decision if you are tight for space.
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| 23rd Apr 2020 8:52 am |
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