MAXTRAX recovery test

We wouldn’t go outback without our MAXTRAX and although they’re not the only recovery device we rely on, they’re the first we’ll try and often the only ones we need. I even have a set in my own car that come with me to the shops (I know I should take the unnecessary weight out, but I’m lazy).

OCKER AS

Some things should be celebrated and Aussie ingenuity is one of them. Or maybe it’s partly the serenity of being stuck in outback Australia and having such a proudly Australian product come to the rescue, that tugs at my heartstrings. 

Founder Brad McCarthy conceived the idea of MAXTRAX back in 2001 and began mass production, locally, in 2005. In 2010, the MKII made its debut with better usability through new handles and a design that had more ridges and edges to create a stiffer but still lightweight board. Now, the latest iteration is taking the concept to a new level. 

THE SCENE

Brad came with us on our Great Australian Bight Expedition late in 2018 and, before signing on, told us he wanted us to evaluate the latest generation, dubbed XTREME. We told him we would be running close to 5000kg GVM per rig — when taking into account the Zone Expedition campers being towed, and that we would be running mud tyres. It was concerning for us, but to Brad, it was perfect. He was pretty happy for us to give them a flogging. 

Those that run tough tyres like the Coopers, and have used MAXTRAX, know it’s not hard to burn through their moulded teeth if you start wheel spinning aggressively. It doesn’t happen immediately, but it can, and for a reason. It’s better to have the boards give way than to have your tyres tear up on boards that are too harsh. After all, you can always dig some more and readjust the position of your MAXTRAX, but replacing tyres while stuck is far from ideal. 

TESTING TIMES

Brad told us he has had the XTREME in testing for almost two years with both lab and in-field testing. We had a set of four on each vehicle and, by the end of the trip, had used every board at least three times. 

I’ll admit, I was the first to need help when I sunk the extended wheelbase of the Hema 79 Series to its axles on a beach near Ceduna, SA. I won’t claim the sun blinded me, or that a seagull took my attention; I simply just didn’t heed Brad’s advice. 

Shortly before we hit the beach, Brad warned us that the sand was best nearer the dunes — the opposite of typical convention that suggests harder, packed sand near the waterline is better — I found myself stopped only four metres from the crashing surf with an incoming tide and some work to do. 

After a bit of digging and planning the route, we were moving, and the XTREME did their job in the end. I had to work the clutch aggressively on the heavy 79 but once I created enough momentum, I ploughed on to the cheers of the rest of the crew. 

SHARP TEETH 

With the XTREME, the unit's traditional moulded teeth have been superseded with replaceable aluminium-alloy teeth. You might be thinking that alloy will tear your tyres apart but that's what we were there to help find out. 

After our first experience of really pushing the XTREMEs, I was keen to see how the teeth and tyres held up. In my effort to create momentum, I had spun the tyres a fair bit, so expected to see our set of Cooper Mud Terrains to look worse for wear — but they appeared largely unaffected. Closer inspection of the boards showed a couple of teeth had chipped edges but none had snapped or burnt down like I would have expected of the original, or MKII MAXTRAX. 

Brad was on hand to show us how to replace the teeth. It’s as simple as a stud on a footy boot. Just screw out the broken tooth and screw in the new one. 

Spares will be also be available online and no doubt cheaper than replacing a full MKII board at $299 per pair.

The design is similar to the MKII MAXTRAX with handles either side that allow the board to be used as a makeshift shovel and both ends are chamfered, unlike some of the copycat boards on sale today. They also stack neatly with the MKIIs, though sit taller, so new mounting brackets might be needed for anyone upgrading. 

Are they still the best thing in recovery? Well no, that would be not getting stuck in the first place. But if you do, MAXTRAX are one of, if not the safest options for self-recovery. With the XTREME’s replaceable teeth adding durability, they are a worthy upgrade from the original or MKII MAXTRAX and definitely a must-have for anyone planning to explore the outback. 

PROS

Double-ended ramps

Aussie ingenuity 

Replaceable studs 

CONS

No price on replacement studs, yet

Rating 4.5/5

RRP $499