El Cheapo Maxtrax Storage Bag

[willnicks]

Due to concerns about thievery & UV exposure, I've been contemplating the notion of using a bag to store my Maxtrax in instead of the external mounts I currently use. Maxtrax sells a bag for $150 and others range from $85. Nice bags I am sure, but way too much for me.

I noticed that the traction bags out there look very similar to soft double rifle bags, which got the old hamster wheels turning. There are tons of double rifle bags out there that fit the bill (just needs to be around 48-50" long), and I found this NcStar bag for 34 bucks. I like this one in particular because it isn't too tacticool'ed out (would you like some MOLLE for your MOLLE?), yet still has that military look that evokes concern from my neighbors.

Construction seems to be pretty darn good with 600D PVC material inside and out. Stitching looks solid and has an apparent water proof lining (looks like vinyl). I don't believe the bag is anywhere near water proof, but the vinyl lining will probably prevent most muck from leaking out.

Both sides of the bag have a removable foam insert and the center divider is removable as well. I took out one foam insert and the divider to fit my two Maxtrax, and it has some room to spare. I am pretty sure it will fit four, but cannot verify unless someone in SF has two more to check.

 

[Road]

Due to concerns amount thievery & UV exposure, I've been contemplating the notion of using a bag to store my Maxtrax in instead of the external mounts I currently use. Maxtrax sells a bag for $150 and others range from $85. Nice bags I am sure, but way too much for me.

I noticed that the traction bags out there look very similar to soft double rifle bags, which got the old hamster wheels turning. There are tons of double rifle bags out there that fit the bill (just needs to be around 48-50" long), and I found this NcStar bag for 34 bucks. I like this one in particular because it isn't too tacticool'ed out (would you like some MOLLE for your MOLLE?), yet still has that military look that evokes concern from my neighbors.

Construction seems to be pretty darn good with 600D PVC material inside and out. Stitching looks solid and has an apparent water proof lining (looks like vinyl). I don't believe the bag is anywhere near water proof, but the vinyl lining will probably prevent most muck from leaking out.

Both sides of the bag have a removable foam insert and the center divider is removable as well. I took out one foam insert and the divider to fit my two Maxtrax, and it has some room to spare. I am pretty sure it will fit four, but cannot verify unless someone in SF has two more to check.
View attachment 71677View attachment 71678View attachment 71679View attachment 71680View attachment 71681

.

This is a cool gear hack.

I don't hang/display my Maxtrax or Traction-Jacks. My Traction-Jacks came with a very durable bag (made by BROG) but the MaxTrax didn't. I haven't had a good solution to making them easy to deal with in the trailer or tow vehicle and don't want to mount them in a permanent place inside. They are not the easiest thing to slide gear across or up against. Your inexpensive solution will solve that for me.

Cool solution, thanks!

.

Roaddude - On the Road In North America - ROADDUDE

Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.

roaddude.com

 

[Matthew Reed]

Very cool! I’ll have to keep this in mind when I get my set

 

[AD Davis]

I would imagine that as long as you go with at least 600D or higher they would last a long time.

 

[Road]

I ended up getting a soft Double Rifle Case from the same outfit @willnicks put in his original post, though got the black one with zippered pouches on the front, which I use for straps and stuff. Same price, only $33.99. It's available on amzn, too, though their price jumps around depending on whether they're selling it or it's third party vendor only.

The one I got is a bit shorter than the green one willnicks has, but still fits FOUR maxtrax snugly. Had to remove one of the foam liners, as he did, but am able to get both pair in there and still zip it up. The description for mine doesn't say it's 600D PVC but just says Heavy Duty PVC Material.

After using it to store my maxtrax on an eight month adventure to the mountains, swamps, bayous, and desert and storing it loaded inside my trailer, on top of the tonneau cover, or strapped to the rack, and throwing it around wherever I needed to store it when in camp, I can see there are definite wear spots, especially at points where the tracks or nubs rub the fabric and along the bottom, mostly from the truck-liner inside my trailer, I think.

Still, for thirty-four bucks it is a pretty damned handy way to keep both sets together and out of sight. I often just stratchit-strapped it under my canoe while it was strapped to my tonneau cover for highway travel. If anyone is interested and would like to see two pair and how they fit, or the wear holes I've noticed, let me know and I'll get some pics together.

.

Roaddude - On the Road In North America - ROADDUDE

Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.

roaddude.com

 

[SinisterJK]

When I got my recovery boards I was afraid they would get stolen and the other thing was damn almost all the mounting systems were a ton of money. Went to Walmart picked up a ratchet start and bicycle lock for under $20 and it’s worked great since. I drive up and down the Easter US with them mounted and till now they been solid.

 

[Louiston]

When I got my recovery boards I was afraid they would get stolen and the other thing was damn almost all the mounting systems were a ton of money. Went to Walmart picked up a ratchet start and bicycle lock for under $20 and it’s worked great since. I drive up and down the Easter US with them mounted and till now they been solid. View attachment 124227View attachment 124229

I do the same thing using 2 ROK straps and a bicycle lock. When they get muddy they can hang off the spare tire rather than messing up all my gear inside the truck.

 

[USStrongman]

ARB and MaxTrax are proud of the products. I am sure there is a study tariff on everything coming from AUS, but man... my first set of knockoffs were $65 and ahve lasted me tow years. A little fading but thats it. Have used them about a dozen times. No cracks or issues. The second set I won in some online raffle and they came with a bag. $150 for $350 boards is absurd. I can get a nice winch for that price.

Great hack with the rifle bag.

I like this guys reviews. He is thorough and has no bias. Interesting watch:

 

[Desert Runner]

Due to concerns about thievery & UV exposure, I've been contemplating the notion of using a bag to store my Maxtrax in instead of the external mounts I currently use. Maxtrax sells a bag for $150 and others range from $85. Nice bags I am sure, but way too much for me.

I noticed that the traction bags out there look very similar to soft double rifle bags, which got the old hamster wheels turning. There are tons of double rifle bags out there that fit the bill (just needs to be around 48-50" long), and I found this NcStar bag for 34 bucks. I like this one in particular because it isn't too tacticool'ed out (would you like some MOLLE for your MOLLE?), yet still has that military look that evokes concern from my neighbors.

Construction seems to be pretty darn good with 600D PVC material inside and out. Stitching looks solid and has an apparent water proof lining (looks like vinyl). I don't believe the bag is anywhere near water proof, but the vinyl lining will probably prevent most muck from leaking out.

Both sides of the bag have a removable foam insert and the center divider is removable as well. I took out one foam insert and the divider to fit my two Maxtrax, and it has some room to spare. I am pretty sure it will fit four, but cannot verify unless someone in SF has two more to check.
View attachment 71677View attachment 71678View attachment 71679View attachment 71680View attachment 71681

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question:


For those of us that do not run Max Trax, do you think that those of us who run X-Bull and it's clones, might fit a pair in this double rifle case? I ask because 2 X-Bull= approximately 3-4 Max Trax in stacked height. Did you ever get to test 4 at one time? The bags my OSRICH boards came with are fairly fragile with continuous use (zipper), as are the other clones that come with bags. They are the same, just multi branded depending on final middle man retailer..

As someone posted.......................NICE HACK and thanks for the link....green, black, camo=nice. NcStar bag

 

[Road]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question:

Did you ever get to test 4 at one time?

See my reply (#5) above.

 

[firemen7]

Due to concerns about thievery & UV exposure, I've been contemplating the notion of using a bag to store my Maxtrax in instead of the external mounts I currently use. Maxtrax sells a bag for $150 and others range from $85. Nice bags I am sure, but way too much for me.

I noticed that the traction bags out there look very similar to soft double rifle bags, which got the old hamster wheels turning. There are tons of double rifle bags out there that fit the bill (just needs to be around 48-50" long), and I found this NcStar bag for 34 bucks. I like this one in particular because it isn't too tacticool'ed out (would you like some MOLLE for your MOLLE?), yet still has that military look that evokes concern from my neighbors.

Construction seems to be pretty darn good with 600D PVC material inside and out. Stitching looks solid and has an apparent water proof lining (looks like vinyl). I don't believe the bag is anywhere near water proof, but the vinyl lining will probably prevent most muck from leaking out.

Both sides of the bag have a removable foam insert and the center divider is removable as well. I took out one foam insert and the divider to fit my two Maxtrax, and it has some room to spare. I am pretty sure it will fit four, but cannot verify unless someone in SF has two more to check.
View attachment 71677View attachment 71678View attachment 71679View attachment 71680View attachment 71681

What a great idea! I don‘t like displaying my Maxtrax and this was the perfect solution.
Thanks for the heads up

 

[TexasGMG]

I was looking at these just to keep the sun from making the boards brittle over time but the rifle bag looks more heavy duty.
board bag

 

[AD Davis]

I'm still looking for the right case. It needs to hold four MaxTrax and have the right amount of molle on the outside for extra top secret squirrel type stuff.

 

[DeltaBravo]

I was looking at these just to keep the sun from making the boards brittle over time but the rifle bag looks more heavy duty.
board bag

I just bought it for my non-maxtrax boards and they (2) fit just fine. Good product for $25.

 

[Desert Runner]

I just bought it for my non-maxtrax boards and they (2) fit just fine. Good product for $25.

Price has dropped quite a bit,....sub $10.00 (good price). The big question is what type of boards you bought, as a Amazon commenter said his off-brand did not fit.

(A) What did you buy?........X-Bull or a clone etc, as they re very available and affordable. Some X-Bull clones have a optional bag, some don't..

(B) The included bags get mixed reviews and are pretty fragile (zippers). how do you like them, as far as quality goes? Will they stand-up to continuous use ?

 

[DeltaBravo]

I have clone - don't remember who makes them. Prolly got 'em from Amazon. They fit just fine.

Bag quality is okay for what it does. I don't know if it would stand up to numerous pack/unpack cycles, but I don't plan on needing the boards that much.

For under $10 I don't think you can go wrong. YMMV of course.