How do you carry your recovery boards?

[great08]

No offense intended but I find that some of these mounting methods create big air dams that kill MPG. I try to stay as streamlined as possible, which also helps with security.

What brand/size of traction boards are those?

I have the Diamondback on my Colorado as well and have been wondering if some boards would fit there. I don't want to put them on the outside due to sun damage... theft... and they would hinder me being able to fold the top back over on itself.

For instance the other day I filled the back half of the bed with potted fruit trees from the local big box store. I quickly popped off the gas struts and folded the top over towards the front and secured with a ratchet strap. That way the 6ft tall trees could just stand tall and the cover was not in the way at all. I do the same every time I get long boards for projects.

Only downside is if they get muddy. However, It is a truck bed and can be hosed out. I will have all my camping gear in containers inside the bed.

 

[Wanderlost]

How are you guys carrying your recovery boards? I need to move my maxtrax from inside my truck to outside, and can't decide on either a roof rack mounting system? Or a the spare tire mount. I like the spare tire mount, and have a Wilco tire carrier, but not sure how secure they are that way, plus I will have my Trasharoo mounted on there, so not sure how much of a pain the butt would make it. Another option I am considering is running them at an angle across the front of my roof rack, so they kind of act like a fairing on my roof rack, using these clamps Recovery Board Mounting Clamps. I'm not sold on this yet, and not really sure how well these would last in a position like that.

I'm not sure this will work on your rack, but this is a solution we came up with to mount ours up there.

 

[diabetiktaco]

On the side of the frontrunner.

 

[Mike G]

X-Bull traction boards mounted on the front of a Yakima basket. I did get a whistle noise when I had some cross winds.

 

[kwill]

What brand/size of traction boards are those?

Tred Pro

 

[great08]

Tred Pro

Thanks.

 

[RainGoat]

lift kits, tires and lockers will get you further than maxtrax. nice jeep.

I think the beauty of recovery boards is they’re $60. I’ve wanted lockers for 30 years but at about $1,000 that’s a whole different ballgame. I’d put tires & X-Bulls as the 2 first things to get. Even a lift is a luxury that you might not need with good line selection. These recovery boards are cheap insurance. I think the under $100 versions are possibly the most significant advancement I’ve seen in 3 decades of offroading.

 

[Springman30]

I made some racks of my own from channel strut, for both sides of the bed, to hold high lift, power tank, shovel etc. Its a work in progress...

 

[armyRN]

Either on the TJ's roof rack, or on top of the trailer's lid. The roof rack uses the same idea to keep in place - 1/4" bolts with vacuum caps.

 

[harley97]

IMHO, these are another one of those trendy items. In more instances than not, I have seen people attempt to recover themselves with traction boards unsuccessfully. It seems that they give people a false sense of security. Now, I am not saying they are a bad thing, in certain instances they do work well. But, they are not a substitute for lockers, winches, jacks, other recovery gear etc. I am kind of minimalist when I wheel and these seem like a trendy and mostly unnecessary addition.

Recently had a friend in a Ford Raptor stuck in sand. After spending over half an hour with the traction boards attempting to self recover, he accepted my offer to pull him out.

 

[Charles M]

How are you guys carrying your recovery boards? I need to move my maxtrax from inside my truck to outside, and can't decide on either a roof rack mounting system? Or a the spare tire mount. I like the spare tire mount, and have a Wilco tire carrier, but not sure how secure they are that way, plus I will have my Trasharoo mounted on there, so not sure how much of a pain the butt would make it. Another option I am considering is running them at an angle across the front of my roof rack, so they kind of act like a fairing on my roof rack, using these clamps Recovery Board Mounting Clamps. I'm not sold on this yet, and not really sure how well these would last in a position like that.

Here is how I dealt with it with my spare Wilco and a trasheroo. I just put two ratchet straps on them and a motorcycle locking cable.

 

[Charles M]

I made some racks of my own from channel strut, for both sides of the bed, to hold high lift, power tank, shovel etc. Its a work in progress...

You most likely know this but. I will say it for the benefit of those who do not know...
When a CO2 tank is mounted on it's side you need to remove it and stand it up right before you fill your tires. The reason is CO2 is a liquid when on it's side it is possible to push liquid CO2 into your lines and tires. In your air lines it can cause the lines to freeze and crack or even rupture. If you pump liquid CO2 into tires as the liquid turns to gas it will keep raising the tire pressure and may also cause the tire to rupture or even explode after you start driving down the road. As CO2 vaporizes and heats up the pressure can go into the thousands of pounds. If enough liquid was pumped into your tire this could ba a problem. Although this is not likely it is possible. I found out after filling my tires when the tank was mounted inside laying down the line cracked and started leaking fortunately I did not damage a tire. Mine is mounted standing up now.

 

[Heartland Overland]

I have mine mounted on top of the roof rack, but considering something different so as to not take up rack space.

 

[Ralph]

VW T4 SYNCRO

 

[PCO6]

I'm currently building a rack for my Jeep XJ. It will be mainly for carrying 2 kayaks but when it's not it could be used for a couple of Pelican-like boxes with recovery boards in between. It was freezing out when I took this pic and I was in such a rush that I didn't even notice that I put one box on upside down.

 

[Relic6.3]

The rack on my truck is home made so I drilled a couple holes on the cross bar and put in a carriage bolt. Since my rack is shorter the boards kind of rest on the sidewall of the bed while being firmly mounted to the rack, less strain on the holding bolt. I drilled a small hole in one of the bolts on each side for a small lock to keep everything secured.

I don't keep the boards mounted all the time to help protect them from sun damage; day to day they ride in their carry bags in the bed of the truck. I figure once I use them and they are trashed I will mount them till I get home again to clean everything; then they will go back in their carry bags till next time.

 

[KB Voodoo]

I keep them on my 14" Max Modular ALUMAX rack with Traction Board Brackets.

MAX Modular ALUMAX 14" High Aluminum Bed Rack, Fits All Toyota, Ford, Chevy, RAM, and Nissan Trucks — MAX Modular Truck Bed Racks

Adjustable Aluminum Bed Rack to fit a majority of trucks. Compatible with the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, GMC Sierra and many other trucks. All CNC laser cut parts are powder coated black and bolt together with stainless steel hardware. These racks are equipped with mounting holes for the following

www.max-modular.com

MAX Traction Board Brackets, Pair — MAX Modular Truck Bed Racks

Available July 2018 These Traction Board Brackets mount to existing holes in our MAX Modular Bed Racks. Can also be mounted to other racks by marking and drilling holes. Compatible with MAXTRAX, MAXSA, and Tred Pro traction boards. Constructed of 11 gauge steel, and black textured powder coated.

www.max-modular.com

 

[Rokketz]

 

[bigearlmsp]

The rack on my truck is home made so I drilled a couple holes on the cross bar and put in a carriage bolt. Since my rack is shorter the boards kind of rest on the sidewall of the bed while being firmly mounted to the rack, less strain on the holding bolt. I drilled a small hole in one of the bolts on each side for a small lock to keep everything secured.

I don't keep the boards mounted all the time to help protect them from sun damage; day to day they ride in their carry bags in the bed of the truck. I figure once I use them and they are trashed I will mount them till I get home again to clean everything; then they will go back in their carry bags till next time.
View attachment 145807

Are the boards only mounted at the top mounting points?

 

[Relic6.3]

Are the boards only mounted at the top mounting points?

Yes, they are mounted at the top set of holes in the boards, and like I mentioned, since my rack is shorter, the bottom of the boards rest on the side of the truck bed. I haven't ridden anywhere with them mounted yet so no idea of wear and tear on the bolts or boards. Also as I mentioned, they will not ride there under normal day to day operation, until needed they will remain in their storage bags under the storage deck in the bed with the rest of my recovery gear.