Max Trac copies ?

3bears

Senior Member
SO last year could have used a set of recovery boards one time. This winter, could have used a set on my daughter in laws F250 4wd....I did not get stuck, in same spot...she did.
Thought of getting some but wonder what alternatives are like. DId a search and it took me to 5th gen ( or was it 4th gen) where someone asked and it has not been updated since 2017. Mixed feelings on that thread ?
I dont have a winch,,but have used a come-a long. If I had the bucks I would get a winch, and recovery boards.

any ideas out there ? What boards do you have ? what boards have worked ?
 
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Save the money on the spendy piece of plastic and carry some old 3/4" plywood or 2x6's and buy a cheap smittybilt or harbor freight winch.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk
 
Save the money on the spendy piece of plastic and carry some old 3/4" plywood or 2x6's and buy a cheap smittybilt or harbor freight winch.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

ive used wood, branches and fire wood to get me out, had not thought about using some 3/4 plywood and carrying that, could even add some cleats.
Had a friend who had a harbor freight one on his jeep ( when I lived in Oregon), and it was trash. No harbor freights in alaska so a harbor freight warranty is worthless.
However when this bug is gone, I do have to go back to my sons this summer/fall in SCIO and get all my tools, extra wheels, etc ( includes my harbor freight press and jacks :) ) Maybe can find a good deal on a warn or smitty built down there.
 
ive used wood, branches and fire wood to get me out, had not thought about using some 3/4 plywood and carrying that, could even add some cleats.

Had a friend who had a harbor freight one on his jeep ( when I lived in Oregon), and it was trash. No harbor freights in alaska so a harbor freight warranty is worthless.

However when this bug is gone, I do have to go back to my sons this summer/fall in SCIO and get all my tools, extra wheels, etc ( includes my harbor freight press and jacks :) ) Maybe can find a good deal on a warn or smitty built down there.
The "old style" generation 2 9500 smittybilt winches can be had right around 250$ now that they brought the new ones out. Absolute steal, we've got 2 and haven't had issues. We do keep them out of the weather though.

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The "old style" generation 2 9500 smittybilt winches can be had right around 250$ now that they brought the new ones out. Absolute steal, we've got 2 and haven't had issues. We do keep them out of the weather though.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

well thats a deal, too bad made in china. might look into further...if shipping too much here maybe ship to my son in Scio and pick up this summer/fall.

so the 9500 pound is good enough for you ?

but then a winch means a different front bumper true ? which then means heavier duty springs to support the winch and heavier bumper....then electrical....darn could be a can of worms

edit....just looked....the lower end warns are made in china too. and smitty builts have a better warranty than warn or others
 
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What about the old standard of chains? I've used them frequently when heading into poorly maintained areas for work. They'll add a lot of go.

Only trouble is they are a bear to get on if you get stuck first.
 
well thats a deal, too bad made in china. might look into further...if shipping too much here maybe ship to my son in Scio and pick up this summer/fall.

so the 9500 pound is good enough for you ?

but then a winch means a different front bumper true ? which then means heavier duty springs to support the winch and heavier bumper....then electrical....darn could be a can of worms

edit....just looked....the lower end warns are made in china too. and smitty builts have a better warranty than warn or others

Yep 9500 is plenty for our vehicles. I run mine on a hitch cradle and built my bumper with a front hitch. The same could be done retaining the stock bumper. That way I have it front or rear if needed and it can sit in the shop out of the weather when not on use.

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I run a 9500 smitty winch, came with free pair of smitty Trac pads. That's what I got so that's what I use. So far so good by haven't really gotten stuck...
 
Yep 9500 is plenty for our vehicles. I run mine on a hitch cradle and built my bumper with a front hitch. The same could be done retaining the stock bumper. That way I have it front or rear if needed and it can sit in the shop out of the weather when not on use.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

How have you run power for the removable winch? Are both ends of the vehicle hardwired with quick connections? Long cables and alligator clips?

Thanks!
 
How have you run power for the removable winch? Are both ends of the vehicle hardwired with quick connections? Long cables and alligator clips?



Thanks!
Wouldn't want to run a winch via clamps, too much draw to be reliable. I've got a quick connect on the front, haven't ran one rearward as I'm going to be extending the truck to put a long bed on and don't want to waste the wire. So I have been just carrying the battery we use when the winch is on trailer duty in the bed. Also made up jumper cables that have proven pretty useful and there's a number of things a more "overland" style build could use them for.

I used this style but with a much higher rating of course and rubber covers to keep the moisture out.
76530099880bb649c85043e534eb524b.jpg


Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk
 
Wouldn't want to run a winch via clamps, too much draw to be reliable. I've got a quick connect on the front, haven't ran one rearward as I'm going to be extending the truck to put a long bed on and don't want to waste the wire. So I have been just carrying the battery we use when the winch is on trailer duty in the bed. Also made up jumper cables that have proven pretty useful and there's a number of things a more "overland" style build could use them for.

I used this style but with a much higher rating of course and rubber covers to keep the moisture out.
76530099880bb649c85043e534eb524b.jpg


Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk


what...did I read that right...your converting your 4runner to a long bed...like a pick up ?
 

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