Thoughts on Ground Anchors?

papabeach

papabeach

Member
Doing a little more Beach camping these days and will be going solo in the not to distant future. Has me a little worried about getting stuck...

Anyone have any experience with Ground Anchors???

ARB Ground Anchor $620
ARB Portable Ground Anchor (ARB230)

Pull-pal 11K-$360
Pull-Pal Land & Winch Anchor specifications - off-road, 4x4s, ATV, UTV, buggies, all-terrain-vehicles

Smittybilt WASP $150
Smittybilt - W.A.S.P. Winch Anchor Support Platform | 4WheelParts.com

Bury spare as an anchor for FREE?

These things are pricy $$$...I have heard good things about the Pullpal but never seen any of these in actions.

Would love to hear what you think?
 
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I think you'd be better off with a set of MaxTraxx(spelling?) style recovery ramps or TredPro ramps. Or the bury the spare if absolutely needed. I don't think you'd get stuck enough for that though. Is your new rear diff locked as well?
 
Pull Pal works as advertised, I wish I had one. I've never seen the ARB anchor, I assume it's good stuff too if you can afford it. I wouldn't trust the Shittybilt anchor as far as I could throw it.

If sand is the primary terrain, I'd get a Bushranger exhaust jack before I worried about winch anchors or traction ladders though.
 
My vote is for the Maxtraxx or Tred option.

The one time I was stuck in the sand I think a set of recovery boards would have had me out in a jiffy. (Well, had I not decided to spin all my wheels in an attempt to get out, successfully burying myself to the frame.) However, I didn't have any and ended up uprooting 5 of the 6 small trees that I could reach with my winch line, winch extension, tow strap, and tree saver. The 6th one (Thank whoever/whatever you choose to worship) held strong.

Here's my lovely wife out collecting the tree saver and tow strap. The trees I could reach were over the edge of the dunes behind her. Those big trees are well over 100 yards away.
DSC_0171 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

Here's where I was sitting. You can clearly see where the drive shaft was spinning, and the rear diff was taking a rest.

DSC_0174 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

Here's me silently assaulting myself for being such an idiot. And my dog being adorable, just loving life.

DSC_0167 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr

And here's the 4Runner after pulling itself out of it's grave. You can see where the rear wheels were, right at the edge of the picture. Front wheels were right behind where the rear wheels are now.

DSC_0169 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
 
I've seen people use an old axle shaft before. Jam it in the ground as deep as you can at a 45* angle away from you.
 
papabeach said:
Doing a little more Beach camping these days and will be going solo in the not to distant future. Has me a little worried about getting stuck...

Anyone have any experience with Ground Anchors???

ARB Ground Anchor $620
ARB Portable Ground Anchor (ARB230)

Pull-pal 11K-$360
Pull-Pal Land & Winch Anchor specifications - off-road, 4x4s, ATV, UTV, buggies, all-terrain-vehicles

Smittybilt WASP $150
Smittybilt - W.A.S.P. Winch Anchor Support Platform | 4WheelParts.com

Bury spare as an anchor for FREE?

These things are pricy $$$...I have heard good things about the Pullpal but never seen any of these in actions.

Would love to hear what you think?
Click to expand...

I really think It depends on your terrain. If your place you traverse has lots of possible anchor points then no worries go with the Maxx Trax. If however there are not then it can be invaluable to have. I say you should be diverse in recovery options, but first starting out you need to have the things that are key for where you go most of the time.
 
Yes depends on where you wheel. That thing will do nothing where I go. But again there are tree's so not needed. But again Im going to get an anchor one day becuase you never know when you will need it.

If anyone watched that Alaskan Offroad show a year ago will know what I'm talking about.
 
Well...spoke with the wife. It's XMAS time (yay!)..Pull-pal and TRED ordered...question now is do I go get intentionally stuck and try out the gear or did my large purchase just ward off getting stuck for the next 100 years...
 
papabeach said:
Well...spoke with the wife. It's XMAS time (yay!)..Pull-pal and TRED ordered...question now is do I go get intentionally stuck and try out the gear or did my large purchase just ward off getting stuck for the next 100 years...
Click to expand...

I went up in the snow to test the winch, was pretty easy to get stuck. So far only had to use winch twice since owning on many trips now. The mind is at ease on the trail.
 
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