When you’re out off-road, you know the situation. The car is stuck in mud or sand, the wheels spin and every further attempt just digs you deeper into the ground. The MAXTRAX MKII were developed for exactly these moments. The Australian boards have been among the most proven solutions for many years when it comes to safe, simple and fast vehicle recovery.
The MAXTRAX MKII are made of UV-stabilised, reinforced nylon that deforms minimally under load but doesn’t break. The construction is flexible enough to absorb impacts and at the same time rugged enough to withstand up to 4,500 kg of vehicle weight. In tests at the University of Queensland they could even be bent completely around a 33-inch tyre without taking damage.
At 1150 mm in length, 330 mm in width and 85 mm in height, the boards have the optimal size for common off-road vehicles. A pair weighs around 6.8 kg and pushes together to a stack height of just 95 mm. That makes the MKII compact enough for rear carriers, roof racks or storage boxes. Six integrated handles mean they can be handled well in the mud too.
At both ends there’s a shovel surface with which you dig away excess sand or mud before you push the boards under the tyres. The 88 tall, aggressively shaped teeth grip both the tyre tread and the ground at the same time. That instantly creates traction that pulls your vehicle back up without it slipping back.
MAXTRAX MKII, stable, safe and intuitive to use
Anyone who uses the MAXTRAX MKII risks nothing. No risky recovery manoeuvres, no force, no tow rope that becomes a danger. The principle is simple: clear the ground, board under the tyre, drive off slowly. Done.
Stowing was thought about too. The recovery boards have integrated keyhole mounting points by which they can be securely fixed to the vehicle with matching holders. Also included: two orange leashes. Because anyone who’s ever dug in fine desert sand knows how quickly recovery boards can disappear without a trace.
The iconic orange isn’t just a trademark, it’s a safety feature too. Even in rain, on night drives or in a dune landscape, you find the boards again straight away.
Durability that lives up to its reputation
MAXTRAX use a “super tough”, technically highly load-bearing nylon that’s not only UV-stabilised but also stays unaffected by heat, cold and permanent loading. The material offers the ideal mix of strength, flexibility and low weight.
The result is a board that doesn’t splinter, doesn’t fray and shows no weak points even under extreme use. MAXTRAX also provide a lifetime warranty against material and manufacturing defects. That’s not just a promise, but an expression of confidence in their own production.
That the boards are developed and produced in Australia is no coincidence. They came about in a landscape where sand, heat and remoteness aren’t theoretical challenges but daily reality. MAXTRAX had to work before anyone thought about selling them.
The making of MAXTRAX, an idea born of necessity
The story begins in 2001 on a remote beach in northern Queensland. Brad McCarthy, Australian adventurer and author of the “Dirty Weekends” series, was stuck there in the softest sand of his life. The tide was rising, his vehicle sat deep, and the classic gear barely helped.
This experience wouldn’t let go of him. Brad wanted a recovery tool that’s safe and light and intuitive for a single person to use. No ropes, no hooks, no risk. Simply a device that works when everything else fails.
He experimented for months with materials, shapes and structures. In 2004, together with an engineer, he took up a simple but brilliant principle. Stability through structure, inspired by egg cartons and corrugated iron. Shapes that are light and at the same time hold enormous forces. This idea shapes the MAXTRAX to this day.
Today the MAXTRAX are among the best-known recovery boards in the world and are a standard in many expedition teams, with overlanders, rescue services and adventurers who travel far off the beaten track. You can get the MAXTRAX MKII at Taubenreuther.