Now that the memory of the blizzard of '06 is fading as is the snow I am think of preparing for the next one. Kitty litter might be find for ice but I am thinking traction mats for snow drifts. Anyone have recommendations?
Traction Mats
- Thread starter The Wizard
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I bought some 8" expanded metal meant for sheetrock. Haven't had to use it yet, but it was cheap insurance for my 2wd minitruck.
Chains are worth having even if you only really need them once. Lots of folks are still trying to get their abandonded cars off the roads or out of the impound yards. My chains were in my garage and I was stuck at my in-laws for two days.
Along the lines of sirenmoses I think some of the metal lath normally used under stucco would do the trick for gaining traction on ice. Not sure what the best approach is to drifts that could high center the vehicle.
Now for blizzard conditions I will bring two shovels. One metal for breaking loose crusty icy snow or dirt and a second plastic snow scoop for moving light fluffy snow at a reasonable rate.
and some of these Yaktrax for negotiating the roads and parking lots.
Along the lines of sirenmoses I think some of the metal lath normally used under stucco would do the trick for gaining traction on ice. Not sure what the best approach is to drifts that could high center the vehicle.
Now for blizzard conditions I will bring two shovels. One metal for breaking loose crusty icy snow or dirt and a second plastic snow scoop for moving light fluffy snow at a reasonable rate.
and some of these Yaktrax for negotiating the roads and parking lots.
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Not sure if you have Princess Auto down there (Similar to harbour freight) but They have traction mats on sale starting this week (January 9th '07) -Auto pro- 6-3/4" wide by 24-1/4" "Rubber studded traction mats" States weight is 3lb, on sale for $4.88 each. I'm going to pick up a set when the sale starts if they look 1/2 decent - PM me if you can't find them and I'll let you know how they are. If you are desperate and can't find anything I could probably pick you up a set and ship 'em to ya.
Also read a good thread on here somewhere about someone who cut up milk crates and then zip tied them back together in a strip. - pretty rugged I think, and I was going to do that until I saw these on sale this week!
If the metal stucco lath you guys are talking about is the same type I'm familiar with I wouldn't try using it. That stuff is razor sharp. Never mind what it would do to your tires just carrying it around presents safety issues.
Fro an expidetion rig I would think about landing mat.
Fro an expidetion rig I would think about landing mat.
How about those things they surface baseball diamonds with? Some of that?
Edit: I think its called a drag mat:
http://www.marcoclay.com/sports/tool/tools14.php
More:
http://www.thematking.com/business_industry/industrial/metalmats/mats-of-steel-index.htm
Edit: I think its called a drag mat:
http://www.marcoclay.com/sports/tool/tools14.php
More:
http://www.thematking.com/business_industry/industrial/metalmats/mats-of-steel-index.htm
In addition to the steel stuff used in VIetnam landing mat is also available in aluminium.thats landing mat is heaeaeaavy,, go to the local park, late at night, and when nobody is looking take the bench seat off the aluminum picnic table
I checked at the surplus yard today, no Aluminium landing mat material. The guy said most of it gets snatched up by salvage yards for recycling.
He did have a good suggestion for a traction device. He suggested sections of chain link fencing cut to 18 - 24 inch widths. A pretty good idea when you think about it. They could be rolled up to store compactly and would be tough as hell.
He did have a good suggestion for a traction device. He suggested sections of chain link fencing cut to 18 - 24 inch widths. A pretty good idea when you think about it. They could be rolled up to store compactly and would be tough as hell.
someone, somewhere posted homemade ones
It was either here, or the CCOT board or maybe the now-totally-dead cruizers.com forum....but...
I only kinda remember, but it was like screws through ladder like strips of wood attached to some heavy-duty (recycled/reused/scavanged) backing material. old tire pieces or something...I dunno. But, The heads of the screws (hex makes sense to me) would help grip the tires, the tips go down in to the ground/snow. maybe they rolled up?
Anyone know what I'm talking about?
It was either here, or the CCOT board or maybe the now-totally-dead cruizers.com forum....but...
I only kinda remember, but it was like screws through ladder like strips of wood attached to some heavy-duty (recycled/reused/scavanged) backing material. old tire pieces or something...I dunno. But, The heads of the screws (hex makes sense to me) would help grip the tires, the tips go down in to the ground/snow. maybe they rolled up?
Anyone know what I'm talking about?
How about short screws (1/2") through a couple strips of used carpet (preferably used carpet from a young boys room that is approximately 50% sand by weight)
say 2" wider than your tires and 3 feet long. would roll up nice (spiny side in) and be long enough to get you some momentum. Tie them with a ratchet strap. Could be stiffened with strips of flexible plastic that could be rolled easily.
Update on the Yaktrax - Bought em and love em. Buy them a little bigger than the sizes recomended. When wearing them it is like ice doesn't exist. I bought the "pro" mode with the top strap.
say 2" wider than your tires and 3 feet long. would roll up nice (spiny side in) and be long enough to get you some momentum. Tie them with a ratchet strap. Could be stiffened with strips of flexible plastic that could be rolled easily.
Update on the Yaktrax - Bought em and love em. Buy them a little bigger than the sizes recomended. When wearing them it is like ice doesn't exist. I bought the "pro" mode with the top strap.
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I've used yaktracks for a coupe of winters. YThey're okay, but the springs that provide the grip are slightly prone to sliding. I much prefer slip on grippers with real studs. But the Yaktracks are pretty inexpensive and easy to toss in the glovebox and forget about 'til you need them.
As to the whole idea of traction mats... Have any of you guys actually used them? I don't really see much use for them myself. You have to get them under the wheels for them to do any good. They willonly provide assitence for the short distance that the mat covers. If the mat is at all stiff and it is not on a hard surface, there is a good chance of damaging it the first time you drive the rig over it.
About the only use I have seen where they are enough help to bother with would be when stuck on glare ice with a two wheel drive rig. I have laid tire chains out on the ground when my International Loadstar was just spininng the rear tires on glare ice with a slight berm ahead of the front tires. It was just an inch or so... it was SLICK and the rig is currently just a cab and chasis with no bed (weight) over the rear tires. This got me over the berm and out of the "stuck" without going to the trouble of mounting the chains. Since I was just moving the rig to repark it, this was a nice easy solution. Any sort of traction mat would proably have helped in the same way. But this is about the only situation that I can figure out where they would be of any assistence.
Stuck in a snow bank or drift? Doubtful. Need to move more than a few feet. PITA.
Mark...
As to the whole idea of traction mats... Have any of you guys actually used them? I don't really see much use for them myself. You have to get them under the wheels for them to do any good. They willonly provide assitence for the short distance that the mat covers. If the mat is at all stiff and it is not on a hard surface, there is a good chance of damaging it the first time you drive the rig over it.
About the only use I have seen where they are enough help to bother with would be when stuck on glare ice with a two wheel drive rig. I have laid tire chains out on the ground when my International Loadstar was just spininng the rear tires on glare ice with a slight berm ahead of the front tires. It was just an inch or so... it was SLICK and the rig is currently just a cab and chasis with no bed (weight) over the rear tires. This got me over the berm and out of the "stuck" without going to the trouble of mounting the chains. Since I was just moving the rig to repark it, this was a nice easy solution. Any sort of traction mat would proably have helped in the same way. But this is about the only situation that I can figure out where they would be of any assistence.
Stuck in a snow bank or drift? Doubtful. Need to move more than a few feet. PITA.
Mark...
A lot of times you only need to move a rig a few feet to get it un-stuck. As you point out gettin a rig out of a ditch is one example.
Crossing a dry stream bed and getting stuck in the deep loose gravel.
Driving onto a damp patch of road that turns out to be a mud soup.
Getting a little to far up the beach onto the dry soft sand.
Not that I have any experience getting stuck mind you.
Ashes from the wood stove has saved me from a few stuck places, the traction is awesome. Cheaper than dirt too.
mark you bring up prefectly good points, i have learned from past expierence that i waste more time portaging traction ladders than i ever got use out of. i bought them from some expedition landrover place for about the price of a winch carried them around for 3 yrs, used'em once, mostly for giggles, then decided to sell them for the same money i bought'em for.
you can take a strap from a buddy, or, stuff branches under the tires for the same effect of ladders. as i've said before most of the guys who buy some of the things they buy do it for the looks or coolness factor. for the money a set of real ladders cost i'd just buy a winch and call it done.
here are a few links for those of you that want to waste some cash,,, sorry if i seem rude but i went this route 10-12 yrs ago for that "coolness factor" thinking i would actually use them when i shoulda just bought a winch. i went with the alu ones BTW as no-one had fiberglass or plastic back then.
http://www.fibreglassgrating.co.uk/products/sandandbridgingladders.html
http://www.okoffroad.com/stuff-sandladders-aluminum.htm
http://www.rangerovers.net/outfitting/offroadmisc/ladders.html
you can take a strap from a buddy, or, stuff branches under the tires for the same effect of ladders. as i've said before most of the guys who buy some of the things they buy do it for the looks or coolness factor. for the money a set of real ladders cost i'd just buy a winch and call it done.
here are a few links for those of you that want to waste some cash,,, sorry if i seem rude but i went this route 10-12 yrs ago for that "coolness factor" thinking i would actually use them when i shoulda just bought a winch. i went with the alu ones BTW as no-one had fiberglass or plastic back then.
http://www.fibreglassgrating.co.uk/products/sandandbridgingladders.html
http://www.okoffroad.com/stuff-sandladders-aluminum.htm
http://www.rangerovers.net/outfitting/offroadmisc/ladders.html