If you only buy one piece of recovery gear, make it a set of traction boards. They are simple, they require no power, and they solve the most common way people get stuck, which is a wheel that has lost grip and dug itself a hole. We have used them in deep sand, greasy mud, and packed snow, and they have earned a permanent spot in our kit.
How they work
The idea is dead simple. You clear away some of the dirt in front of or behind the stuck tire, wedge the board under the tread, and drive gently onto it. The teeth bite the tire, the board spreads your weight over the soft surface, and you crawl out. No winch anchor needed, no second vehicle required.
What we liked
- Fast and intuitive to use, even for a first timer
- Work as both recovery tools and leveling ramps at camp
- No moving parts to fail and nothing to charge
- Double as a bridge over ruts and small gaps
Where they fall short
Cheap boards flex and the teeth strip out under a heavy spinning tire. That is the number one failure point, so it is worth spending a little more for a stiff board with replaceable or molded teeth. They are also bulky, so plan your mounting solution before you buy.
Drive onto traction boards gently. Mash the throttle and you will melt the teeth and sling the board across the desert.
The verdict
Traction boards are the highest value recovery purchase you can make. They will not get you out of everything, but they handle the most common stucks quickly and safely. Pair them with a way to air down and a basic recovery strap and you have covered the vast majority of trail trouble.
Hero photo: Unsplash