Getting stuck off-road is no fun at all. One minute you’re cruising along having a great adventure, the next your tires are just spinning helplessly in deep mud or loose sand. Instead of getting stuck and having to call for an embarrassing tow truck rescue, you can use these cool tools called recovery tracks to get unstuck all by yourself!
Recovery tracks look like really thick plastic or metal boards with crazy grooves and patterns carved into them. By placing these grippy boards on the ground behind your wheels, you give your tires something super grabby to catch onto when they spin. With the added traction, your vehicle can slowly claw its way back onto solid ground. It’s like giving your rig temporary monster truck tires! Let’s navigate challenging terrain with reliable recovery tracks.
Using recovery tracks properly does take a bit of know-how though. Just tossing them behind your tires won’t magically get you unstuck. But follow these 5 simple tips and you’ll be a recovery board master in no time!
Tip 1: Get BIG Tracks
Those tiny little recovery ramps from the auto store aren’t going to cut it for bigger trucks and SUVs. You’ll want tracks that are at least 10 inches wide and 4 feet long to really cover your whole tire footprint properly. The bigger the better!
With small boards, your tires just can’t grab enough surface area to get good traction. But huge tracks mean you’ve got tons of grooves to really dig into and find grip to pull yourself free. Don’t settle for anything less than max-size boards.
Tip 2: Go for Aggressive Patterns
When picking out your recovery boards, look for ones with an aggressive diamond plate or X-shaped groove pattern carved into them. Those jagged, sharp grooves are perfect for mechanically biting into your tire treads as you spin.
Stay away from boards with circular holes or tire tread designs though. Those just get packed up with mud and debris way too easily instead of grabbing your tires. You want ultra-grabby grooves to really hook in.
Tip 3: Clear a Path
Before you can use your recovery tracks, you’ve got to clear a nice clean path or runway for them first! Shovel away any loose dirt, rocks, branches or other debris so you’ve got a smooth, level area to place the boards.
If you just try dropping them on a messy pile of junk, your tires won’t be able to properly grab the grooves to get traction. Always take a few minutes to prepare a clear runway path for maximum board effectiveness.
Tip 4: Steady Acceleration
So you’ve got your big recovery tracks placed neatly behind your tires on a prepared runway. Now it’s time to get unstuck! Don’t just floor the gas pedal as hard as you can though. That’ll just dig you in deeper.
Instead, give the pedal a firm, steady push to around 25-50% throttle. Smoothly turn the steering wheel side-to-side as your tires slowly catch grip and start churning forward inch-by-inch. Accelerate firmly but don’t wildly spin!
Tip 5: Care for Your Tracks
After successfully using your recovery boards to get free, be sure to take good care of them! While very durable, the grooves can still tear up or crack if abused too much. Always clean off any mud or debris stuck in the grooves.
Proper storage is important too. Don’t just leave your boards out in the elements where they can get damaged by moisture or sunlight. Keep them stowed neatly in your truck bed or garage to ensure many more uses!
With just a little preparation and technique, recovery tracks transform from looking like strange plastic planks into unstucking superpowers! No more tow truck embarrassment when you treat your boards as vital trail gear. Just deploy them properly using these tips and you’ll be back on solid ground in no time!
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