✔ Best Recovery Boards and 5 ways to mount

#recoveryboards #tractionboards
Not all recovery boards are created equal!
Recently I was looking for a new set of recovery boards. This time I was ready for quality over price, as the cheap $120 boards I have had, either broke, or faded in the sun, looking drab and old.
When searching, I kept coming across the Maxtrax out of Australia, and when I went to purchase, they were back ordered. They also don't mix colors, you must buy the same color in a 2 set.
Then I saw some USActionTrax on a Jeep Gladiator. In the parking lot, I asked the Jeep owner about them. He said he oved them and said best Recovery Boards he has ever owned.
So I started my research.
I spoke with KC, the owner of USActionTrax. I found they are very new, and a small company, hence the minimal exposure online.
Doing my homework, I found that the USActionTrax are made from a composite that is also used as a coupling bushing for trains, by Dupont.
The material used to make the USAT boards is $5/lb and other boards are closer to $1 per pond, or the nylon in Maxtrax is about $2.5/lb.
Boards are typically 8lbs, or 16lbs for a set.
So here' s a quick material cost chart:

PVC/Polypropolene - $16/ set
Maxtrax - $40/set
USAtionTrax - $80/set

Material cost alone, shows that not all boards are created equal. Of course there are mold costs, metal hardware in the upper end boards, labor etc... but it all starts with the material used.

This intrigued me, and the boards Insaw on the Jeep were mounted, so its not like I was able to touch them etc ..
so I ordered 2 sets, and was able to mix colors too (major advantage with USAT).
When they delivered, I unboxed and instantly saw the quality. very maluable, flexible and you could see these wiuld hold uo to anything you can throw at them. they teeth on the ends makes a ton of sense. These boards are not plastic... They are more like a solid rubber compound mix. They are awesome. I doubt they will discolor like the plastic boards (like a Honda Element with its chalky plastic body panels...)
I can't wait to get stuck on the trail now!!!