Rivian R1T, Bronco, FJ40, and Jeeps off-road through deep snow in Oregon backcountry (video)

[zefram47]

100% agree. A kinetic recovery rope and a friend are 100% better than maxtrax. We went snow wheeling a few years ago and got SUPER stuck. the maxtrax were almost no help. A shovel, a recovery rope, and a friend(s) are way more valuable to have on the trail.

This for sure. It boggles my mind how many folks still insist on going out alone in the winter. It's bad enough in some areas in summer, but winter it's almost guaranteed you'll beach yourself at some point.

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[Inkedsphynx]

Buddies and winches and recovery ropes are certainly better than traction boards. Correct.

You're all missing the point though. They're not mutually exclusive. You should have all of those if you can, but if not, you should have any of them you can.

I do a fair bit of solo overlanding and while I'm careful to keep myself out of situations I can't self-rescue, traction boards are a vital part of my self-recovery kit. They won't get you out of the worst situations, and they can be a pain to work with sometimes, but if it's the option you've got, it's a hell of a lot better than having nothing.

For the very minimal investment in money and space, they're well worth it, in my opinion.

 

[Calvin2518]

Buddies and winches and recovery ropes are certainly better than traction boards. Correct.

You're all missing the point though. They're not mutually exclusive. You should have all of those if you can, but if not, you should have any of them you can.

I do a fair bit of solo overlanding and while I'm careful to keep myself out of situations I can't self-rescue, traction boards are a vital part of my self-recovery kit. They won't get you out of the worst situations, and they can be a pain to work with sometimes, but if it's the option you've got, it's a hell of a lot better than having nothing.

For the very minimal investment in money and space, they're well worth it, in my opinion.

That's totally fair! And, with all of us buying an $80-100k vehicle here, not that the MaxTrax are a huge investment cost, but a $30 shovel does way more than the MaxTrax, in my humble opinion!

 

[Calvin2518]

This for sure. It boggles my mind how many folks still insist on going out alone in the winter. It's bad enough in some areas in summer, but winter it's almost guaranteed you'll beach yourself at some point.

Exactly!! I did really like what I saw recently now being dubbed the "RiRi Squat" of just lowering the suspension to crush snow and then raising it back up... lol! I'm excited to try that with mine!

But yeah, snow wheeling alone is just dumb.

 

[zefram47]

Buddies and winches and recovery ropes are certainly better than traction boards. Correct.

You're all missing the point though. They're not mutually exclusive. You should have all of those if you can, but if not, you should have any of them you can.

I do a fair bit of solo overlanding and while I'm careful to keep myself out of situations I can't self-rescue, traction boards are a vital part of my self-recovery kit. They won't get you out of the worst situations, and they can be a pain to work with sometimes, but if it's the option you've got, it's a hell of a lot better than having nothing.

For the very minimal investment in money and space, they're well worth it, in my opinion.

I certainly bought a set (2) when I got my 4Runner and carry enough straps and pulley blocks I could pull myself backwards if needed. That said, I've really only wound up using a snatch strap with buddies and haven't gotten into a situation where I needed more. Even though I've not used my winch, it will bother me not to have one on the Rivian, especially as heavy as it is. I'll still plan to carry a bunch of shackles and pulley blocks in case someone else needs to render aid and their winch isn't rated high enough without the pulleys. Most know this already, but mud, sand, and snow increase the effective load on the pull.

 

[Inkedsphynx]

That's totally fair! And, with all of us buying an $80-100k vehicle here, not that the MaxTrax are a huge investment cost, but a $30 shovel does way more than the MaxTrax, in my humble opinion!

Agreed on the shovel. Shovel and traction boards are my most frequently used recovery pair, esp since I like to hit the dunes as often as I can.

 

[Calvin2518]

Agreed on the shovel. Shovel and traction boards are my most frequently used recovery pair, esp since I like to hit the dunes as often as I can.

Dunes sound like an absolute blast! Here in Colorado, there's not as many places to go hit dunes, but I think a trip to the Great Sand Dunes will be in order when mine comes in!

 

[Calvin2518]

I certainly bought a set (2) when I got my 4Runner and carry enough straps and pulley blocks I could pull myself backwards if needed. That said, I've really only wound up using a snatch strap with buddies and haven't gotten into a situation where I needed more. Even though I've not used my winch, it will bother me not to have one on the Rivian, especially as heavy as it is. I'll still plan to carry a bunch of shackles and pulley blocks in case someone else needs to render aid and their winch isn't rated high enough without the pulleys. Most know this already, but mud, sand, and snow increase the effective load on the pull.

Great thinking with the more heavy-duty rated recovery gear due to the Rivian's weight!

In my opinion, winches are a bit overrated, just so dangerous and need to be setup correctly... but that may also just be because I've never had to use a winch for recovery. I do have a "bucket winch" that I carry with me whenever I go off roading. it's just a 12k winch I keep in a bucket that is powered by the 12v in the car. it can be attached directly to a ball hitch receiver, or you can create a snatch-type setup and pull forward. I haven't had to use it, but I am happy I have it with me.

 

[zefram47]

Dunes sound like an absolute blast! Here in Colorado, there's not as many places to go hit dunes, but I think a trip to the Great Sand Dunes will be in order when mine comes in!

I've been there, but only for hiking. I don't think there's anywhere to drive on the dunes, but Medano Pass Road is supposed to be pretty sandy with a ton of water crossings. I still need to run that one one of these days.

https://www.nps.gov/grsa/planyourvisit/medano-pass-road.htm

 

[moosehead]

Buddies and winches and recovery ropes are certainly better than traction boards. Correct.

You're all missing the point though. They're not mutually exclusive. You should have all of those if you can, but if not, you should have any of them you can.

I do a fair bit of solo overlanding and while I'm careful to keep myself out of situations I can't self-rescue, traction boards are a vital part of my self-recovery kit. They won't get you out of the worst situations, and they can be a pain to work with sometimes, but if it's the option you've got, it's a hell of a lot better than having nothing.

For the very minimal investment in money and space, they're well worth it, in my opinion.

This. I already have recovery straps, shackle hitch, shackles, compact shovel. Adding boards to the kit seems prudent without going overboard. Pun intended.

More often that not, this gear gets used to help others out.

 

[RBR1S]

My favorite part was at 5:55 when the Rivian literally snuck up on the camera out of the trees. So silent you can hear the creek. It made me want to mute the entire video to not hear the noise of all the others. I can tell I'm definitely going to be even more against ICE when I get the R1S. I already hate ICE noise.


And the cop - did you build that in your garage.

 

[RBR1S]

Exactly!! I did really like what I saw recently now being dubbed the "RiRi Squat" of just lowering the suspension to crush snow and then raising it back up... lol! I'm excited to try that with mine!

But yeah, snow wheeling alone is just dumb.

I'm assuming this squat idea is only a good thing if you have the underplate right? Not good for the battery housing to do it alone.

 

[Inkedsphynx]

I'm assuming this squat idea is only a good thing if you have the underplate right? Not good for the battery housing to do it alone.

Should be absolutely fine. The default (non-reinforced underbody) shielding is intended to be able to drop the entire truck's weight onto a small point and not get punctured. Lowering down onto some snow to compact it isn't going to harm it at all.

 

[RBR1S]

Should be absolutely fine. The default (non-reinforced underbody) shielding is intended to be able to drop the entire truck's weight onto a small point and not get punctured. Lowering down onto some snow to compact it isn't going to harm it at all.

Interesting, thats one reason I have the underplate on my order (current eta 2091) is to avoid damage as we have seen on so many other EVs hitting things on every day roads, let alone the light offroading I will be doing. How many Tesla fires have they claimed was because something hit the underside.

Years ago, driving a ICE sedan, I hit a rock on a highway (granted a large rock like softball+ sized) and it took out both the oilpan and transmission in one hit. I'd rather be safe than sorry after that, call me paranoid maybe.

 

[Calvin2518]

I'm assuming this squat idea is only a good thing if you have the underplate right? Not good for the battery housing to do it alone.

Absolutely fine if it's just snow and you're high centered on some snow.

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