Sand Ladders or waffle boards??
 

Hi,

I'm seeking advice as to what would be best - sand ladders or waffle boards - for a leisurely trip to Cape Town via the eastern route. Light enough not to be a pain to heft about but strong enough to withstand a little light bridging activity - what do you recommend??

Lucie

If you want bridging capability as well as sand traction then waffles it is.
If you stick to 'normal' routes you probably won't have to use them much.

Waffle
 

Although my waffle boards have not been used for mud, sand or bridging they are without doubt my most common used piece of recovery gear (says a lot for our driving I think - not once been bogged down on the M3). They are perfect for use as impromtu tables or chairs when combined with our "really useful boxes"

See

Picasa Web Albums - Oliver - Car Boot Sale...

Also, for storage, have them on the side as it is out of the way, and yet really easy to get to (for those emergency picnics)

Jenny and Ollie's Big Trip

sandladders
 

I agree with Cornish

I carry 4 Darr sandladders - they are v strong, weigh only 6 kg each, but the beers fall through the holes.

I wouldn't attempt bridging with them, might end up with banana ladders

John

i've used to use a pair of sandladders and a pair of waffles in sand the waffles tend to get buried in soft sand & wear away quite quickly when the tyres spin,so, now i use 4 sandladders although heavier there much stonger & if brigding i put rocks under the plates to stop them bending as much.As for beer keep it in the fridge.

You can't really bridge with metal sand mats but you can with the right waffle boards.
If weight is an issue then go with waffles, either the weight you can heft about or the weight to carry on your vehicle.
Either are good enough for the amount of times you'll need them. However, when you do need them they're a god send.

If you go for the metal type you choose between steel and aluminium. Steel is very heavy but robust, aluminium ones are a lot lighter.
I've had a pair of steel ones for years and abused them including using them over the fire for a pot stand.
I can't now afford to change them because as I get older I want something lighter. The reason being when I now come to a stretch of something that needs them, can I be bothered to hump them about time after time to get through it?
Or shall I just turn around and go back possibly missing out on where I was originally going?

Whichever you decide, get a good pair of stout gloves anyway to use with them.

Waffles or sand ladders?
 

We used Max Trax for the first time in Tunisia, they were fantastic. No good for heavy bridging, but unbeatable for sand work. They're compact, easy to handle, no barked shins and very, very grippy. No need to dig away loads of sand to get them under the wheels.

We got stuck lots of times in very fine floury sand and by the trime others had unbolted their sand ladders or dragged bakki mats out, we were mobile again.

I think Anton at OEC is importing them to the UK.

Jojo

Recovery of Waffles/Sand Ladders
 

Whatever you use either in mud or sand if you use good strong ropes to tie them to the rear fender then,once you're out you will bring the units along with you and save a lot of frigging around looking for them in the shuggie.

Many seem to recommend tying them to somewhere so that it drags them with you when you get going.
I've never done that for fear of a) pulling off the bit of my car it's tied to, especially if the suction of mud is taken into account, or b) stopping me dead just as I've gotten going.

Do you tie to the "rear" of the mat so that when you get going it has to flip it over to follow you, or to the "front" with the risk that you run over your rope just as you start off?

Waffles - Viz Top Tip
 

If you use waffles, and don't want to tie them to the vehicle, tie a nice little string handle to the waffle board to make it easier to carry back to the vehicle

Tie to the leading edge (front) of the plate then run the rope away from the wheel and connect it to the rear of the car, not to the front where it can foul something.

In fact, we rarely tie them, because the hassle of tying, placing and then untangling ropes is usually greater than the hassle of walking back a few yards to pick them up. Plus, as you say, 4 dragging anchors is often the last thing you need.

IMHO the main issue with tying them to the back of the car is that they could easilly snag on something or dig in. It would be very easy for them to then flip up and come flying through the back window!!
:funmeterno:
I've never spoken to anyone its happened to, but it certainly sounds feasible

Wouldn't it be fun to tie them on with bungee cord!!

maxtracs
 

maxtraxs, have a look, not used them myself but I know they are well regarded here. Expensive thou, I think?



https://www.maxtrax.com.au/

maxtrax!
 

Travelled through the Sahara many times with a variety of recovery gear, Bakki mats, PSP, Aluminium sand ladders etc, I'd recommend Maxtrax every time.
They're light, easy to carry, have handholds & pointed ends to use as shovels, don't require huge amounts of sand removal to place under the vehicle, have tremendous grip, etc, etc...

Basically, they're quick & easy to use and you'll be mobile again before you've dragged sand ladders to the stricken vehicle.

They get my vote!

Jojo