Tracgrabber.com

Anyone use one? It got me thinking and I came up with this. I had some conduit laying around, but square tubing would probably work better. Those are the 175lb zip ties.

What do y'all think? Will it work?

That should work. My daddy used a fence post on tractor wheels a few times. You're going to get really muddy putting them on when you're stuck, but it beats walking out.

Maybe. But I can also see a zip tie breaking more than likely. Then it could poke a hole in the tire or sling it into the side of the truck. I'd go very very easy if you try it

175lb zip tie, 5000lb truck, doesn't sound like a good match in parts. Might try coated cable instead of zip ties. And cut the end of the bolts off, all that's going to do is roll around and puncture your tire

The time I got stuck in mud this year that wouldn't have helped nada. Had another truck get stuck in mud this year too and it wouldn't have helped either.

You could try it out and get back to us on the results, just not sure that is gonna do much with the Texas clay a lot of us drive around in.

We used to just run a chain in and out of the openings in those old "wagon wheel" style steel rims. Wrapped it around the wheel like a snow chain. A piece of bailing wire kept the ends from flailing and beating out the fender well. Had to go slow once it was on, but it usually worked.

Edited to add: Wouldn't try the chain trick with Al rims!

Snow chains work well. But you have to put them on before you get stuck.

The difference is that you can still high center with snow chains. This idea will lift the wheel if it works the way it should.

I can't imagine the zip-tie not snapping while trying to "un-high center" a 6,000 pound truck. But, I've certainly been wrong before.

Yea, I'm not 100% confident in this. I know I still need to cut the bolts. They make 250lb zip ties too. I may just end up buying the trac grabber. I really don't want this thing to come loose and tear stuff up.

I wasn't really thinking about using this while high centered. I don't really see it helping a lot there, but I'd probably try it if I was stuck.

If your planning for serious off road use its time for new tires!

Yea, I don't do any serious off roading anymore. I've got stuck in my Chevy a few times that I shouldn't have been stuck. Locking hubs would have gotten me out. I'm not a big fan of the Chevy's 4x4 setup. Anyway, was just thinking this might help me out of something like that.

X2

Not a bad idea on what you built though. I'd just recommend go trying it out with a buddy close by that can pull you out if needed. I sure wouldn't go fast at all with those zip ties, but I bet they will work if you go slow.
I think its more about getting a bigger footprint on the ground.

Check this out

Locking hubs are not lockers, and in no way make a 4x4 perform better off road.

By the looks of your wheels it leads me to believe you have a newer half ton truck. If that's the case, there was an option for a G-80 locker for the rear, it's not the greatest locker ever made, but it's good for what people use those trucks for. At the minimum you should have a limited slip rear, front is likely open. Try pushing the parking brake in about 3 clicks, this creates a locking action in the rear to provide more traction, but use it sparingly

our lease in south texas has some really bad a** mud - I use a Kubota RTV and have gotten stuck more than I want - I have a winch but those dont always work if you get stuck in the wrong place. Our mud just swallows you up and sinks straight down. If you try to work you way out the mud just clings to itself and digs down deeper and deeper. My question is will a trac grabber work for this? situation?

I would think a piece of 2x4 would work better than that conduit. JMHO

TLK, sounds like you need a bigger winch

You carry a big boat anchor with you? That's what we use down south. Winch and boat anchor for when there is nothing to hookup to.

Had a buddy who had a top-drive with a winch on the front. He tried the boat anchor and it failed in the clay type soil in eastern LaSalle County. Many time we tried with that boat anchor. We finally had to keep an extra length of chain that would reach a big enough mesquite or clump of smaller ones to wrap the chain around the base of a bunch to get out. In most of that clay, once your tires ball up you are going to have to get a tractor or something else to pull you to higher/drier ground.

8000 lb winch - when there are no trees anywhere around it does not help much - also tried anchor - as STX said in our mud one will not hold. I have winched to fence post, base of mesquites, etc. when they are nearby.

Saw a guy use an anchor one time. He buried it probably 2 ft. deep.

I need to pick up a winch anchor, T-post don't work as well as they use to, 4000lb Jeep was fine but 8000lb Ram not so much. Last time I got stuck I pulled 60 foot of cable, wrapped tow strap around mesquite tree, and pulled mesquite tree out of the ground . Got to love a 15.5k winch. Didn't have my other winching straps to hook to other trees. I didn't go prepared, won't let that happen again.

Another good tool is the plastic tracks from ARB, they provide great traction, although it's relatively short traction, but they help get out of the whole and hopefully enough to get to solid ground.

I'm getting a winch for our Mule this year and gonna use one of my Dad's old tricks, a piece of 4" aluminum angle about 5' long to drive in the ground. I've seen him pull his old jeep through some bad stuff with it. Amazing how well that 4" angle will hold.

This looks cool too. Might not be enough for a truck, but should work good with lighter Jeeps and UTV's I bet.
http://www.quadratec.com/products/92144_...cZaAaAqr58P8HAQ

looks interesting - wonder how it is different from a boat anchor?