What Are Traction Boards and When Do You Need Them?

Traction boards are one of the simplest recovery tools you can carry off-road. When your tires lose traction in sand, mud, snow, or loose terrain, they provide a solid surface for the tire to grab and can often get you moving again without another vehicle or a winch.

Watch: What Are Traction Boards?

We recently took the 9AM Jeep out and broke down one of the simplest pieces of recovery gear you can keep with your vehicle: traction boards.

They're simple, don't require power, and can be extremely useful when you're dealing with loose terrain.

How Do Traction Boards Work?

When a vehicle gets stuck, spinning tires can dig farther into soft terrain until there isn't enough traction available to move the vehicle.

A traction board gives the tire a more stable, high-grip surface to drive onto.

Depending on the situation, you may need to clear some sand, dirt, mud, or snow from around the tire before sliding the board underneath it.

Once it's positioned, use smooth, controlled throttle to allow the tire to climb onto the board. Excessive wheelspin can dig the vehicle deeper and make the recovery more difficult.

When Should You Use Traction Boards?

Traction boards are particularly useful in:

• Sand

• Mud

• Snow

• Loose dirt

• Deep ruts

• Other low-traction terrain

They're especially valuable when you're off-roading alone.

Unlike a traditional recovery strap, you don't need a second vehicle. Unlike a winch, you don't need an anchor point.

That makes them one of the easiest self-recovery tools to keep on an off-road or overland build.

Do Traction Boards Replace a Winch?

No—and they don't really need to.

Traction boards and winches solve different problems.

Traction boards work best when the vehicle can still drive itself out once traction is restored. A winch becomes much more important when the vehicle is severely stuck, cannot move under its own power, or needs to be pulled in a specific direction.

For a well-equipped off-road vehicle, they're complementary recovery tools rather than replacements for one another.

How Many Traction Boards Do You Need?

For most recreational off-road vehicles, two traction boards are a good starting point.

A pair lets you provide additional traction to two tires at the same time while keeping the amount of recovery gear you're carrying reasonable.

Some off-road and overland builds carry four boards, particularly when regularly traveling through very soft sand, snow, or other difficult terrain.

Are Traction Boards Worth Carrying?

If you regularly take your vehicle off-road, yes.

They're relatively simple, require no electrical power, don't depend on another vehicle, and can solve many common recovery situations before you need to attempt something more complicated.

They're also easy to keep accessible by mounting them to a roof rack, bed rack, spare-tire carrier, or another exterior mounting system.

Like most recovery equipment, though, the best time to figure out what you need is before you're stuck.

What Else Should Be in an Off-Road Recovery Kit?

Traction boards are only one part of a useful recovery setup.

Depending on where and how you wheel, your recovery gear may also include recovery straps, soft shackles, recovery points, a shovel, tire deflator, portable air compressor, tire repair equipment, and eventually a winch.

Shop Traction Boards & Recovery Gear

9 Aftermarket Motorsports carries traction boards and off-road recovery equipment from brands including Maxtrax, ARB, RotopaX, Mojab Offroad, and other off-road manufacturers.

Whether you're putting together your first recovery kit or outfitting a dedicated overland build, having the right equipment with you can make getting stuck a minor inconvenience instead of the end of your day.

[SHOP OFF-ROAD RECOVERY GEAR AT 9AM]

Quick Answers

What are traction boards?
Traction boards are recovery devices placed underneath a vehicle's tires to provide additional grip in sand, mud, snow, loose dirt, and other low-traction terrain.

How do you use traction boards?
Clear material from around the tire if necessary, position the traction board underneath the tire in the direction you want to travel, and use controlled throttle to drive onto the board.

Do traction boards work in sand?
Yes. Sand is one of the most common situations where traction boards can help a vehicle regain traction.

Do you need two or four traction boards?
Two boards are sufficient for many recreational off-road situations. Four can provide additional recovery options in extremely soft or difficult terrain.

Do traction boards replace a winch?
No. Traction boards are best for restoring traction when the vehicle can still move under its own power. A winch is better suited to more difficult recoveries where the vehicle needs to be pulled.