Guys Who Drive Around Town with Traction Mats

• Traction pads
• Traction mats
• Recover and extraction device

Whatever you call them. I see a ton of guys in Tacomas, Jeeps, and sometimes 4Runners, driving around town with these things attached to their vehicles, every day. Wondering what is the point? Are they a pain the ass to take off the vehicle when you're not offroading? It is a show-off thing? Maybe just too lazy to remove? I've never used them or had a use for them so I genuinely don't know.

Same thing goes for those flat jerry cans for extra gas, like the ones from RotoPax. See a lot of guys driving around town with those attached. Worried about running out gas on highway 1? Lol

 

Some guys like to accessorize their Barbie Jeep

 

It's just for looks.

Get ready for 12 pages of butthurt.

 

Never know when you might need the extra traction



or it’s just were they store them.

 

Speed bumps at the malls is a real struggle i heard

 

That's the first time I've ever seen one. I don't foresee the need.
Maybe it has a bit to do with where you live....dunno?

 

Not sure where you live, but there are some big pot holes out there.

 

Guess I'll just have to drive around them.

 

In the red clay South tire claws are used more often IMO. Just don't see alot of vehicles sporting the traction mats.

 

I leave as many accessories on my truck as possible at all times since I’m trying to go camping almost once a week. A lot of those times it’s last minute trips and the more that’s already on the truck and the less I have to do, the more that influences my decision to just get in the truck and go. Also, where I surf almost everyday idiots are constantly getting stuck in the sand. You don’t know how many minivans and sedans I’ve helped out with the traction boards and shovel.

 

Cuz they’re a bitch to take off

 

Maybe they are keeping the rotopax on their trucks in cause they come across some cheap gas ..

 

That's what plastic trashbags are for brah

 

I'm all stocked up and ready to overland!

 

It's funny, I currently have my (empty) Yakima basket on top of my truck because we are moving soon and I'm trying to free up garage space and get an idea of what we are packing is going where - and some stuff gonna go on the roof. But I feel like a toolbag driving around town with it on there.

I prefer a "gray man" sort of blend in approach... too much extra shit on your truck and you gonna get noticed by people you don't want noticing you...

 

You staying in the same area up there or moving elsewhere?

 

Back to Ohio. I gave 5 years to this place and I can't do it anymore. Love love love California for all the outdoor opportunities, especially this far north on the coast; but I can no longer mitigate the downsides to being here.

We got a really nice ranch style house, 4 bdr, 3 bath, 2.5 car garage, pole barn, 8 acres with woods and a pond back home for $325,000. That's what a fucking trailer costs in Calif, you know. I'm sure it's even more expensive to live in Santa Cruz.

 

Yeah, it's really tough to buy a house out here.......especially now that real estate prices have gone crazy the last couple of years.

I wish you the best with your move.

The new place sounds awesome!

 

In Cali all that shit gets stolen.

 

hahahaha

I keep the gas can on as well, and full. Never know when you may need some gas. I don’t see the point in outfitting my truck with shit just to take it on and off every time I go on a road trip or camping. I didn’t pay 3x more for quick disconnect on everything lol

 

I have a way of steering threads off topic as fuck

I took this picture about 45 seconds before I woke this fool up and arrested him. He literally walked in the loading area of the coroner's office, stole a gurney, pushed it outside, and went to sleep on it.

So yeah, if it is accessible, they gonna steal it. Imagine what this mother fucker would do with traction boards!!! He'd build a tiny house with an orange roof!

 

That’s why everything on my truck was locked down. And it’s garaged. If I parked outside, I would never leave all that crap on my truck.

 

Nice setup I like it

 

When I had my roof basket I left them on there all summer. I also kept my Hi-lift up there in a Plano case most of the time. It had nothing to do with looking cool or laziness.

I skip town at least every other weekend. What's the point of unloading all of my gear just to load it back up in a few days? So some douchebag on the internet won't think I'm a poser?

Aside from that, I SURE AS HELL hope nobody who has "Raptor lights" is making fun of guys for driving around with traction boards. That would be ridiculous!

 

I tend to agree with this mindset. It's the biggest thing I like about not having a roof basket anymore. Most people wouldn't even give my 4Runner a second look.

 

You want to talk about buying stuff just for the looks...

Someone around me is driving around with one of those storage boxes on their new defender, I see it parked in front of a Starbucks usually. Yes I also see people driving around with maxtrax too. I prefer mods that make my 4runner better without being in your face, like adding diff breathers.

 

Those are lame, but are actually OEM.

 

Adding, or relocating?


I sure hope you're not doing anything that requires a diff breather relocation without a set of traction boards.


As far as being in your face; many times outside of the vehicle is the best location for traction boards. I sure know I wouldn't want to put mine back inside of the 4runner when they're covered in mud.

 

I left my traction boards and rotopax cans on my Taco 24/7 and will be doing the same on the runner........but.........#notadaily