Features:

  • 2 Pack, Each traction mat is 47.63 inches long and 13.77 inches wide
  • Raised tracks help prevent vehicle tires from spinning on snow, ice, mud or sand
  • Ideal for off-road use to help spinning tires get traction in the elements
  • Lightweight, Durable, High-impact Polypropylene plastic construction make these built to last
  • No towing or pushing required
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT, LIFE SAVING/VECHILE SAVING

I bought these before taking my new Tacoma on its first adventure thinking I wouldn't have to use them anytime soon since the 2017 Trd off road comes ready to handle A LOT. After driving 30 miles up the coast of south padre island through all sorts of mud, soft untouched sand, and deep ruts I thought this truck wasn't going to find anything it couldn't handle. I followed an beautiful and thrilling trail along dolphin filled lagunas until the trail opened up to a playa (salt flat) area. Started like a dream then as the tire tracks begin to disappear I found my self stuck as I'll ever be in sticky clay rich mud known as earth of the devil. I went solo so here I was stuck in BFE with no service and at least an hour away from the last vehicle I passed. After three hours of digging the truck began sinking at a terrifying rate and water was emerging around the tries, MIRACULOUSLY I freed my taco from this graveyard (4X4 parts everywhere in this hell hole) just as the sun was setting. These ESCAPER BUDDIES made that miracle possible and are literally LIFE SAVERS, not to mention, VEHICLE SAVERS. These things are essential, plain and simple, just when you think you don't need them, trust me you will. Worth every penny!

Moral of the story: Learn how to use them.

I read the 1-star reviews to see what the complaints were. Several people noted "wheels spin" or "the plastic melts," among other complaints. After reading all of the reviews (6 at the time of this review), I came to the conclusion the individuals who gave one star didn't use the product correctly. The plastic melted because the wheels were spinning. And if you're spinning your tires, you're doing it wrong. Period. They failed the product, the product didn't fail them. I rarely write reviews. But after my experience this past weekend, I think this product deserves one. I bought these for $97 back in May 2017 to add to my off-road recovery gear and I wanted to wait until they got some use before writing a review. They've been used successfully (and correctly) about 8 times: once in loose, wet river rock, and the rest in the snow. I drive a 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4WD double cab that I've built up for weekend trail runs and camping in areas not accessible without 4wd, proper tires, and some ground clearance. Went on a snow run with some folks this past Sunday after a few storms finally dumped a lot of snow (Mormon Emigrant Trail in California if you're interested). My boards were used once by a 2018 Toyota Tundra and a newer Ford F150, three times by a 2nd gen Toyota Tacoma, and once by me. They've never failed and only have minor damage on the bottom. The little tractions nubs are all intact. That's what you can expect if you use the right. So, how do people have such different experiences? It all comes down to the person using them. I'm guessing some tossed them in their car or truck without bothering to learn how and when to use them. And when the time came, they thought they knew what they were doing and ended up breaking their new traction boards because it turns out they didn't know what they were doing. In frustration, they decided to blame the company for making an inferior product. Inferior product? My experience says otherwise. Bottom line: They're not magic, they are tools. And like all tools, they must be used correctly in order to effectively fulfill their purpose.

like an idiot (like me)

I have a modified, big, heavy (7,000 lb) Land Cruiser and I have had these escaper buddies for a couple years now. I wheel a lot alone, in the Rocky Mountains, and when I get stuck, I rely on my gear to help me get out. These are an indispensable part of my recovery gear, along with my winch and hi-lift jack and tow ropes. These lil' guys help get you out of the deep stuff when nothing else will! Just be careful not to spin your tires on them, like an idiot (like me), and they will probably last a lot longer!

Great Price - Durable - Excellent Recovery Tool

We had a snowstorm and decided to take the two 4x4's for a spin around the house several times. Not the best idea. Got the truck stuck to the frame and tried to use the Jeep with lockers to pull it out. Jeep immediately dug itself to sitting on the axles. By themselves, these have to be somewhat flat to work best. I had my vehicles stuck in huge holes and tried the traction pads with just jamming them between the tire and mud. Didn't work, which isn't too surprising. After putting cinder blocks/wood under the tires and using these to cover other mud holes, drove right out. Also, Jeep go re-stuck in another pool of mud while turning around and used these, worked great. I have these and the Smittybuilt traction pads. These are tough. Didn't melt or break. The Smittybuilt pads have one with missing traction spikes and the other cracked width wise. The Escaper buddy seems to be the better buy and worked great.

Escaper Buddies work in deep sand

I pulled a camper down the beach and I hit soft sand. My rear wheels sank down to the rear bumper. I was unable to move forward even in 4-lo. I dug down with the Escaper Buddies and placed them at the rear wheels. Having read other reviews, I knew not to spin the tires on them so I pulled forward gently. Once they were under the tires, the rear lifted up out of the sand and I rolled forward. That is, until I hit the end of the Escaper Buddies. The rear wheels promptly sank again. Too much tongue weight. Repeated the a-fore mentioned process to get to more firm sand. They were not damaged and they worked very well.

Incredible Purchase!

These traction pads are amazing! For anybody that's never used them, essentially you jam them against your drive tires in slick conditions or if you're stuck in sand, and your tires grip them and pull you right out! I travel off-road constantly and slick mud is everywhere. I have used these more than a dozen times in the last 3-4 months and every time I can attribute my escape to these. The bright orange makes them easy to see after digging them into the mud, and the knobs are durable enough to withstand a very large truck's beating. It should be noted that when using these, if you're tires are still spinning you need to stop and reevaluate their position, because as with all plastic, they can melt. I would buy another set of these in a heartbeat! If you've ever heard of MAXTRAX (the premium brand of traction aids) then you understand how serious it is when I say that I would purchase these again before another pair of MaxTrax. For the price, the quality, the durability, and the hundreds of uses, you CANNOT go wrong with these. If I could give them six stars I would have.

Trail Benders Overland approved! 5 stars!!!

Used in my recent trip to Zion... it was raining, I was going up the side of a hillside and slid down roads the edge, I gunned it hoping I would catch some traction and wouldn’t roll down, instead I buried myself to the frame. I used this great piece of gear and with no hesitation I got out of that sticky situation with this piece of gear! Thank you for a great product, reliable and lived up to the name! My YouTube channel is Trail Benders Overland, I did a review of this product as well as documented my whole Zion barracks trail expedition, check it out as the videos will be released shortly!

feelin' pretty pleased that I hadn't paid hundreds of bucks for ...

I don't normally write reviews, but after getting my wrangler caught at the bottom a steep walled sand dune 'ravine' in Florence, OR and being turned down by 2 local off road recovery companies, I put these mats to use and was completely blown away. After 15 or so 'resets' I was at the crest of the dune, feelin' pretty pleased that I hadn't paid hundreds of bucks for somebody to pull me out. I didn't have problems melting them down with tires or bending them in half. With a sliver of care laying them out and very light throttle in 4lo, these things came out looking unused. Aside from not stacking as nicely as others, I see no reason to drop 2-3x as much on the name brand ones. 10/10 would (not) get stuck again.

A must - fantastic

These are a must for anyone going off road. I have been stuck twice, in sand and a crevice on a ridge. These mats got me right out. My grandson had a friend stuck in a muddy slough. Nothing worked, 4 wheel drive, winch. But when they worked the mats under the back wheels, the 4 wheel truck came right out. They couldn't believe it.

Traction mat, table, weapon, winch anchor, they do it all.

HOLY MOLY! I could not believe how strong these were. I did melt the points off one pretty easily. I think that is not uncommon for the plastic models, no matter the manufacturer. I can tell you that they make a pretty decent anchor too. I didn't have a pull pal, and we were WAY stuck in a silt road in a rainstorm in Moab area. Wrapped winch cable around it, buried it in a road, and winched a heavy van UPHILL to it, twice. The synthetic winch cable pulled through the handles, and it bent slightly, but that's okay because it got us up the hill. Highly recommended. Don't expect them to do much on ice or snow though. They just shoot out the backend, which is a little humorous, but not useful. Not much will help you there.

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