Why Traction Boards Are Worth Carrying This Winter

Winter driving and off-road adventures have at least one thing in common: it doesn't take much to find yourself stuck. Deep snow, loose sand, mud, or an icy backroad can stop even a capable truck when the tires can no longer find enough grip.

That's why traction boards are such a useful piece of recovery gear to keep on your truck. They're simple, don't require another vehicle, and can give your tires the extra bite they need to get moving again. You don't have to be a hardcore off-roader to justify carrying a set, either. If you regularly drive through snow, spend time on unmaintained roads, head to a hunting or fishing spot, or simply want to be better prepared during winter, they're a useful tool to have along.

Of course, carrying traction boards creates another problem: where do you put them?

Traction boards are bulky, and after they've been used, they're usually covered in snow, mud, sand, or whatever else you just drove through. Throwing them inside the cab isn't ideal, and leaving them loose in the bed takes up space and makes them harder to access when the bed is loaded with other gear.

That's where the BuiltRight Traction Board Mounts come in.

Keep Your Recovery Gear Where You Need It

We designed our traction board mounting solution to do something pretty simple: give your boards a secure, dedicated place on the truck without unnecessarily sacrificing usable bed space.

Instead of tossing them in with the rest of your gear, mounting your traction boards keeps them organized and easy to reach. When you're already stuck in knee-deep snow or mud, the last thing you want to do is dig through everything in the bed looking for your recovery equipment.

A dedicated mount also means dirty boards stay outside of the cab. Use them, knock off the worst of the snow or mud, put them back on the mount, and get moving.

More Than an Off-Road Accessory

Traction boards tend to be associated with heavily modified off-road and overland builds, but they're just as useful on a daily-driven truck.

If you live somewhere that gets real winter weather, you've probably seen how quickly conditions can change. A snow-covered driveway, unplowed road, parking area, or drift can leave a truck spinning its tires. Four-wheel drive and good tires make a huge difference, but there's always a point where the available traction simply isn't enough.

A set of traction boards gives you another option before you have to start looking for someone with a tow strap.

They're also handy during warmer months. Muddy trails, loose dirt, sand, wet campsites, and backroads can all create the same basic problem: the truck has enough power to move, but the tires don't have enough traction to use it.

Why the Mount Matters

Recovery gear only works if you have it with you and can get to it when you need it.

That's the idea behind the BuiltRight approach to truck-bed organization. Rather than having tools and recovery equipment rolling around the bed, our mounting systems give that gear a dedicated home while helping preserve the space you need for cargo.

For traction boards in particular, a good mounting location makes a big difference. They're large enough to be annoying when they're loose, but they're also something you'll want to grab quickly when you're stuck. Keeping them securely mounted gets them out of the way during everyday driving while keeping them ready when conditions go sideways.

The mount also fits naturally into a larger recovery setup. Add a recovery strap, shackles, shovel, gloves, air compressor, and a few basic tools, and you've got a much more capable truck without turning the bed into a pile of equipment.

Be Ready Before You're Stuck

Most of us don't head out expecting to get stuck. That's kind of the point of carrying recovery gear in the first place.

Traction boards are simple, useful in a wide range of conditions, and don't require another vehicle to help you use them. Whether you're heading off-road for the weekend or just preparing for another winter, they're an easy addition to your recovery kit.

And with a set of BuiltRight Traction Board Mounts , you don't have to choose between bringing them along and having them constantly in the way.

Keep them mounted, keep them accessible, and hopefully you won't need them.

But when you do, you'll be glad they're already on the truck.