MaxTrax Mounting Pins Buyer's Guide: Tested & Reviewed

Maxtrax mounting pins are a small purchase with a disproportionate impact on how your recovery gear functions in the field. If your traction boards are rattling loose on a roof rack or buried under gear in the bed, they aren’t available when you need them. That’s the entire problem these kits solve. For a broader look at how mounting systems fit into a complete recovery setup, the Traction Boards & Recovery Tracks hub is worth a read before you commit to hardware.

The evaluation criteria here are tighter than most accessory categories: fitment compatibility, pin retention under vibration, and installation method. Get those three right and the rest follows.


What to Look For in Maxtrax Mounting Pins

Board Compatibility

Not all mounting pin sets fit all boards. The MKII and Xtreme are Maxtrax’s two current platforms, and their hole geometries differ enough that a pin set designed for one may not seat correctly in the other. Combo sets exist specifically to address this , they ship with pins matched to both hole sizes so you’re not sourcing hardware separately for a mixed kit.

Universal kits from third-party manufacturers take a different approach. They specify a hole-spacing range , typically expressed in inches or millimeters , rather than a specific board brand. Verify the hole spacing on your boards against the kit’s stated range before ordering. A mismatch here isn’t fixable with a wrench.

Mount Surface Compatibility

Roof racks, crossbars, and cargo baskets don’t share a universal geometry. Some mounting kits assume a flat rail with standard spacing; others use an adjustable bracket that spans a range of rail widths. If your rack runs something like a Sherpa or Rhino-Rack with non-standard crossbar spacing, confirm the bracket range explicitly , not just the pin diameter.

Truck bed installations add another variable. Boards mounted flat in a bed often need longer pins or a different bracket profile than the same boards on a rack. A few universal kits call this out in their specs; most don’t. When in doubt, measure the mounting surface depth and compare it against the pin length in the kit.

Retention and Lockability

Vibration is the enemy of any mount system. A pin that seats snugly in a parking lot will loosen over washboard roads in an hour. Look for kits that use a positive locking mechanism , a cotter pin, a threaded collar, or a tool-free lockable pin , rather than friction fit alone.

Lockability also matters for theft deterrence, though it’s secondary to retention. Some kits include a padlock hasp; others thread onto a standard padlock shackle. For most builds, vibration resistance is the higher priority, but having the padlock option is worth noting if you’re parking in trailheads overnight.

Hardware Quality

The pins themselves see shear load every time the vehicle flexes on uneven terrain. Stainless steel or zinc-coated steel hardware holds up to that load and resists the moisture exposure that comes with outdoor storage. Aluminum pins exist at the budget end , they’re lighter, but the fatigue resistance under cyclic load is lower.

For a complete picture of how mounting systems interact with the rest of your recovery kit, the recovery traction gear overview covers the relationship between board selection and mounting strategy in useful detail.

Top Picks

Maxtrax MKII Mounting Pin Set

The Maxtrax MKII Mounting Pin Set is the baseline answer for anyone running MKII boards and wanting manufacturer-matched hardware. The pins are dimensioned to the MKII’s hole geometry, which means no guesswork about fit , they seat the way the board was designed to be mounted.

Owner reports are consistent on retention: these pins hold through corrugated dirt roads without loosening, which is the primary job. The kit doesn’t overcomplicate the installation; it’s a straightforward mount that gets boards off the floor and onto a rack where they’re accessible.

The honest limitation is scope. This kit works for MKII boards specifically. If you add Xtreme boards later, you’ll be sourcing a second set of pins. For a single-model setup, that’s a non-issue , but for mixed fleets, the combo set covered below is a more practical starting point.

Check current price on Amazon.

ALL-TOP Recovery Board Mount Kit

The ALL-TOP Recovery Board Mount Kit is the most flexible option in this group. The adjustable bracket spans a range of rack widths, and the lockable pin system lets you dial in the mounting position rather than being locked to a fixed geometry. For builds with non-standard crossbar spacing, that adjustability matters.

The DIY installation approach keeps the cost down and doesn’t require specialized tools. The bracket system is legible , if you can torque a bolt to spec, you can install this correctly. The trade-off is that some vehicles with unusual rail profiles will require drilling or minor modification to get a clean fit.

The universal fit claim is accurate within the stated range, but “universal” still has limits. Verified buyers note that boards with atypical hole spacing occasionally require shimming or adapter plates. That’s not a fatal flaw, but it’s worth verifying your board’s specs against the kit before ordering rather than assuming compatibility.

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Maxtrax Mounting Pin Set 40mm Combo

The Maxtrax Mounting Pin Set 40mm Combo is the right answer for anyone running both Xtreme and MKII boards. The 40mm pins are dimensioned for both platforms, and the combo packaging means you get what you need for a mixed kit in a single order rather than hunting down two separate sets.

Field reports confirm the fit on both board types is clean and retention is solid. The Maxtrax-specific engineering shows here , the pins are matched to the actual hole geometries of both current platforms, not a generic approximation. For owners who’ve standardized on Maxtrax across the board, there’s a clear advantage to staying within that ecosystem for hardware.

The limitation is identical to the MKII kit: this hardware doesn’t cross over to non-Maxtrax boards. If you’re running X-Bull, Maxsa, or any other brand alongside your Maxtrax gear, this set doesn’t help you on those boards.

Check current price on Amazon.

Traction Board Mounting Kit by Easy-to-Install

The Traction Board Mounting Kit is the option for buyers running non-Maxtrax boards or for anyone who wants a purpose-built mounting solution without brand-specific constraints. The stated hole spacing range of 4.72 to 6.69 inches covers a wide swath of the recovery board market, including several brands that don’t offer their own mounting hardware.

Installation is described by verified buyers as genuinely straightforward , the kit ships with hardware and instructions, and most installs come in well under an hour. For truck bed mounts in particular, the dedicated bracket profile performs well where some universal kits fall short.

The unknown-brand provenance is the honest concern here. Without an established warranty track record or a named manufacturer behind the product, long-term hardware quality is harder to verify than with the Maxtrax-branded options. Based on current owner reviews, the hardware holds up , but the durability picture over multiple years of field use is less established.

Check current price on Amazon.


Buying Guide

Matching Pins to Your Specific Board

The single most important step before ordering is confirming the hole geometry and spacing on your recovery boards. Maxtrax MKII and Xtreme are the dominant platforms with available first-party hardware, and both have documented hole specs. Third-party boards vary considerably , measure the hole diameter, depth, and center-to-center spacing, then compare against the kit’s stated compatibility range.

If you own boards from multiple brands, the only viable path is a universal kit with a wide spacing range, or purchasing separate brand-specific sets. There is no single pin set that fits every board on the market.

Rack and Mount Surface Variables

Pin selection doesn’t exist in isolation from the rack it attaches to. Crossbar width, rail profile, and available mounting depth all affect whether a given kit installs cleanly or requires modification. Adjustable bracket kits handle this more gracefully than fixed-geometry sets, but they introduce their own variables around torque specs and bracket rigidity.

Roof rack installations and truck bed installations behave differently. Bed mounts often see more vibration and require longer pins or additional bracing. Verify the kit’s stated use cases include your mounting surface , a kit optimized for roof racks may underperform in a bed application.

Locking Versus Non-Locking Pins

Not every use case requires a locking mechanism, but vibration resistance always does. On paved roads, a friction-fit pin may hold indefinitely. On corrugated dirt, exposed roots, and rock, it won’t. Any kit going on a vehicle that sees real off-road use should have a positive retention mechanism.

Lockable pins add theft deterrence on top of retention. For overlanders parking at remote trailheads for multiple nights, that’s a meaningful benefit. For day trips to established recreation areas, it’s a secondary concern. Prioritize retention first; treat lockability as a bonus.

Brand-Specific vs. Universal Kits

Brand-specific kits , both Maxtrax sets covered here , offer known fitment and engineering matched to their boards. For anyone standardized on a single platform, this is the lower-friction option. The purchase is simple, the fit is confirmed, and the hardware quality is consistent with the board manufacturer’s standards.

Universal kits expand compatibility but shift more of the fitment verification work to the buyer. The recovery traction mounting options section covers this trade-off in more depth , the short version is that universal kits reward buyers who measure before ordering and penalize those who assume compatibility.

Installation Complexity and Tools Required

Most mounting pin kits in this category are DIY-friendly by design. The complexity ceiling is typically drilling one or two holes in a rack rail, which requires a drill and the correct bit for your rack material. Kits that require drilling should state so explicitly in the product description , if the listing is ambiguous, assume drilling may be required and plan accordingly.

For builds with a finished rack installation you’d prefer not to modify, confirm the kit’s installation method before purchasing. Several kits in this category mount without drilling and are worth prioritizing if rack modification isn’t an option.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Maxtrax MKII and Xtreme mounting pins?

The MKII and Xtreme boards have different hole geometries, so their mounting pins are not interchangeable. MKII-specific pins are dimensioned for that board’s hole profile, while the 40mm combo set ships with pins sized for both platforms. If you run only MKII boards, the standard MKII pin set is sufficient. Mixed fleets of both board types should start with the Maxtrax Mounting Pin Set 40mm Combo.

Can I use a universal mounting kit with Maxtrax boards?

Yes, provided the kit’s stated hole spacing range covers the spacing on your specific boards. Universal kits like the ALL-TOP Recovery Board Mount Kit specify a compatibility range , measure your board’s hole spacing and confirm it falls within that range before ordering. Universal kits often make more sense for mixed-brand setups or for builders who want bracket adjustability across different rack widths.

Do mounting pin kits work for truck bed installations as well as roof racks?

Most kits are designed primarily for roof rack and crossbar mounting, but several universal options cover truck bed applications. The key variable is pin length and bracket depth , bed installations often have different mounting surface geometry than rack rails. Review the product specs for explicit mention of truck bed compatibility, and verify the pin length matches your bed’s mounting surface depth.

How do I prevent mounting pins from loosening on rough roads?

Friction-fit pins will loosen under sustained vibration , this is a documented failure mode, not a fluke. Kits with a positive locking mechanism, whether a cotter pin, threaded collar, or lockable pin, address this directly. Check pin torque after the first significant off-road run regardless of the retention system used, and re-torque as needed. Verified buyers consistently note that the lockable pin designs from both Maxtrax and the ALL-TOP kit hold significantly better than friction-fit alternatives on corrugated surfaces.

Is a mounting pin set necessary, or can I just strap boards to my rack?

Strapping works and plenty of builds use it, but mounting pins provide a more secure and accessible solution. Straps can loosen, abrade, and complicate one-handed board retrieval when you’re trying to deploy in a hurry. Purpose-built mounting hardware keeps boards in a fixed, predictable position and typically allows faster deployment. For vehicles that see frequent off-road use, the case for dedicated mounting hardware over straps is strong.