I've just bought a pair of autosocks, figuring the £50 is a good investment if it means I don't get stranded on the way to a client. I thought I'd post here to recommend The Roof Box Company, who supplied them. Very fast service, and quick resolution of my post-sales query. I also liked the fact that they suggested that I actually go and look at the size printed on my tyres before finalising the order, rather than relying on what was printed on the receipt from the last fast-fit place I used.
The only downside was taking a while to get through when I first rang to place the order.
Usual disclaimer: I have no relationship with the company other than that of satisfied customer.
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I heartily endorse Pete's endorsement of the RBC. It's a superb blend of 21st century web retailing and old-fashioned sensible advice and customer service. I've bought roof bar and bike carrier hardware from them for both our cars, and each time they've answered questions promptly and helpfully, then delivered the goods on time and without fuss. Shouldn't be that difficult to achieve, of course, but plenty don't; this lot do and they deserve to do well.
Let us know how you get on with the socks, Pete. I have a big hill to climb these days to get out of town to work, so perhaps I should have some too.
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Another vote for the Roof Box company here. Really good customer service when it was needed, very friendly and always helpful.
Regards
R40
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I bought some roof bars to fit the FocuST from The Roof Box Company in the summer, I got some customer return alloy Atera bars at a great price, great service.
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I had a bad experience, which turned into a good one, which gives an interesting slant on it. I tried last winter to but some autosocks from them. Placed and online order and then heard nothing at all. For ages. Really they should have just posted a note on their home page to explain the problem.
Turns out that they were just (excuse the pun) snowed under, with many times the numbers of enquries and orders than they would normally expect due to the poor weather.
This was explained in a long email from the MD on a weekend, sent to every person apologising for the bad service and lack of supply. He later contacted me personally to apologise and (sadly, after the snow had gone) the items arrived.
The mark of good service is not that there is never a problem, but how well the people deal with it, and I was very satisfied.
Have yet to try the socks, but looking forward to it.
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I bough some Autosocks last year and they were OK as they do work very well on snow or ice. Their downside is that they are completely shredded if you travel more than a mile or so on tarmac so you need to take them off when you hit a cleared road, which is a pain. Mine were completely ruined after a couple of local journeys and I've thrown them away
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Fri 22 Oct 10 at 16:08
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And they are useless because the car in front of you won't have them and will block the road.
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They are £65 for my 225/45/17. Silly price. Found another brand at £49, still a silly price though.
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They look, in photos, as though they are basically garden fleece?
John
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They do look look like they are made of horticultural fleece. That's why I find the prices silly.
My BIL and a friend have both tried them out in Scottish snow (Renault Clio 182 and Toyota Yaris) and report they do what it says on the tin.
Last edited by: Glaikit Wee Scunner Snr. {P} on Sun 24 Oct 10 at 12:33
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So a few yards of fleece in the boot might be a cheap "get you out of a hole" solution... ?
John
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>> So a few yards of fleece in the boot might be a cheap "get you
>> out of a hole" solution... ?
>>
>> John
>>
I fought they were called sacks, or floor mats.
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Jute Tesco Bags - 98p for two today - every little helps.
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For keeping your Tescos in?
John
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I want to invent a device which stores sand or grit in a dispenser in the wheelarches above the driven wheels. You'd press a button as you do for your screen washer and it would trickle some sand or gritty stuff on to your tyres if you were stuck in snow or on ice.
Do you think I should call Theo Pamphlet or Duncan Bannatyne ?
:-)
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How about heated tyres to melt the ice and snow?
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Na, they'd melt. Flame throwers in front of each wheel would be better.
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Little tyre width shovels which you could lower from underneath your front bumper in front of your tyres like mini personal snow ploughs...
Edit - and grit dispensers and flame throwers and heated tyres.
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Sun 24 Oct 10 at 18:25
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But what happens when the snow is deep enough to turn your car into bulldozer? (If thinking "too difficult, I'm going back to bed" is not an option).
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>> (If thinking "too difficult, I'm going back to bed" is not an option).
Going back to bed is never not an option.
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>> I want to invent a device which stores sand or grit in a dispenser in
>> the wheelarches above the driven wheels.
I think you'll find the steam locomotive designers were there long before you, Humph
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>> >> I want to invent a device which stores sand or grit in a dispenser
>> in
>> >> the wheelarches above the driven wheels.
>> I think you'll find the steam locomotive designers were there long before you, Humph
The Ford Capri used to do that. Alas here was no way to get the dispenser to dispense the sand and grit, so it remained to attract moisture and rot the bodywork.
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>> Steam locomotive
Clever chaps those industrial revolutionaries.
Last edited by: Humph D'bout on Sun 24 Oct 10 at 19:03
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What about an Archimedes screw hanging off the front of the bonnet and pushing it all over to one side and dumping it onto pedestrians? They shouldn't be out in that sort of weather anyway.
John
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IIRC in the early 70's you could buy a kit to install some sort of aerosol sticky stuff that you sprayed on your tyres as soon as the going got errrr sticky.
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>> Do you think I should call Theo Pamphlet or Duncan Bannatyne ?
>>
>> :-)
>>
No, call the National Railway Museum. Such stuff has been standard equipment on railway engines for over 100 years!
Edit......Borasport beat me to it!
Last edited by: Harleyman on Sun 24 Oct 10 at 20:32
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And another to recommend the RBC. I've bought a box and two sets of bars from them - both times I had cause to ring them after delivery and they went out of their way to help.
(No connection, just a very satisfied customer)>>
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Autosocks & The Roof Box Company - WillDeBeest
