This page shows
further information on The Roof Box Company's range of snowchains for cars, 4x4s and light commercial vehicles.
>>RUD
Power
Our
most popular snow chain, and also the cheapest snowchain (most cost £44.95),
is the Power. These come packed in a ballistic nylon zipped carrying
case which also has space for other items, e.g. a tow rope. RUD have now switched
from plastic cases as it's much more difficult to put chains back into plastic
cases than into fabric ones. Power
and Power 4 x 4 snow chains are described as 'stationary fitting chains' - i.e.
you don't need to move the car to fit them. You start the operation at ground
level, pushing a steel hoop behind the wheel before lifting it up the face
of the wheel and clipping the two ends together towards the top of the tyre.
For ease of fitting you need to be able to push your hand over the top of
the wheel. If there's only limited clearance between the wheel arch and the
top of the wheel we'd recommend automatic snowchains - see below.
Both Power and Power 4 x 4 snow chains have a reversible
chain mesh to give the chains a longer lifetime.
Click here for a demonstration of how to fit a Power snowchain.
Note that almost all our pictures show the front of the wheel - the cable
hoop is on the inside of the wheel, out of sight.
Automatic snow chains, a RUD patent,
are easier to use than standard cable snowchains (e.g. RUD Power and almost
all competitor products). They really come into their own when it's difficult
to fit standard chains due to the limited clearance between the wheel arch
and the top of the wheel. Classic automatic car chains - cost from
£86.95 - are available in most sizes.
Both Classic automatics and DISCs are packed
in a very smart zipped carrying case that will lie flat in your boot (50 x
50 x 4 cm). Fitting Classic automatics and DISCs is a doddle. You push the
sprung steel hoop over the top of the wheel - easy even with limited wheel
arch clearance - before driving a quarter revolution. (This brings the pulley
system and tensioning chain back into view, and covers the whole tyre in chain.)
You then pull the tensioning chain tight and wrap it out of the way. It's
then sensible to stop and re-tension these chains after driving a short distance.
(See FAQs comments on 'self tensioning devices' for information on self tensioning
chains.) Click here
for a demonstration of fitting a DISC snowchain. The Classic automatic snow chain is fitted
in the same way.
Do
I buy Power chains, Easy2Go, or 'automatic' Classic
/ DISC chains?
Frankly, the cheaper Power snow chains are very adequate
for most users. Easy2Go snowchains are basically
self tensioning Power chains with superior alloy rim protection features.
They are new for 2004 / 2005 and are recommended for those who want to trade
up from the basic snowchain. Classic automatic snow chains are superior quality, and
much easier to use where there is limited clearance between wheel and wheel
arch. Fitting Powers / Easy2Go snowchains may necessitate
kneeling on the ground to clear away snow, or reaching behind the tyre to
grab one end of the chain, whereas the automatic chains fall down behind the
wheel by virtue of gravity. Fitting Classic automatic / DISC snow chains is therefore
cleaner, but not faster. All competitor snow chains work on the same principle
as the Powers snow chain - the automatic snowchains are a RUD patent.
Certain
cars with large wheels need the DISC snowchain, from £133.95.
Many customers buy DISC snow chains out of preference to ordinary Classic automatic
snowchains as they not only look good but provide complete protection for alloy
rims, although the reality is that properly fitted cheaper snow chains won't
damage alloys.
The Centrax snow chain costs from £184.95
and features a combination of chain and spikes - it's suitable for driving
on both snow and ice. Without a doubt this is the fastest fitting device we
have seen anywhere. These snow chains are only available for certain tyre
sizes, but the ability to add and remove links (spare links are provided)
means that if you stick with cars with similar sized tyres they should provide
long term value. As with all RUD snowchains, the Centrax is supplied in space
saving packaging. The Centrax bag is triangulated so it will fit flush against
the back of the rear seat.
Fitting the Centrax snow chain is as
easy as they come. Push it onto the top of the tyre, clip it to the pre-positioned
wheel nut adapter using a push button device, and get back in the car. The
Centrax jumps into position on the tyre when you drive off. Click
here for a demonstration. If you like to have the best, and
there's a Centrax listed for your tyre size, then this is probably
the snow chain you should buy.
Most 4 x 4s need Power
4 x 4 snow chains, from £94.95, a heavy
duty version of the standard Power. These are packed in a very strong nylon
carrying bag. Power 4 x 4 snowchains are described as 'stationary
fitting chains' - i.e. you don't need to move the car to fit them. You start
the operation at ground level, pushing a steel hoop behind the wheel before
lifting it up the face of the wheel and clipping the two ends together towards
the top of the tyre. For ease of fitting you need to be able to push your
hand over the top of the wheel - not normally a problem with 4 x 4s. If there
is only limited clearance between the wheel arch and the top of the wheel
we'd recommend automatic 4 x 4 snow chains.
Power 4 x 4 snowchains have a reversible chain
mesh to give the chains a longer lifetime.
Click here for a demonstration of how to fit a Power 4 x 4 snow
chain. Note please that this demo shows a lighter weight Power car chain,
and that it shows the front of the wheel; the cable hoop is on the
inside of the wheel, out of sight.
Classic
automatic 4 x 4 snow chains cost from £194.95
- so most people just stick with the standard Power
4 x 4s! (There's usually plenty of space between wheel and wheel arch on 4 x
4s, so the need for automatic snow chains is reduced.)
The
Kantenspur is an ultra strong snow chain appropriate for serious and (if necessary)
constant cross country work on snow, ice, grass and rock. The British Army use
this model, for example.
RUD snowchains are official Land
Rover accessories
The
innovation found in RUD's Easy2Go
snow chains really does make a difference. They have taken the core features
of the Power series and made very significant enhancements:
a
patented Permanent Tensioning Device (PTD) which removes the need to stop
and retighten the chains.
integrated wheel rim protection
to minimise the potential for scratches, on alloys inparticular.
This page shows
further information on The Roof Box Company's range of snowchains for cars, 4 x 4s and light commercial vehicles.
Which snow chains
should you buy? Last year 70% of car customers purchased Power
chains, 20% 'Easy2Go', and 10%
'automatic' or Centrax chains. 99% of 4 x 4 drivers bought Power chains. In
other words, you don't need to read all the stuff on these pages if you're
in a hurry; the Application Guides show which chains are available for your
tyre size, and the prices.
Click on any image or blue questionmark box to be taken
to the Application Guides, i.e. "Which chains fit my tyres?". You'll
then find links to detailed information and online ordering.
RUD Conventional Snow Chains
Click on buttons which look like this to find out'Which
snowchains fit my car?' (RUD, KWB, Spikes-Spider,Farad, TRAK, AutoSock)
Worried
about your alloy wheels being scratched by snowchains? The RUD ProtectAR is
a cheap solution, consisting of plastic guards which will hold the steel away
from your alloys. There are 16 guards per set, i.e. 8 per wheel. They're suitable
for use on any brand of chain, not just RUD snowchains.
RUD's Quick Step shoe chain is the simplest and cheapest, but it still makes a massive difference between slipping and walking! All you need to do is to pull the superlastic loops over your shoe (small loop over the toe, large loop over the heel) and off you go!
The RUD 'Bergsteiger' is altogether a much more serious shoe chain, available in four sizes. It is standard issue to most European post offices, including our own Royal Mail! Made of alloy steel, easy to put on, take off, and store and (amazingly!) self-cleaning, i.e. no snow and ice residue is left between the chain and the sole of the shoe.
.jpg "The Roof Box Company sell snow chains from Snow chains from RUD, Spikes-Spider, Maggi TRAK, AutoSock, Farad SNOW and KWB-Pewag")
