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If you’re not the starting center for an NBA
team, reaching your roof rack on your sport ute or van can be a real
problem. Well, here’s
the best solution yet. The Tire Hopper tire step from Top Line puts
the rack within easy reach, and does it more safely than standing on
boxes or other shaky perches.
The Tire Hopper is a nice compact unit. Folded down, it measures only
21.5 inches by 11 inches by 2 inches. And since it is made mostly of cast
aluminum, it weighs about three-and-a-half pounds. That means it is heavy
enough to support a generously-proportioned person yet light enough that
any adult can handle it easily. And no assembly is required, so even the
mechanically challenged among us can put it into service easily.
To use the Tire Hopper tire step, just unfold it, adjust the one-inch
nylon web strap to the appropriate length, and place the strap over the
top of the tire so that the step hangs level on the outside. Now you’re
ready to put your feet up on the non-slip black step and reach up to
your rack safely and easily. When mounting, the step will feel a little
bit spongy as the Tire Hopper gently presses the side wall of the tire.
But you are definitely more stable and secure than if you were perched
on a pile of boxes or a rickety old step ladder.
When done, remove the Tire Hopper, fold it down, and store it in an out-of-the-way
corner of your vehicle until you need it again. It will slide right under
the seat of some vehicles.
We found the strap on the Tire Hopper long enough to handle the 31X10.5XP15
Light Truck mud and snow rated tires on our test vehicle, so it should
handle pretty much anything with P metric radials or similar light truck
tires. We should also note that adjusting the length of the strap does
change the step-up height a bit, so you can adjust it to fit your particular
circumstances.
We like this product a lot. It solves one of those problems that has bugged
us for a long time. It looks like it will last a good long time.
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On The Trail, New York
State's Snowmobiling Newspaper