If you want to get the kids to turn off their video-game consoles and have some good ol’-fashion fun, check out the neat lineup of toys from Automoblox. The company, which was founded by industrial designer Patrick Callelo back in 1992, makes a wide assortment of assemble-yourself cars and trucks that look really cool. Each is made from European beech wood along with ABS plastic parts and rubber tires. The neat thing about Automoblox is that all of the pieces are interchangeable with any other Automoblox vehicles, allowing for plenty of design creativity. Kids can also register their cars with the company (each has its own ID number) to receive all sorts of free stuff, such as posters and decals. Automoblox toys priced in the US $45-$50 range and are available from www.automoblox.com.
Give thieves the “boot”
You’ve likely heard of The Club, the steering-wheel-locking device that helps deter thieves, but the company also makes an external locking device that prevents thieves from easily snatching your car, truck, trailer or all-terrain vehicle. The Tire Claw XL uses the same principle as larger “boots” that bylaw enforcement agencies use to immobilize vehicles, only on a somewhat smaller scale. The manufacturer claims the device is easy to install and will fit just about any wheel width up to 30 centimetres. It comes with three laser-encrypted keys that cannot be copied and a plastic cover for the lock. The product retails for US $100 and can be purchased through a number of retail and online stores as well as from the manufacturer at www.theclub.com.
You’ll be hooked on this
Here’s an item that all owners of full-size sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks should keep with them at all times. Having a lightweight aluminum EZ-Retriever II from Agri-Cover Inc. on hand will allow you to reach items that are positioned at the far end of the bed. Instead of climbing into the box – which might not even be possible if you have a tonneau cover installed – the 1.5-metre-long extendible EZ-Retriever II lets you snag hard-to-reach items and drag them to the gate. You can push loads to the back of the bed from the tailgate. You can pick one up for US $20 from www.agricover.com/access/
ezretriever2.
