There are many add-on devices and gizmos for cars that can
provide features to make your ride better. A power cord plugged into the
cigarette lighter socket will keep your cell phone running without draining
its battery. An iceless cooler will conveniently keep a drink cold. A heated
mug will keep coffee hot as long as the car is running. There are other
useful functions that add-on accessories can provide to make time in your
car more enjoyable. Many car accessories are low enough in price so that
they may be well worth installing. This article concentrates on accessories
priced under $50.
Below is information and comments about each type of
accessory. At the end of the article is a link to a web page that provides
online sources to purchase each product mentioned in this article. Details
on each individual product are given at the purchase sites.
12 volt heated mug - A mug with a plug for getting
power from the cigarette lighter socket. It keeps a liquid, such as coffee,
hot for as long as the vehicle is running. Some models have a thermostat to
set the temperature.
Example models:
Wagan Tech Heated Travel Mug,about $30.
NexxTech™ Travel Mug with Thermal Control, about $20.
Power Up Thermal Mug, about $20.
Cooler/warmer - These give the choice of keeping food
or beverage hot or cold. Some are sized to hold a can of soda or a mug of
coffee, larger units might hold a six pack or more.
Wagan Car Cooler/Warmer, about $75
Koolatron 8 quart Food Cooler/Warmer, about $80
Vector 6-can Portable Food Cooler & Warmer Chest, about $50
Cell phone charger - Plugs into the cigarette lighter socket to power
or charge your cell phone.
Example models:
Custom Accessories Deluxe Power Cord Charger - Motorola, about $20.
Custom Accessories Power Cord Charger - Motorola, about $10.
Radio Shack 273-1288 Car Power Adapter for Hitachi SH-P300 Wireless Phone,
about $30.
Quick Cell 3900 Car Charger Nokia, about $15
12 volt coolers - These range in size to hold 2 soda cans up to full
size refrigerators for recreational vehicles.
Example models:
VDP Road Chill 2-pack Cooler, about $30.
Multipurpose lights - Can be incandescent, flourescent or led. Some
plug into the cigarette lighter socket, some are wired directly into the
car's power circuits, and some are battery operated and portable. If used
while the vehicle is not running, a consideration may be that LED models
will drain the battery the least (but in general produce less light).
Example models:
Bonatrade International 6-Watt Single Tube 12V Fluorescent Light, about $15.
Custom Accessories 10716 Power Lite: Magnet Mount. Plugs into cigarette
lighter jack, about $10.
Custom Accessories 76665 Utility Light 12v, about $3.
Voltec Industries 0800255 Trouble Light: 12 Volt, about $4.
Alert HC20 Halogen Worklight 12v, about $20.
Compass - Some are mechanical; some are electronic and battery
powered with digital displays, some are lighted to read at night, some have
additional features such as time, date, and/or temperature.
example models:
Wayfinder V100 Digital Compass, about $24.
NexxTech™ Digital Compass with Calendar, Clock and Temperature, about $30.
Radio Shack 63-1221 Digital Vehicle Compass, about $20.
Custom Accessories 18100, about $10.
Custom Accessories 55558, about $5.
Type S Compass, about $5.
Flashlight - Dozens of types available including windups that don't
require batteries, solar rechargeables, flourescent tube (bulbs last much
longer), and LED models that will run many hours on one set of batteries.
example models:
Energizer Folding LED Compact Mini Lantern Model # LED4AA1BP, about $15.
Dorcy Waterproof LED 4AA Flashlight, about $15.
Dorcy Mini LED Zoom Spot or Area Hanging Lantern, for about $15.
Himount Windup LED Flashlight, about $20.
4 point safety harness - Has four anchor points with a restraint for
each shoulder. These are more likely to get you through a crash with less
injury than if you had been using a standard belt (across one shoulder and
across the lap). Many are made to attach to a roll bar, so make sure the one
you are getting is appropriate for your vehicle.
example models:
Peak Racing Equipment PEK-507-2, about $75.
Power inverter - Plugs into the cigarette lighter socket, clips to
battery, or wire it in. The vehicle's 12 volts dc is changed to 120 volts ac
to power things like laptop computers, coffee makers, cell phones, camcorder
battery chargers and other small appliances. Don't go bigger than 400 watts
unless you want to go directly to the battery with heavy wire. Even then,
using high power devices will drain your battery quickly and could fry the
alternator if the engine is running.
example models:
Coleman Powermate CMN-PMP400 400 watt, about $60.
Motor Trend power inverter HDL-MTI-12-3716, about $60.
Xantrex X Power Mobile Plug 75, about $30.
Go Power GP 175 Modified Sine Wave Inverter, about $30.
Other accessories that can be used to enhance your car include seat covers,
floor mats, steering wheel covers, sun shades, head rest covers, litter
bags, can and cup holders, inside/outside thermometer, gps/map devices,
extra loud or novelty-sound horns.
Items to keep in your car for repair, emergency, safety - Jack, lug wrench,
trouble light, flares, jumper cables, maps, cell phone and phone numbers,
emergency alert radio, coolant for radiator, drinking water, long storage
food, empty container for gasoline, various hand tools, gloves, coat, hat,
blanket, rain poncho, and a first aid kit.
To purchase online any of the above products see the following web page:
www.leisureideas.com/car add-on accessories.htm
This article can be published in print or electronically,
free of charge as long as it is substantially unaltered and contains the
following author info and links (text only or active):
Alan Detwiler is the author of several books on ways to have
fun. The books are available at Amazon.com
He has web sites about
ideas for having fun
at
http://www.leisureideas.com and simple homemade gizmos at
http://www.makegizmos.com
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