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All this talk of which vehicle for what use got me to thinkin' Since we put over 35K on our vehicles yearly, I am always looking for improvements without undue distractions.

What are some of you favorite accoutrement that make motoring more pleasant, safer, more efficient?

I am not really talking about iPod adapters, banging rims, thumpin' subwoofers or the like. Nor do I find the aftermarket GPS discussions engaging, although I did get one for my mom. What I am interested in hearing from you all is stuff we might not know about.

I'll start:
I bought this for my wife who would not use the accordian cardboard/spring shades that she had.
Retractable Sun Shade
They keep the car about 20 degrees cooler... and she uses it.

This helps give me peace of mind when she travels without me.
Battery Booster/Inflator
I wired it into her parking lights (with a relay) so it recharges when she drives with lights on. Dead bateries and low tires are no longer a big deal for her and she has rescued other people, as well.

And this one is great for me. You know how us tall guys have to crane around to see the traffic light when we are first in line at the intersection? Well, these really work!
Windsheil Fresnel Lens

What about it guys?

When I was a rural mail carrier I learned to keep a $25 Walmart air compressor in the trunk of my car. It is so much easier to pump up a flat tire and drive to a place with a car lift and air tools and let them fix the flat.
It does well pumping up pool toys, basket balls and bike tires, too.

I'll second the motion for the little air compressor. I've never needed it to bail me out of a flat tire, but there was this time when I removed the passenger seat from the Mazda GLC wagon and loaded it up with 16-foot 2X6 pressure treated boards -- quite a load of them. When I started to drive, the car was uncontrollable. I inflated the tires to about 42-44 PSI, and pedalled home at about 20-25 MPH.

E-ZPass. I sail past lines at toll booths and get discounts for NYC bridges and tunnels, as well as the NJ Turnpike. I use it in Virginia, NJ, NY, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Milk crate-like container for the trunk. In it I keep spray lubricants (lithium grease, silicone), spray brake cleaner, extra lightbulbs and fuses in a large, clear peanut container from Costco (you have to buy bulbs in 2-packs now), hand cleaner, clean cloths and rags, and extra motor oil.

In the northeast, a big second on the E-ZPass. Works in all them places INCLUDING Delaware.

I may not be able to drive any more, but my life sure is easier not having to take the grief from my Transporter as the inevitable tension builds up in those toll booth lines in NYC and NJ...

Everyone in my girlfriend's family owns a set of these trunk organizers and really like them, so I ordered a set for myself about a month ago a love them. The don't slide around in the trunk and can be reconfigured to form 3, 2, or 1 compartment not to mention a built in cooler that comes in handy in the summer for trips home from the grocery. Also, they fold up really small which is handy when I am transporting my tubas.

http://qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail

TMB

I know you said you weren't interested in GPS, but mine has lowered the stress level in the pickup while trying to find the next gig or get home from one enormously. Especially when the wife is in there too. A real marriage saver it is.

A good tire tool (which I do carry) is certainly a necessity, but I haven't had 6 flat tires in 30 years. Trying to find where the gig is happens many times every year.

I keep a fire extinguisher in both my cars. Never had to use it, but reassuring just the same having it there.

Never had to use it, but reassuring just the same having it there.

Kind of like that pistol under the seat ...

the elephant wrote:

windshieldbug wrote:Works in all them places INCLUDING Delaware.

Do people still go there? I thought it was shut down years ago. (Delaware is like a sort of theme park, right? Like Six Flags? I mean, I have heard of it … I think … )

Yes, but with all of the old DuPont* sites, we're actually looking for lead paint Chinese toys to use as land fill!

* Better Living Through Chemistry; how can you not LOVE that slogan!

lgb&dtuba wrote:I know you said you weren't interested in GPS, but mine has lowered the stress level in the pickup while trying to find the next gig or get home from one enormously. Especially when the wife is in there too. A real marriage saver it is.

Well, I know that is what I said... but what I really meant...

I have and use a GPS, and got one for the missus, but am more interested in learning about other stuff. And have learned a lot, or thought about things again.

When I was a hot-rodder I always kept a fire extinguisher handy. I still should. Ditto on the real lug wrench.

the elephant wrote:

windshieldbug wrote:Works in all them places INCLUDING Delaware.

Do people still go there? I thought it was shut down years ago. (Delaware is like a sort of theme park, right? Like Six Flags? I mean, I have heard of it … I think … )

Can't help it. If you drive on I-95, Delaware is uniquely positioned to be in your way no matter what more important destinations you have in mind.

And that 10 miles of I-95 will extract three bucks from you, even though it was built and maintained with Interstate funds which we all supplied in our federal gasoline tax.

For this reason, I always go to Philly through Harrisburg. At least my toll dollars are going to a client.

Rick "who also knows how, where, and by whom the EZ-Pass toll tags are made" Denney

I keep one of those window breaking tools handy. Not so much for the window breaker as for the seatbelt cutter. Hope I never need either.

I was in Northern Tool just yesterday and spotted an auxilliary backup light that slips into the trailer hitch wiring connector. You wouldn't want to leave it plugged in all the time to temp thieves, though.

If you have room, also add a small hydraulic jack (the type you roll under the car, not the bottle type). If you do have to change a tire, the jacks that come with the car are an accident waiting to happen. Or just get an auto club membership like AAA.

Did anyone ever listen the National Public Radio's Car Talk (perhaps 5-10 years ago) when Leonard Bernstein's son called in with a question about his european sports car (?) The spot started normally, but when the conversation turned to music, the caller identified himself. Wish I could remember his name. Anyone else hear that?

John Caves wrote:Leonard Bernstein's son

THAT'S a pretty dark closet!

Carroll wrote: And this one is great for me. You know how us tall guys have to crane around to see the traffic light when we are first in line at the intersection? Well, these really work!
Windsheil Fresnel Lens

Would this work upsidedown at the bottom of the rear window to see what's behind you? We made the switch this Spring from a sedan to an SUV and I don't like the lack of vision when backing up. I saw a show where they demonstarted the lack of visibility behind a typical SUV and it is quite surprising. I've thought about mounting a mirror at an angle up at the top of the rear door, but this fresnel lens might just work.

Philip Jensen wrote:
Would this work upsidedown at the bottom of the rear window to see what's behind you? We made the switch this Spring from a sedan to an SUV and I don't like the lack of vision when backing up. I saw a show where they demonstarted the lack of visibility behind a typical SUV and it is quite surprising. I've thought about mounting a mirror at an angle up at the top of the rear door, but this fresnel lens might just work.

I used to have a 12x12" fresnel lens on the rear window of a Suburban. You can get them at many camper places. Worked like a charm. I wouldn't have wanted one smaller than 12x12". It's a long way to the back window on a Suburban.

OldsRecording wrote:I keep a fire extinguisher in both my cars. Never had to use it, but reassuring just the same having it there.

This is a very good idea especially for an older car, Me and my grandfather were trying to start his 1928 truck and the float in the carb. stuck so there was gasoline pouring out and when it finally caught a spark it backfired and lit all the gas. Good thing we had a fire extinguisher...

lgb&dtuba wrote:

Philip Jensen wrote:
Would this work upsidedown at the bottom of the rear window to see what's behind you? We made the switch this Spring from a sedan to an SUV and I don't like the lack of vision when backing up. I saw a show where they demonstarted the lack of visibility behind a typical SUV and it is quite surprising. I've thought about mounting a mirror at an angle up at the top of the rear door, but this fresnel lens might just work.

I used to have a 12x12" fresnel lens on the rear window of a Suburban. You can get them at many camper places. Worked like a charm. I wouldn't have wanted one smaller than 12x12". It's a long way to the back window on a Suburban.

Get one here http://www.3dlens.com/shop/wideanglefresnellens.php