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
