Auto-Answers for Land Travel

I love car trips. It’s such a luxury to be spared the luggage limits inherent in air travel. When I head out by auto, I take along all sorts of little extras to add pleasure, convenience and safety to the experience--after all, there’s always room for one more gizmo in the trunk.

Following are several nifty items for car travel. Except where noted, prices do not include postage and handling.

*

I don’t drive anywhere without a cup of hot coffee at hand, and I’ve tried all kinds of containers to make sure the brew winds up in my mouth instead of all over my lap or the car floor when I hit a bump or pothole.

Mug 1 is a 12-ounce thermal (hot or cold) plastic mug has a screw-on lid with a thumb-operated mechanism that opens two drinking holes in the lid. The holes accommodate both left- and right-handed users. To keep the mug in place when not in use, there is a plastic base with a rubber bottom to prevent sliding.

For extra stability, there’s a Velcro strip for affixing the base to a smooth surface, as well as a removable bracket that allows the base to be secured to the passenger seat when not in use. I’ve yet to make a mess with the Mug 1, and on occasions when I don’t have the cup on hand, I use the base to hold coins for toll plazas.

Mug 1 with base is $20 from Zelco; tel. (800) 431-2486. *

While on the road, I like to have a safe place to stash spare keys and emergency cash, but I’m nervous about relying on those magnetized little cases that snap under the car. An innovative solution is the locking gas-cap key safe (pictured on L1), available from Frontgate, a mail-order company.

Suitable for most car makes (check before ordering), the screw-on metal gas-cap has a concealed plastic compartment for storing an extra key and some emergency cash. You set the three-digit combination lock on the lid. The locking cap not only provides a safe storage space, but adds security for tanks on cars without locking gas-caps.

What about cars that have an indoor driver’s-side lever for opening the flap covering the gas-cap? The gas-cap’s operating manual shows how to adjust a lever inside the flap so it can be opened from the outside with a credit card. But beware: If you forget the combination, you may need a locksmith to remove the cap.

Gas Cap Key Safe (item 1834) is $19.95 from Frontgate; tel. (800) 626-6488.

*

Both for security reasons and the hassle factor, it’s good to be able to get into a locked car or a motel door as quickly as possible. But a dark night can foil a key--especially when you’re driving an unfamiliar rental car. Happily, this small, lightweight key holder has a red beam that turns on with the flip of a switch, illuminating the key and keyhole. The little lamp is run by a replaceable, five-year lithium battery (included). I’ve been grateful for this item many times on the road; I sometimes use it as a kind of ultra-mini-flashlight to find tiny things at the bottom of my purse or on the dark car floor.

Velco Keylight (41004) is $19 from Flax Art & Design; tel. (800) 547-7778. *

A car always should be stocked with basic emergency items: jumper cables, a flashlight, a tire-pressure gauge for use when changing a flat, and an ice scraper for cold-weather travel. Now all of these items come inside a zippered Leatherette case that fits compactly under a seat or in the trunk. I’ve packed this kit in my airplane-checked baggage on trips during which I would be renting a car for a substantial amount of time and wanted to be sure I was prepared for an emergency. On several occasions, the tools came in handy--particularly the jumper cables, which once saved me from needing a costly and time-consuming tow in the mountains of Colorado.

Compact Roadside Emergency Kit (726728) is $27.98 from Lillian Vernon, a mail-order company; tel. (800) 285-5555. *

How will passing motorists know you’re in trouble when you’re pulled up on the side of the road? Enter Emergency Car Signs, the creation of a Kansas company called Ready-Set-Go.

Four folding, 23-inch-by-4-inch strips of bright yellow cardboard are printed on both sides with words that pair to spell out Send Police, Send Help, Send Gas, Send Tow, Send Medic, Send Mechanic and Gone for Help. Double-sided adhesive stickers are included for attaching the signs to windows, inside or out.

Also enclosed is a self-protection guide that enumerates circumstances under which motorists could become crime victims. It provides security tips for dealing with high-risk situations such as car breakdowns, walking to your car in a dark parking lot, and auto accidents. I found the tips frighteningly insightful; thus, I probably will be a lot more safety conscious--albeit paranoid--in the future.

Emergency Car Signs and Self-Protection Guide packet is $6 (including shipping and handling) from Ready-Set-Go, P.O. Box 6415, Shawnee Mission, Kan. 66206.

Gear & Gadgets appears monthly.