A Grab Bag of Auto Accouterments

Ah, the luxury of hitting the road without the hassles of airport lines and baggage limits. Several new products promise to make motoring safer and more convenient. Items may be available in area stores; prices do not include shipping.

Up for grabs: Grabbamat provides a simple solution for keeping sunglasses, maps, keys and other objects from sliding off the car dash, which many drivers use as a shelf. The 8-by-9-inch waffle-weave rubber mat clings to the dash; objects cling to its nonskid surface. The mat uses no adhesives and can be trimmed to fit. Grabbamat (item AA113) is $4.85 from Magellan’s; telephone (800) 962-4943, Internet https://www.magellans.com.

Outer space: Not enough room in your RV for all your stuff? Here’s a welcome alternative to inconvenient and often hard-to-load rooftop carriers. StowAway2 Cargo Carrier mounts onto the standard 2-inch rear hitch found on most SUVs, minivans and recreational vehicles. Measuring 49 by 21 by 24 inches, the carrier holds 121/2 cubic feet and up to 200 pounds of gear. Each unit comes with four-way taillights, a locking latch with two keys, a weather gasket for protection from the elements, a drain plug and carrying handles for easy installation and removal. The StowAway2 is available in fixed-frame or swing-away models. The swing-away version has a spring-loaded mechanism that allows the unit to pivot 180 degrees, providing access to the rear cargo doors or lift gate. StowAway2 Cargo Carrier is available at camping stores for $399 to $549, depending on frame model. For information, contact the distributor, Ironwood Pacific Inc.; tel. (800) 261-1330, https://www.stowaway2.com.

Glaring omission: A hot, sunny day should make for a great ride, not a menacing one. Kel-Gar’s brightly colored Side Shades are transparent nylon sunglasses for your car. They twist open from a compact 61/2-inch-diameter wire-rimmed disk shape to an 18-by-13-inch form and attach to the window with two rubber suction cups (included). Once in place, the shades ward off the sun’s heat and glare. Also available in a rear shade, which comes with four suction cups. Side Shades (No. 12126) are $6.99 a pair; rear shade (No. 12128) is $5.99, in stores. Side shades also come in a special model (No. 12326) shaped like a car. For information, contact Kel-Gar; tel. (800) 388-1848, https://www.kelgar.com.

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