It’ll get you around L.A. -- or Iowa

Guided imagery

Car-mounted GPS navigation devices have made getting lost a little tougher. The new Magellan RoadMate 800 from Thales Navigation takes the process even further. Besides providing turn-by-turn voice prompts and on-screen directions in the car, it also functions away from the vehicle, courtesy of an integrated rechargeable lithium ion battery. The unit is about the size of a large TV remote control, with a 3.5-inch color touch screen, and can provide a three-dimensional view of an area and automatically reroute you around stalled traffic. The 20-megabyte hard drive holds detailed maps of the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada, with directions to more than 6 million points of interest. It can be used in any vehicle with a cigarette-lighter socket for power. It attaches with a suction cup to the windshield or dashboard. It also functions as a music player and photo viewer via built-in software.

RoadMate 800 is about $1,000. (866) 339-0488, www.magellangps.com.

Go team

The party animals at Jeep Gear have come up with a tailgating party in a bag. The Jeep Ultimate Tailgate Kit consists of two folding armchairs with attached bottle openers and cup holders, a folding table with an integrated cooler and a large water-repellent canopy that attaches to the rear of the vehicle. The canopy is supported by shock-corded fiberglass poles and has a remote-control light for nightlife. Everything comes packed into a 40-inch-long wheeled storage bag.

Ultimate Tailgate Kit (CNP06) is $139. (800) 789-5337, www.jeep.com/gear.

Roomier in the seat

Sitting on a wallet during a long car trip can be pretty uncomfortable. The driver could take the wallet out and risk losing or forgetting it. Or he could switch to the All-Ett Billfold. The wafer-thin All-Ett is made of ripstop nylon and unfolds to reveal two panels, each of which snugly holds two stacks of credit cards (up to 30). A full-length divided pocket holds cash and other papers. Some leather wallets can bulge to nearly 2 inches; fully stuffed, this one is less than half an inch thick. Can you spell relief?

All-Ett billfold is $17.95. (800) 642-2226, www.all-ett.com.

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