Dog Poncho
When it’s raining cats and dogs, RC Pet Products’ Packable Rain Poncho helps protect your pooch from precipitation. The poncho features a lightweight waterproof shell, an adjustable waist, and a buttonhole for a leash. A carrying pouch is included.
Various colors and designs are offered, such as sweet sorbet (pictured) and pitter patter pink, ensuring that wet weather won’t stop Fido from making a fashion statement. Eight sizes are available. The suggested retail price is $12 for all sizes except triple-X large, which is $14.
RC Pet Products
550 E. Kent Ave. S.
Vancouver, BC V5X 4V6
(800) 681-7940
www.rcpets.com
Selfie Stick
TV and film stars do it. Musicians do it. Even President Obama has done it. Used a selfie-stick to take a self-portrait photo, that is. Although much maligned for being narcissistic, selfie sticks serve a purpose: Sometimes there’s no one else around to snap your picture.
The Vivitar 40-inch Selfie Monopod features a Bluetooth-enabled remote that takes pictures by communicating with your smartphone. A smartphone cradle adjusts to fit phones of various sizes, and the tripod mount attaches to any phone with a 1/4-inch thread. The 11-inch selfie wand extends to 40 inches. The Vivitar selfie stick is available in a variety of colors. Its price is about $15 on Amazon.com.
Vivitar
195 Carter Drive
Edison, NJ 08817
(800) 637-1090
www.vivitar.com
Computer Tool Kit
For those who dare to delve into the innards of electronic devices, the 14-Piece Portable Toolkit from NewerTech/Other World Computing might come in handy.
The kit is said to include the tools needed to open most laptops, computers, and small electronic devices. Included are various screwdrivers with magnetic blades; nonmarring nylon pry tools and probes for opening iPods and other hard-to-open but easy-to-scratch items; and tweezers and scissors. The kit is housed in a zippered woven-nylon case. The suggested price is $19.95.
Other World Computing
8 Galaxy Way
Woodstock, IL 60098
(800) 275-4576
www.newertech.com
Odor Eliminator
Ron Parry is an engineer, an inventor, and a plainspoken fellow. “Outside of marriage, this was the toughest challenge I have ever undertaken,” he said of devising a way to eliminate the holding tank smell that can permeate RVs.
His invention, the 360 Siphon, creates an updraft in any wind conditions so that odors and gases escape through the vent rather than linger in the motorhome living space. No chemicals or moving parts are involved. The patented product, available in white or black, replaces the factory-installed vent cap on any RV rooftop. Installation is said to take less than 20 minutes using a screwdriver and putty knife (to scrape off old sealants). The product is manufactured by 360 Products Inc. and distributed to the RV industry and sold online by Lippert Components. The price is $28.06.
Lippert Components Inc.
3501 County Road 6 E.
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574) 537-8900
www.lci1.com
Spacious Refrigerator
For those with a lot of mouths to feed or who like to stock up and make fewer trips to the grocery store, a big fridge might be a priority. Norcold’s PolarMax 18 offers 18.3 cubic feet of storage space — the most roomy made-for-RV refrigerator on the market, according to the company’s website.
The PolarMax 18 runs on AC power but automatically switches to propane when electricity is not available. Other features include full-width food and freezer compartments (12.4 cubic feet and 5.9 cubic feet, respectively); automatic defrost; an eye-level LCD control panel; humidity-controlled vegetable bins; and recessed door handles designed to stay closed during travel. Expect the price to range from $4,500 to $7,250 depending on the dealer, options selected, and complexity of installation.
Norcold Inc.
600 Kuther Road
Sidney, OH 45365
(800) 521-3032
www.norcold.com
Tow Bar
The first thing motorhome owners may notice about the Avail, the latest tow bar from Blue Ox, is its good looks. The Avail is made of tempered steel, and its arms are painted metallic copper. But, as they say, looks only go so far. The company’s website highlights features such as an improved turning radius for better cornering, as well as nonbinding latches that release easily under any conditions. The Avail’s low-profile handles are designed to avoid coming in contact with an optional road debris deflector, which ensures that the tow bar legs won’t unlock from the towing position.
The tow bar fits wide or narrow towed vehicles and has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds. The suggested price is $995.
Blue Ox
One Mill Road, Industrial Park
Pender, NE 68047
(800) 228-9289
(402) 385-3051
www.blueox.com
Child’s Camp Chair
Young children often outgrow things in the blink of an eye, but it may not happen so quickly with the Kelsyus Go With Me Chair. The portable, folding camp chair has three adjustable positions, so it’s suitable for infants as young as 3 months and youngsters up to 75 pounds.
The polyester chair features polyurethane internal padding and a removable five-point harness designed to keep a baby secure; a removable snack tray and sun canopy; a cup holder and link loop holes on the sides so toys or a pacifier can be attached; and a carry bag. The chair received the seal of approval from the National Parenting Center. It is brown with a choice of green, blue, or pink polka dots. The suggested price is $69.99.
Kelsyus
5816 Ward Court
Virginia Beach, VA 23455
(800) 889-7946
(757) 460-1156
www.kelsyus.com
Food Tent
If you set delicious food outdoors for hungry campground guests, you’re sure to draw a crowd — of flies. Food can be protected from those pests until it’s time to eat, with PicnicPal, a small, fully enclosed tent that also prevents paper products from blowing away.
Food can be retrieved from either side of the tent by flipping up the door flaps. When set upon a table, PicnicPal is 36 inches long, 22 inches deep, and 25 inches high; the cost is $24.95. For bigger gatherings with more food, PicnicPal XL is 62 inches long, 28 inches deep, and 36 inches high; the cost is $39.95. Ice Buddy, a tray that fits inside PicnicPal and keeps foods on ice, costs $14.95 or $19.95, depending on size.
PicnicPal
12380 Stowe Drive #A18
Poway, CA 92064
www.picnicpal.com
Jigsaw Puzzle Case
You’ve nearly finished a 1,500-piece jigsaw puzzle when you make a dreaded discovery: A piece is missing. Nooooooo! Keeping such puzzles organized in the small space of a motorhome can be frustrating.
A solution might be the Jigsort 1500, a portable jigsaw puzzle case from Jigthings. The case allows you to neatly pack everything away, including a partly assembled puzzle. Each case has a rigid, removable board covered with special fabric that prevents assembled pieces from slipping on its surface; four sort trays for storing unassembled pieces or for constructing small puzzle sections; and a zip-up outer case. The Jigsort 1500 is suitable for most 1,500-piece puzzles up to 36 inches by 26 inches; the website lists which can be accommodated. The price is $129.99.
Jigthings Ltd.
2381 Fillmore Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14214
(716) 701-1099
www.jigthings.com