Tight-Grip Hangers
Maybe it’s not the most serious of motorhoming hang-ups, but it’s an aggravation, nonetheless: hangers that fall off the closet rod when you hit a rough patch of road, leaving clothes in a rumpled heap.
A clip-on design is the key feature of Lynx Stay-Put Hangers, which are said to do just that: stay put. Not only are the hangers supposed to hold tightly to the rod, but they’re sturdy enough for heavy gear. The white hangers come in a set of six. The suggested retail price is $11.99.
Tri-Lynx Corporation
391 E. Las Colinas Blvd.
Suite 130, Box 632
Irving, TX 75039
(800) 463-5505
www.trilynx.com
Expandable Bins
Sometimes, you need a bin this big for your pantry or refrigerator. Other times, you’d like a bin THIS BIG. That versatility is available in a single bin. Range Kleen’s translucent white bins are available in a small and large size, are 3.5 inches tall, and expand both in length and width.
The small bin is 4.25 inches wide and 8.75 inches long, and expands to 6.25 inches wide and 14.25 inches long. The price is $11.99. The large bin is 5.25 inches wide and 9.75 inches long, and expands to 8 inches wide and 16 inches long. The price is $13.99. The bins, which are not watertight, can be cleaned in soapy water.
Range Kleen Manufacturing Inc.
4240 East Road
Lima, OH 45807
(888) 391-2020
(419) 331-8000
www.rangekleen.com
Coffee Maker
When the going gets tough, the tough need a coffee break. The folks at OXX understand this, so they have made what they call the world’s toughest coffeemaker. Coffeeboxx features an impact-resistant shell and a crush-proof chassis rated up to 1,500 pounds. It also is impervious to dust, rust, water, and ultraviolet rays.
Coffeeboxx is a single-cup brewing system with self-contained filtering, so there’s no need for filters or scoops. It works with all K-Cup-compatible packs and brews 8-, 10-, and 12-ounce cups in 90 seconds. Other features include a spill-proof 2.5-liter water tank; a separate hot-water line for making tea, soup, or oatmeal; and stainless-steel tie-downs. The machine runs on 120 volts AC and has a 3-foot retractable cord. The suggested retail price is $249.
OXX
40 Pearl St. N.W.
Suite 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
(866) 233-4714
www.oxx.com
Waterproof Speaker
Are you going to let a little rain ruin your outdoor shindig, or are you going to keep boogying to the music? The iBN6, a portable, waterproof Bluetooth stereo speaker from iHome, lets you party on.
A technology called near field communication (NFC) allows one-touch pairing to Bluetooth-enabled devices such as an iPad, iPhone, or Android, so you can wirelessly stream music. The device also can be used as a speakerphone when paired with a cell phone. The speaker measures 6 inches by 4.5 inches by 2.7 inches. Its lithium-ion rechargeable battery provides 14 hours of music play. The speaker comes with a carabiner clip that has a built-in bottle opener. The suggested price is $99.99.
iHome/SDI Technologies Inc.
1299 Main St.
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 574-9000
www.ihome.com
Step And Walk-Off Mats
Motorhome owners might feel like they’re crossing the finish line every time they set foot on a racing step mat from National Products. The black-and-white checkered step mat and matching walk-off mat are among a wide range of available graphic styles, which include solid colors, patterns, mosaics, candy stripes, and embroidered designs. Mats are available for curved and straight steps, and for manual and electric RV steps.
The mats are made of marine-quality polypropylene that is said to resist sun damage and fading. And as a practical matter, the mats help keep a motorhome’s interior clean. Prices and sizes vary. One deluxe racing step mat, 13.5 inches by 20 inches, paired with a racing walk-off mat, 24 inches by 36 inches, is $25.95. The deluxe racing step mat alone is $12.95.
National Products Limited
2201 E. Willow St.
Suite D-369
Signal Hill, CA 90755
(323) 934-2234
www.rvstepmats.com
Mud Flaps
DuraFlap offers numerous options for full-width mud flaps (or rock guards, as they’re also called) across the rear of a motorhome. “You tell us what you want, and we will design it,” the company’s website says.
A complete standard kit starts at $490. It includes a mud flap cut from 3/8-inch double-reinforced rubber, measuring 95 inches wide by 9 to 12 inches tall; a stainless-steel weight with a mirror finish and no text; a 14-gauge galvanized backing plate with a bent drag lip that strengthens the mud flap and protects it on steep driveways or hills; a powder-coated angle-iron hanging bracket; and needed hardware. When text is cut into the stainless steel, prices generally range from $580 to $620. Add artwork, and it’s approximately $660. Custom mud flaps for fender wells also are available.
DuraFlap LLC
2050 Commerce Drive
Medford, OR 97504
(541) 245-9148
www.duraflap.com
Retractable Screens
No matter the size of the door or window openings on your motorhome, Douglas J. Bennett says the people at Screen Solutions Inc. can custom-build a Plisse retractable screen for them. The screens feature die-cast aluminum corners, dual adjustable handles, and a choice of a bottom rail dust cover or tension line clips to keep pets safely inside. Stainless-steel small parts are used along with minimal use of plastics to prolong life even in extreme weather. Six standard colors are offered, with custom colors available.
RV customers also can get free diagrams and advice from Mr. Bennett, the company CEO (known as “Doug, the Screen Guy”). People generally email him questions and photos, and he instructs them how to measure for and install their screens. Prices for a screen start at about $200.
Screen Solutions Inc.
6705 Highway 190 W.
Suite 502
Austin, TX 78735
(866) 571-8870
(512) 264-9827
www.plissescreen.com
All-Purpose Tool
You might never need the Trucker’s Friend to ward off zombies, although that’s one of the uses listed on the website of its creator, the Innovation Factory. More likely, the tool will come in handy for more mundane jobs that require hacking, prying, pulling, or pounding.
The tool, 19.25 inches long and 2.4 pounds, includes a 4.5-inch curved ax that can be resharpened, a hammer, a nail puller, a pry bar with “V” slot, a wire twist (for removing lightweight security seals), a grapple hook, and a hose spanner. The tool has a shock-absorbing PowerGrip handle and a blade and shank made of heat-treated, cast alloy steel. The suggested price is $79.95.
Innovation Factory
630 Penfield Ave.
Havertown, PA 19083
(610) 789-1137
www.innovationfactory.com
Portable Compressor
When filling large motorhome tires to inflation pressures of 100 psi or more, some air compressors sputter like the Little Engine That Couldn’t. But the makers of the VIAIR 400P-RV Automatic Portable Compressor say it is designed with RV owners in mind. It is rated to inflate up to 150 psi.
The kit’s dual battery clamps connect to the RV’s engine battery to run the compressor on 12 volts DC. Two coiled air hoses allow for a reach of up to 60 feet. The kit also includes an 8-foot power cord, a tire inflation gun, a three-piece inflation tip kit, a 45-degree extended-reach chuck (for dual rear wheels), and a carry bag. The unit weighs just under 11 pounds. The suggested retail price is $299.95.
VIAIR Corporation
15 Edelman
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 585-0011
www.viaircorp.com