Mini Lantern
Everybody needs a little light in their life. The WD180 from Olympia is a palm-sized, rechargeable lantern with a magnetic base that can be mounted on any metal surface. You also can place it upright, adjust its feet to angle the light, or hang it using the built-in clip.
The lantern produces up to 180 lumens of light and has four settings: high, medium, low, and SOS. It has a 2,000-milliampere-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery and a built-in micro-USB charging port. The suggested retail price is $29.99.
Olympia Outdoors
5000 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Suite 160
Norcross, GA 30071
(866) 537-0384
www.olympiaoutdoors.com
Cord Organizer
Tangled cords can’t be ignored. How can order be restored? Here’s a tool you can afford. Cord n’ Cable Clips, from McNaughton’s Master Mounts, help tackle clutter by organizing cords and cables.
The plastic clips are backed with double-faced foam adhesive so they can be attached horizontally or vertically to smooth, nonporous surfaces. And that allows cords and cables to be routed in an orderly manner. The clips easily snap open when rerouting is needed. A package of 10 includes six small clips, two medium clips, and two large clips. Each clip holds one to six cords, depending on their sizes. The cost of two packages of Cord n’ Cable Clips is $9.99, with shipping costs included.
McNaughton Inc.
10700 Highway 55 #260
Plymouth, MN 55441
(800) 423-5487
www.mastermounts.com
Phone Case/Mount
Hands-free cell phone use while driving makes sense. So does having a protective case for your iPhone. The Zuna Drive offers both.
The phone case has a polycarbonate outer shell and thermoplastic elastomer bumper. It comes in several colors and sizes to fit these iPhones: 6/6s; 6 Plus/6s Plus; 5/5s; and SE. A built-in mounting clip on the back of the case attaches the phone to a vehicle’s horizontal air-conditioning or heating vent. That way, with the case and phone hanging vertically by their own weight, the driver can navigate via GPS or accept a hands-free call. The case easily can be removed from the vent. The price is $19.95.
EDITOR’S NOTE: After the magazine had already been printed, we received notice that Zuna Designz LLC had decided to stop producing this phone case.
Zuna Designz LLC
107 Nopalitos Way #4037
Santa Barbara, CA 93140
(805) 272-9862
www.zuna.com
Portable Safe
You know the saying: Better (locked in a) safe than sorry. Safego is a portable, splash-resistant safe designed to help protect possessions such as a tablet, smartphone, wallet, and keys when you’re out and about. It features a custom combination lock and a key lock.
Items are placed in Safego, and then its flexible, plastic-coated 17 3/4-inch-long, 1/4-inch-diameter steel cable can be secured to an object such as a bicycle, bench, or outdoor furniture. Safego is made of impact-resistant ABS plastic and measures 7 inches wide, 7 1/2 inches high, and 4 inches deep. An earphone plug opening lets you listen to music while electronics are protected.
Available colors are pink, blue, black, and white. The suggested price is $39.95.
Safego
3400 N.W. 113th Court
Miami, FL 33178
(866) 263-1200
http://safego.us
Telescoping Flagpole
The Stars and Stripes and the Maple Leaf are symbols of national pride that deserve to be displayed every day. That’s where a Titan Telescoping Flagpole comes in. The poles are made in the United States using aircraft-grade anodized aluminum.
Each flagpole features patented interlocking sleeves so the pole can be raised or lowered in sections. No push buttons are involved, and the poles have no ropes, chains, or pulleys. The flag mounts to a swivel ring harness that allows it to rotate 360 degrees. A double swivel ring harness can be used to fly two flags, or a flag at half-staff.
Prices range from $249 for a 15-foot, 2.5-inch-diameter pole with a silver finish to $349 for a 25-foot, 3-inch-diameter heavy-duty pole with a bronze finish. A flagpole can be supported by an RV stand or hitch mount (each costs $75), or in-ground installation is an option.
BnD Flagpole Sales
(239) 246-4612
www.bndflagpoles.com
Power Inverter
An inverter transforms 12-volt-DC battery power into 120-volt-AC power, which comes in handy when electricity isn’t available or when running a generator is frowned upon. Xantrex’s new Freedom Xi is a true sine wave inverter that is designed to operate sensitive electronics such as entertainment systems and appliances.
The Freedom Xi complements an onboard converter and features a built-in transfer switch that utilizes shore power when it’s available; quick-connect AC terminals; programmable smart battery management to extend battery use and life; a configurable ignition control to help minimize battery drain; and a detachable remote-control panel.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is $675 for the 1,000-watt model; $935 for the 2,000-watt model.
Schneider Electric, Xantrex Business
3700 Gilmore Way
Burnaby, BC V5G 4M1
(800) 670-0707
www.xantrex.com
Holding Tank Treatment
Don Zimmermann learned a thing or two about RV holding tank treatments while running a company that cleaned thousands of such tanks. He eventually concluded that the most effective and environmentally friendly treatment contains probiotics, which are live microorganisms. Probiotics form the basis for the product he now sells.
TankTechs Rx is 100 percent organic. Among the benefits, according to the product’s website: It consumes odors instead of masking them; it kills mold and germs; it keeps tank sensors working by blocking sludge, mold, and mineral buildup; and it cleans tanks when they’re in storage. An 8-ounce bottle of TankTechs Rx, good for 16 treatments, costs $15.99; a 16-ounce bottle (32 treatments) costs $24.95. The company also sells specialty bottles of the product for unplugging holding tanks and toilets, and for removing odors from kitchen drains.
Tanktechsrx.com
26444 N. Third St.
Phoenix, AZ 85085
(800) 625-7945
www.tanktechsrx.com
Multisurface Protectant
Here comes the sun — and with it, ultraviolet rays that can damage a number of motorhome surfaces, including the dashboard, windshield wipers, and tires.
303 Protectant, originally engineered for aerospace and aviation uses, is formulated to prevent cracking and fading of synthetic and natural rubber, vinyl, plastics, leather, gel coat, and fiberglass. Once it’s sprayed on and the surface is wiped dry, 303 Protectant leaves a matte finish that helps repel dust and lint and protect against UV rays for up to 30 days.
The water-based product is not designed for use on unfinished leathers (such as suede), fabrics (such as canvas), or floorings. The suggested retail price is $14.99 for a 16-ounce bottle.
Gold Eagle
4400 S. Kildare Ave.
Chicago, IL 60632
(800) 367-3245
www.303automotive.com
Wash Pad/Holder
Nobody wants to scratch a motorhome’s marvelous finish as it’s being washed. That’s why people who pamper their paint jobs often prefer to remove dirt gently with a lamb’s-wool mitt or pad. Mary Moppins, which sells a 9-inch-long lamb’s-wool wash pad and holder, recently introduced a 13-inch-long version.
The pad is made of 100 percent lamb’s wool and has a leather backing. Adjustable swivel connectors on the pad holder prevent the pad from flipping during use. The holder attaches to any standard handle. The price of the 13-inch pad and holder is $75; the price for the 9-inch product is $50.
Mary Moppins
1083 Tyson Lane
Eugene, OR 97404
(541) 607-9498
www.goclean.com