Road trippin': make vroom for these auto accessories

Men's Fitness, August, 2004 by Andrew J.I. Vontz

You've got a full tank of gas, a map, and a tall glass of lemonade (work with us here). Time for a classic summer road trip, right? Wrong, Flounder. Before you hit the highway, make sure you properly pimp your ride. And don't forget to turn your left blinker off.

IGLOO PLENTIKOOL

Just plug this electric cooler into your auto's 12-volt lighter and it keeps up to 24 cans of your favorite beverage frosty throughout your journey. Also handles vital organs.

$99@igloocoolers.com

PIONEER AVIC-N1

Enjoying the cinematography out your car window but need a worthy system for your soundtrack? Install this in-dash unit, which plays CDs, DVDs, and tunes in XM satellite radio. Pump up your beats with its 200-watt, four-channel amp and three-band parametric EQ. If you get lost, you can get your bearings with a GPS on a 6.5-inch touch-screen display. $2,200@ pioneerelectronics.com

TIMBERLAND R73 ROLLING DUFFEL

This duffel has an extra-wide mouth and holds weeks' worth of clothes, keeping them easily accessible. Plus, it has a separate drop-bottom compartment for all those, you know, wet and dirties. $229@timberland.com

YAKIMA PLATINUM PRO CARGO BOX

Wanna haul more than ass? The Platinum Pro Cargo Box fits atop most rack systems (except Pam Anderson's) to expand your car's carrying capacity. Essential for keeping the junk out of your trunk. The box comes in three sizes: 16, 18, and 21 cubic feet. $440-$550@ yakima.com

COBRA XRS 9700

Even conscientious drivers tend to stray above the speed limit. Keep Smokey off your tail and out of your wallet: With fewer false alerts and a wide-scanning range, this 11-band radar-and-laser detector can help keep you summons free all summer long. $185@ cobraelectronics.com

APC AUTO DC-TO-AC INVERTER

At last you can microwave a burrito in your car. This gadget converts DC power from your car battery to 350 AC watts, so you can plug in an espresso machine or recharge your phone. Just don't mix them up--it sucks when you accidentally sip a hot cup of roaming minutes. $60@apc.com

BELKIN TUNECAST II

Finally, you can program your own radio station. (Take that FCC!) Just plug this gadget into any MP3 player's headphone jack and broadcast to your car stereo. TuneCast scans every channel to find the best frequency, then transmits your MP3s in stereo to your radio. Much less talk, much more rock. (Sorry, iPod not included.) $40@belkin.com