Don't Fade to Black
Don't let the darkness keep you from looking. Flip a switch on Night Owl's All-View Binoculars™ and you can toggle between day and night vision, seeing in complete darkness with a built-in infrared illuminator. The binoculars feature extra-wide optics with multi-layered protective coating, individualized eye-focus, retractable eyecups (good for people who wear glasses) and a rubberized armor body. Pop in two AA batteries and you're good to go.
Price: Around $700
Buy: At Binoculars.com, Amazon.com, or go to www.nightowloptics.com for retailers
Pants On Fire?
Here's a gadget that's more fun than useful: the Truster lie detector. Made by Korea-based company 911 Computer Co., the Truster uses a voice-recognition chip that tracks stress levels in a person's voice, alerting you to nine different stages of honesty, from "truth" to "subject is not sure" to "avoidance" to "false statement." The maker says this device, smaller than your average cell phone and very light, is 84 percent accurate. It also comes with an adapter so you can hook it up to a phone. For the price, it's worth it as a fun gift, but I don't know if I'd trust an important decision to its accuracy.
Price: $24.95
Buy: Online at www.handytrusters.com
Stove to Go
This looks like a normal lunchbox, but the Stove To Go has a hot secret: it prepares hot food when you're on the road. Plug it into any 12-volt receptacle and you can make hot sandwiches, casseroles, heat soups and cook frozen foods. The stove weighs 3 pounds and is made by Athena Brands. The company also offers a cookbook that can help you expand your cooking repertoire.
Price: From $32.99
Buy: Most TravelCenters of America
Lock it Up
Truck security is more than a concern. Today it's a necessity. You can secure your truck with "The Big-Un" from Vicarro Sales. Models are available for pickups and big rigs. Their large diameter bright yellow steel shaft protruding through the steering wheel is an obvious deterrent. The shaft has a case-hardened shackle that locks the brake pedal so it can't be used. The lock has a cylindrical key with more than two million variations that virtually prevents picking or duplication.
Price: Starting at $149.99
Buy: Call (800) 472-9605, or go online to www.thebig-un.com
Roar into View
Functional fender-mount mirrors can be attractive, too. Customize your truck with Lion Convex Mirrors from Mond Custom. The lightweight mirrors' backs are made in the shape of a lion's head, in highly polished, chrome-plated aluminum. The mirror's mounting posts seem to disappear into each lion's open mouth. The lion's eyes are amber LEDs that can be wired to either marker lights or directional signals. Lion mirrors mount with secure screws and specially keyed fasteners to keep anyone from stealing them.
Price: From $40
Buy: Call (800) 566-0603
Turn On This Turn Signal
Grote applied their new Complex Reflector technology to produce a new LED Mid-Turn signal. The metalized molded reflectors aim light from the hour glass-shaped Luxeon Side-Emitter diodes from Lumileds. This combinations of new diode design and Grote's reflector technology results in highly visible side-turn signals throughout the target quadrant.
Price: Determined by retailer
Buy: Call (800) 628-0809, or ask your heavy duty truck parts retailer
Smart Soy-lution
Looking for a better way to boost the atmosphere in your sleeper, or need a unique gift? TravelCenters of America has the answer, with new soy candles. Made from soot-free soy wax by New Hampton, Iowa-based Soy Basics, the candles are guaranteed not to leave shadowy soot on the ceiling or wax on the sides of the jar. They're all the rage in Hollywood, where Renee Zellweger, Sharon Stone and Natalie Cole have reportedly bought them. Soy Basics improves on competing soy candles by offering vivid colors and fragrances. They also burn up to 30 percent longer than traditional paraffin candles.
Price: Available in three sizes of jars - 16 oz. for $17.99; 8 oz. for $14.99 and 4 oz. for $6.99. The 4 oz. is at a special sale price at participating TAs of two for $9.99.
Buy: At participating TravelCenters of America
