Rand McNally Offers GPS
Rand McNally has entered the ranks of companies offering portable navigation systems to help motorists find their way. The Rand McNally Personal Navigator uses GPS (global positioning system) technology to offer turn-by-turn directions and voice instructions based on Rand McNally maps for the U. S. and Canada.

The Personal Navigator also contains 26 Rand McNally Best of the Road trips along with an integrated road atlas. The Personal Navigator is priced at $499. Rand McNally, which also publishes the Thomas Guide map books, is North America’s largest commercial maker of maps, street guides and atlases. For information on the Personal Navigator, visit www.randmcnally.com.

Tealight Replaces Candles
If you like the appearance of candles, but want something more convenient, Zelco Industries offers the Itty Bitty Tealight. These are one-inch-high, battery-operated lights that flicker and provide a candle-like glow without flames, wax or smoke.

The lights can be turned on or off by rotating the base. The LED light bulbs are designed to last a lifetime and run for 40 hours on a single set of replaceable batteries. They are sold in a set of three, with three different colors: cool, ambient and hot. The suggested price is $15.
For information, contact Zelco Industries, 65 Haven Ave., Mt. Vernon, NY 10553. Phone (800) 431-2486 or visit www.zelco.com.

Additive Added at Pump
Gas stations in 18 states are now dispensing Additech fuel additives that are blended into gasoline and are available to motorists at the pump.

Additech, which is based in Houston, Texas, claims that its additives remove carbon deposits while cleaning the fuel system, resulting in more efficient fuel combustion and better gas mileage. The company offers a variety of additives ranging from a maintenance cleaning for $1.98 to a fuel system tune-up for $9.95. All can be blended into gasoline at the pump.
The company hopes to have the system installed at 450 fueling stations by the end of this year. Most of the current locations are in Colorado, Texas and neighboring states.

New Word Game Created
Front Porch Classics, a Seattle company that specializes in table games for families, has created WordSpot, in which players try to find words hidden within an arranged board of lettered tiles. The game, described as a cross between Scrabble and Word Search, is for adults and children 8 and older.

The game is offered in two editions. The BookShelf edition is a deluxe version, priced at $45 to $50, and the Discovery edition is a more affordable alternative, priced at $27 to $29. Gloria Rosenthal, contributing editor of Games magazine, said, “BookShelf WordSpot is the Rolls Royce of word games, a cleverly crafted and beautifully designed game that keeps us entertained and enlightened as we try to spot these brilliantly hidden words.”

Front Porch Classics sells games through national retailers, including Barnes and Noble, JC Penney, Toys R Us, Fred Meyer and Cracker Barrel stores as well as independent booksellers, catalogs, and online merchants. For information, contact Front Porch Classics, 419 Occidental Ave. S, Suite 404, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone (800) 526-0314 or visit www.frontporchclassics.com.

BD Diesel Offers Dodge Kit
BD Diesel Performance has created a performance kit for the 1994-98 Dodge Cummins 5.9L 12-valve engine. The package contains BD’s fuel stop plate, high-rpm governor springs and high-flow injectors.

The fuel stop plate is available in five different ramp designs to achieve anything from 30 to 150 horsepower and comes with a calibrated waste gate bleed orifice for improved turbo performance. The mechanical governor spring kit increases engine speed to 3,000 to 4,000 rpm, reducing gear shifting and providing higher horsepower levels. The high-flow injectors are built with the original Bosch nozzles. All the components in the kit are also available separately. For information, Call BD Diesel Performance of Abbotsford, British Columbia, at (800) 887-5030 or visit www.dieselperformance.com.

Big Fuel Tanks Available
For drivers who want to extend their travel distances and perhaps bypass expensive gas stations, Transfer Flow is building large replacement fuel tanks for heavy-duty Ford F250 and F350 pickups. The tanks fit 1999-07 diesel and 1999-06 gas models. A 46-gallon tank is available for crew cab and extended cab pickups with six-foot beds and a 57-gallon tank is available for crew cab and extended cab pickups with eight-foot beds.

The replacement fuel tanks are made from 12- and 14-gauge aluminized steel and come with all the components needed for installation. For information, contact Transfer Flow, 1444 Fortress St., Chico, CA 95973. Call (530) 893-5209 or visit www.transferflow.com.

Screen Deflects Road Debris
Roadmaster has created the Tow Defender, an all-weather, heavy-duty screen that attaches to the front of a towed car to deflect rocks, gravel and road debris. The vinyl-coated mesh lets air through while protecting the car.

The Tow Defender, which measures 45 inches by 72 inches, is held in place with shock-absorbing steel struts. You can adjust the tension to fit your towing system by sliding the collar up or down the tow bar stinger. The Tow Defender fits all Roadmaster motorhome-mounted tow bars with quick-disconnect release systems. After arriving at a destination, by snapping the elastic straps around each end, you can roll up the Tow Defender and store it against the coach.

For information, contact Roadmaster, 5602 N.E. Skyport Way, Portland, OR 97218. Phone (800) 669-9690 or visit www.roadmasterinc.com.