If you are an experienced off-roader, you have likely used a winch more than a few times. If you have vast experience pulling yourself or others out of sticky situations, you have likely had a traditional winch hook slip and cause an even bigger problem. The little safety latch that holds a rope or cable in place will help in some situations, but that piece is not load bearing, so if the line shifts, that little latch quickly breaks. When that happens, you can suddenly lose your load, but this can be prevented with a closed system winching set up from Factor 55.

It’s one of the most basic driving lessons you first learn when you get behind the wheel: check your blind spot. Although your car is equipped with an assortment of mirrors, they’re not always adequate when it comes to covering your blind spots. If you’re tired of not being able to see what’s behind you, it might be time to invest in a new rearview mirror.

When it is time to shop for car insurance, the most common way to do it is through an agent. But not all insurance agents are the same. Some work directly for one insurance company, while others are independent insurance agencies that can help you find the best value for your specific insurance needs. Here’s how you can get the most out of your auto insurance by using an independent insurance agency.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of accessories for trailering, but nothing makes a bigger difference than the best trailer brake controller. Especially when towing heavy loads, towing at higher speeds, or on difficult road conditions, an electronic brake controller can make the difference between stopping safely and having a trailer fishtail out of control. They add brains to your trailer brakes, rather than the simple on-off you might have with basic trailer wiring.

When you’re going camping, on vacation, or taking a road trip, expanded cargo capacity is almost a necessity. You don’t want to drive an oversized (and priced) vehicle all year for a few weekend trips! Plus, no matter how large your vehicle is, there’s a good chance you can’t fit everything you need when you’re traveling. That means you’re forced to pick and choose what gear you need to leave at home. The solution is a cargo carrier. A basket that mounts to your trailer hitch and lets you load even more gear that won’t fit inside your ride.

Steam cleaners clean differently from any other method you might use. Because of this, they are often the only tool to get rid of stains and dirt that nothing else will touch.

All new vehicles come equipped with pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and many have run-flat tires, so you might not think having one of the best portable tire inflators is a necessity. But that’s not the case, because all tires lose air over time, even if you don’t have a puncture. And knowing a tire is low doesn’t mean you can ignore it. Owning your own tire inflator means you can conveniently and routinely check your tire pressure, making sure they’re in an optimal range, and easily refill them when the light gives you a warning. Underinflated or overinflated tires have many adverse effects on your driving experience, hurting your fuel economy, tire wear, and even safety. Purchasing a tire inflator is a small investment in helping make sure your tires last as long as possible, saving you money in the long run.

If you need more cargo carrying capacity for your car, there are a lot of practical options for you that can be installed right on your car’s roof. When looking for the best roof cargo carrier, you need to first figure out what kind of cargo you’re going to be carrying. Not all cargo carriers are the same and there are different products out there for different purposes: there are travel bags, roof baskets, and cargo boxes.

Trailer theft is no joke. It seems as if one goes missing every week in every major city in America. What’s more, getting your trailer back is far from easy. There’s often mountains of paperwork to get through, impound fees to pay and trailer damage to repair, and that’s assuming your trailer actually gets recovered. As such, it’s no surprise that many trailer owners are turning to trailer locks, and  AMPLock offers some of the strongest trailer locks in the business.

Getting the best ceramic coating on your car was once only a job for the very best specialty car detailing shops. They were only introduced in 2010, and for the first years weren’t really available for home users. Only professionals used the best ceramic coating for cars, and if you ever visited a shop for a quote, you might have left shocked with an estimate that can easily be over,$1,000 for a quality ceramic coat using products from a professional-only brand such as Ceramic Pro. Few normal people can spend that much money on ceramic coating, so thankfully, car detailing brands have formulated their own products at a much more affordable price.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that retailer Harbor Freight is recalling approximately 478,800 garage stools. The collar under the seat which attaches it to the pillar can break, which can send you, and your head, backwards into the floor. 

If you tow with your vehicle, you will need a trailer ball mount, which is also known as a hitch ball mount, or simply a ball mount. But it’s not as simple as just picking one that looks nice – there are a lot of considerations to make when buying a ball mount for your towing vehicle. Ball mounts vary in terms of size, type, weight capacity, price, features, vehicle compatibility, and so much more.

If you’re hauling more than one trailer, you already know that it can be a real pain in the hitch. One drop height for your boat trailer, one for the quads, one for your RV, and another for the work trailer, and that’s before you decide you want a new truck or that it’s time to give yours a new lift and some bigger tires. Uriah Products and its Aluma-Tow has what you need to make changing trailers and even changing your truck quick and easy, making sure you don’t have a cargo box full of spare hitch parts between uses.

If you spend much of your free time off-roading with your truck or SUV, the odds are good that you are familiar with closed system winching products like the lineup offered by Factor 55. If you are not, you should be, as closed system winching is safer, preventing the cable or D-ring from shifting against the passive latch in a traditional winch hook. The closed system winching components also look a whole lot nicer than the hook that came with your winch, tucking neatly against your fairlead.

Great road trips are the perfect time to leave behind the worries of urban life for something a little simpler – just you, your car, and the open road. But that doesn’t mean you  can’t leave all your tech accessories behind. That’s precisely where the Jackery Solar Generator 500 comes in – the ideal road-trip companion, keeping your gadgets fully loaded, so you can make the most out of all your exciting car adventures, travels and journeys.

Whether you’re striking out on a two-week camping trip or heading to the beach for a picnic, no outdoor adventure is complete without food and drink. That means you’ll need a cooler to keep your beverages chilled and food fresh. But even the best coolers can only keep things cold for so long. Eventually, your freezer packs will thaw out, and you’ll have to stock up on ice from the nearest gas station or convenience store.

If you want to dress up the engine bay of your performance car while also adding serious durability and convenience, the upgraded aluminum cooling system tanks from Canton Racing Products are a great option. The welded aluminum construction looks far better than the plastic tanks that come from the factory and they are also far more durable, while the remote mounting aspect makes for easier coolant system filling.

Editor’s Note: AutoGuide arranged for Colum Wood to test out the Hankook Kinergy 4S2 four season tire over several months. Colum was not directly compensated for his review.

The tire industry is historically incredibly dirty. From the damage that natural rubber plantations have caused, to the toxic toxic emissions from factories, to the incalculable quantity of microplastics and other pollutants that end up in watersources, to the intractable problem of recycling and disposing of used tires, the tire industry has enormous incentive—and pressure—to modernize, decarbonize, and reduce their overall environmental footprint voluntarily, while they still can. 

If your car came from the factory with halogen or HID bulbs, you’re going to need to replace them or upgrade them down the line. Both of these bulb types lose light output over time; thus, even if they’re functional, they aren’t performing like new. When it comes time to replace them, why go with the same lighting solution when there are better options? The LED light technology that illuminates the newest models can work with your older car too.

If you’re going to be storing a car for a long time, going on a long holiday, or don’t drive your car in the winter (or summer), then using one of the best trickle chargers to maintain your battery is vital. Without a car battery charger, you’re likely to come back to a dead battery when it’s time to put your ride back on the road.

Toyo Tires are arguably some of the the best tires on the market. For those who are passionate about the great outdoors and venturing off the beaten path, these tires will get you there and back, regardless of terrain and weather.

There’s a common misconception between tow straps and recovery straps, and often they are marketed as the same product. Although they look very similar, there are defining features to separate the two and their purposes. The largest difference between the two is that tow straps feature large metal hooks at each end, designed to hook onto towing points and shackles. Recovery straps meanwhile, do not have these hooks.

If you are an owner of a new VW Group vehicle and want to do some modifications, Volkswagen’s new SFD digital protection can make that a challenge. The good news is that OBDeleven can help, as it is the first tool that unlocks SFD in real-time.

Not everyone can say that they discovered their lifelong passion at the age of nine, but this racecar driver has always been a gearhead with a need for speed. As a pro drag racer in the Top Fuel category of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), Alex Laughlin was bitten by the adrenaline bug at a young age, starting things off with go-karts and continuing to ramp up the speed from there.

There are few automotive-related problems more frustrating than a dead battery. Whether it’s in your daily driver or the off-road vehicle reserved just for weekends, twisting its only to have nothing happen makes for a poor start to the day.

With sizes ranging from a mild 32” LT Metric to a wild 37” tall Flotation for wheels ranging from 16” – 22”, the Atturo Trail Blade M/T is a performance tire for your truck, Jeep, or SUV that’s built for off-road duty. Proven through Atturo’s motorsports efforts, the Trail Blade M/T is an affordable replacement tire, delivering superior performance, be it for daily driving or fun in the mud.

If you drive in the winter, it’s going to happen sooner or later. Your car gets stuck in the snow. Don’t panic, you can usually get your car, truck, or SUV out of the snow without needing a tow truck or other heavy equipment to do the work for you. Here are eight steps for when your car is stuck in the snow.

It’s a cold, dark night and you’re walking out to your car. You get in, press the start button, and instead of the usual sound of your engine bursting to life you hear nothing. Just a small click comes from the front of your car as dim gauges cast a dull glow onto your distraught face. You need a boost, but do you know how? Here’s what you need to know to jump-start your car, truck, or SUV.

Your car’s battery is what makes everything in your car go. From your ignition to your radio, if you have a bad battery, none of them will work properly. A car battery, even the best one, won’t last forever. Five to seven years is the typical lifespan of a high-quality battery, less in areas of extreme heat and cold. When it’s time for a new one, you can change your car battery yourself. Here’s how to do it.

The computer age has opened up all-new avenues for software vehicle customization. Now, for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, that customization is easier than ever with OBDeleven.

Some people are perfectly happy washing their car by hand with a bucket of mild soapy water and soft wash mitt; some only have the time to run it through a drive-thru wash after a fill-up, and others can’t be bothered to wash their car at all. However, regular exterior cleaning will keep your vehicle in better condition in the long run, both in areas that use salt over the winter months and in places where dust, sand, and urban pollution are present.

Psst! Hey, you. Yeah, the gearhead with the modified car. Bet you’re tired of pawing though various and sundry online classified sites trying to find decently priced speed parts, right? After sifting out the help wanted ads, fake dating profiles, and that guy who’s still trying to sell those beat up frying pans, there’s a chance that maybe – just maybe – you’ll find the Holley carb you heard the guy across town has for sale.

If you frequently drive at night and experience eye fatigue or have a hard time seeing in low light conditions, you may want to consider a pair of night driving glasses. They work much the same way as sunglasses during the day. But instead of a dark tint to block excess rays, night driving glasses use yellow lenses to help reduce reflections and glare from street lights and oncoming headlights. Essentially, these glasses’ yellow tint filters blue light, improving nighttime visibility. In addition, most night driving glasses will have anti-reflective coating on their lenses, which also aid with reducing reflections.

Whether you’re a kid at heart or shopping for a child, Hot Wheels track sets are the perfect way to have fun away from your actual car. Modern Hot Wheels track sets offer a ton of versatility, allowing you to put together the wildest creations and tracks of your dreams. Whether it’s to race head-to-head or side-by-side, or you just want to capture some spectacular crashes or gravity-defying stunts, Hot Wheels offers it all with a huge variety of track sets.

Car seat covers are a practical, stylish accessory; they can also add value by keeping your interior in top-notch shape. A removable car seat cover can have fancy patterns and colors that spice up your interior, but its main purpose is to keep your car’s seats clean. Whether you want to protect protecting against spills, dirt, mud, or sweat, car seat covers come in a variety of prices and materials, so they’re not as easy to shop for as you may initially think. If you have a truck or large SUV, we cover those in a separate article.

One of the best parts of owning an electric vehicle is never having to go to the gas station to refuel. Instead of finding a pump, you can charge at home every night. Not only is having an EV charger at home convenient because you can charge any time you want, but you’ll also never have to worry about waiting in line if all public chargers are occupied. Wake up every morning to a fresh and fully charged battery. You can even pre-condition without reducing your range.

Windshield wipers are an often overlooked maintenance item on your vehicle, but they’re one of the most important features when it comes to safety. Both for summer and winter driving (see our Winter Wiper blade picks). Poor wipers can affect visibility in bad weather and you don’t want to wait until you’re caught in a storm to realize your wipers are worn out and you can't see through the rain on your glass. Fortunately, now you don’t even have to navigate the confusing rack of indistinguishable versions at an auto parts store to buy the best windshield wipers for your vehicle.

The GMC Sierra is the mechanical twin to the Chevrolet Silverado and over the past decade, the tech-heavy half-ton has routinely been one of the ten bestselling vehicles in North America. With trucks being the most popular vehicles in the United States and customization being so important to many truck owners, GMC offers worlds of customization through options, packages and GMC Sierra accessories. However, there are some things that are better purchased from the aftermarket while there are some other things that the automaker doesn’t offer.

If you really want to get the most out of your crossover, you’re going to want these ten must-have Toyota Highlander accessories.

Keep reading if you want advice on the most essential Ford Explorer accessories that every owner should have.

If you’re hunting around for the very best Toyota Corolla accessories to improve your ownership experience, you’ve come to the right place.

There’s no denying that your Toyota Camry takes good care of you, but with the right Toyota Camry accessories, you can transform your vehicle into an even more practical, convenient, comfortable commuter car.

If you’ve been searching high and low for the best Nissan Rogue accessories you can buy, we’ve got good news: we’ve done all the hard work for you.

Good Tires are One of the Most Important Parts of Your Car

Sailun’s Terramax A/T has always been a shockingly good performer from a relatively unknown brand. Now, there’s a new winter-rated version of the Terramax A/T that’s putting the whole industry on notice.

A good set of winter tires engineered to provide dependable, solid performance no matter the conditions is hard to come by – unless you’re willing to spend an arm and a leg. But with the Blackhawk Iceprey HW06, developed specifically for SUVs and light trucks, you don’t have to.

Sailun’s Iceblazer has always been a shockingly good performer from a relatively unknown brand. The  WST2 is putting the whole industry on notice.

Most brand new cars leave now the factory with USB ports inside the cabin, allowing you and your passengers to charge your mobile devices. While USB ports come in handy for daily use, they don’t offer enough power to charge larger accessories, or sometimes even quick charge phones. The best power inverters give you household AC power ands plug to charge laptop or camera batteries, and even run small appliances like a coffee maker while you’re camping, or a TV for tailgating.

While it may seem like recent technology made for today’s connected cars, the in-vehicle touchscreen actually debuted way back in 1987 as a feature on the ‘87 Buick Riviera. From that first 3”x4” monochrome screen more than 30 years ago, touchscreens steadily evolved, eventually dominating vehicle interiors and putting total vehicle control at the driver’s fingertips. The rise of in-vehicle touchscreens introduced a new level of command and convenience, but it was only the beginning.

Own a vehicle for long enough and eventually you are going to find yourself in a situation where your battery is drained and you need a little help to get started.

The steady improvement in tire technology has led to snow tires that will help you get through just about any winter conditions. However, for the worst snowy conditions, especially when there is lots of smooth ice, no tire performs as well as a good set of tire chains.

The Mazda CX-5 comes with an impressive list of standard features for an affordable sport utility vehicle. In addition to the standard and optional features, the automaker offers a variety of Mazda CX-5 accessories that make it a better vehicle for each individual owner, but there are some things that you can’t get from the dealership. Of course, if you buy your Mazda SUV from a private buyer, you cannot add accessories to the final bill and that is why the automaker aftermarket is such a thriving industry.

There are few names in the world of American sport utility vehicles which are more respected than that of the Jeep Cherokee. While the larger Grand Cherokee is the more popular model, the smaller Cherokee is a great option for someone who wants a midsized SUV that offers exceptional on- and off-road driving dynamics and loads of interior tech for a low price point. Also, thanks to the Jeep Performance Parts catalog, the brand offers scores of Jeep Cherokee accessories for the interior and exterior.

In a market awash in SUVs, the Toyota 4Runner still stands out, in that it’s one of the few SUVs that has kept its design focus on off-road capability. We’ve rounded up the best Toyota 4Runner accessories to help you tackle the roads less traveled.

Changing your own oil is the cheapest way to perform the most important piece of maintenance on your car, truck, or SUV. It’s also a great way to keep a close eye on the state of the rest of your vehicle, giving you the chance to check your brakes and other fluids as well as look for rust and other damage, every time you get under for an oil change. What if you’re not handy with a wrench and aren’t sure what to do? No problem, here’s how to change your own oil.

Living in Vermont, I’ve gone through snow tires like some people eat mints. Even a decade ago, there were only a few snow tires that I’d have been willing to call “serious” winter tires—Bridgestone Blizzaks, Nokian Hakkapeliittas, Michelin X-Ice, a few others. And I stuck with them, buying them (usually Blizzak tires) generation after generation, and for every car.

If you have been searching online for the best aftermarket bumpers, side steps, headlight assemblies, LED light bars, floor mats or even tonneau covers for your Jeep, you have likely looked at products from OEDRO. Seeing as how customization is one of the key attractions for many Jeep owners, it comes as little surprise that there is an endless list of companies which offer aftermarket upgrades for every model in the Trail Rated lineup. Some companies offer niche products and others offer everything under the sun, but OEDRO has taken a middle ground approach; offering a range of the most popular and most common aftermarket upgrades for various Jeep models.

The leaves are turning across much of the country, and with it, the temperatures are dropping. That means it’s time to get your vehicle and yourself ready for winter, whatever winter is in your area. For many, that means,  snow, cold, and ice. For a few, that means it’s finally cool enough to step outside. Whatever your situation, this is how to winterize your car and yourself.

See if all-season tires or winter tires are right for you.