News — Motors

As options for car- and truck-mounted tents expand, it can be tough to separate the wheat from the chaff. Here are our picks for the best rooftop tents. If you’ve never slept in a rooftop tent, it’s hard to imagine how different it is from sleeping on the ground. Rooftop tent (RTT) sleeping feels safer and more secure than sleeping in a tent on the ground. Plus, RTTs offer a bird’s-eye view of your surroundings, airflow that’s unheard of in a traditional tent, protection (and peace of mind), and generally superior comfort for sleeping. The drawbacks: Unlike a ground tent...

Just 2 hours after purchasing our travel trailer, we sat at an RV resort scratching our heads. That’s when we realized the dealer locked our keys inside. Only minutes later, the park manager arrived on the scene, plucked a ring of keys from his pocket, and after two tries, swung our door wide open. I was pleased — but not happy. That’s when I learned nearly every employee of an RV dealership carries a master key capable of unlocking any coach. It doesn’t work with the deadbolt, but that didn’t make me feel much better. Because our RV serves as...

Just 2 hours after purchasing our travel trailer, we sat at an RV resort scratching our heads. That’s when we realized the dealer locked our keys inside. Only minutes later, the park manager arrived on the scene, plucked a ring of keys from his pocket, and after two tries, swung our door wide open. I was pleased — but not happy. That’s when I learned nearly every employee of an RV dealership carries a master key capable of unlocking any coach. It doesn’t work with the deadbolt, but that didn’t make me feel much better. Because our RV serves as...

Overlanding by motorcycle requires planning and packing for inevitable mechanical issues. Unlike four-wheeled vehicles, packing space is severely limited on a motorcycle. A tool roll is an amazingly space-efficient method of hauling the necessary tools for trailside repairs. The Velomacchi Speedway Tool Roll ($75) does it in a compact form factor that complies with the limited dimensions of bike luggage. I’ve been testing a unit for several months on adventure and dual sport rides in California, Colorado, and Baja Mexico. The Velomacchi Speedway Tool Roll stores, organizes, and keeps tools clean in a compact manner. It helps keep both tools and...