Road trip season is upon us, but be sure to pack this tech, too
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Don’t forget to pack some tech, too, to help save you time, money and frustration.
This includes a smartphone to provide helpful turn-by-turn navigation; a dashboard camera (“dash cam”) to capture footage in front of your vehicle or a trailering camera to better see behind you; and perhaps some gadgets to reduce the dreaded “Are we there yet?” from kids in the backseat.
The following are a few recommended gadgets to get you going in the right direction.
(Oh, and don’t forget about non-tech items, too, like a first-aid kit, folding blanket, travel pillow, lots of water and baby wipes.)
EXTRA EYES
Mounted onto a vehicle’s windshield, dashboard cameras (dashcams) continuously record video in the event of an incident or accident. They’re also fun, as you can capture your adventures while, say, driving through the mountains, and play back later on a television or computer.
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While the company has sub-$100 models, the top-of-the-line Nextbase iQ Smart Dashcam ($699) is loaded with tech. Whether your car is bumped in a parking lot or an intruder is attempting to enter your vehicle, real-time notifications are sent to your phone.
Nextbase iQ includes a second camera for video inside your car to record a traffic stop or road rage incident, plus you can say, “Dash cam, start witness mode,” to share live footage with an emergency contact.
JUMP STARTER
Ideal to keep in your trunk, the STANLEY Fatmax J7CS Portable Power Station ($120) can jump-start your vehicle’s dead battery in the event of an emergency – so you don’t have to call and wait for roadside assistance. Simply connect the familiar red and black clamps to your battery and flick the switch.
Conveniently, this model also has a built-in 120 PSI air compressor to pump up tires.
Other features include a high-powered and rotatable LED light to help you in the dark, plus there are three USB-A charging ports to juice up smartphones, tablets and other devices.
This product’s built-in battery should be charged every 30 days when not in use.
TABLETS AND HANDS-FREE HOLDERS
Perfect for passengers to pass the time, a tablet is ideal for consuming content as it’s larger than a smartphone – giving you more real estate to watch TV shows, play games and read ebooks – but not as cumbersome to use as a laptop (with its keyboard that you may not need).
The 10th generation Apple iPad (from $599 for 64GB of storage) is an ideal pick, featuring a bright and colourful 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, powerful A14 Bionic chip, and it supports more than a million downloads from the App Store to fully customize your experience.
When you reach your destination, it also works with an optional Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio (sold separately).
If you don’t want to spend as much on a tablet – perhaps you’re buying for younger kids – the Galaxy Tab A9+ (from $329) is a more affordable 11-inch colour slate that’s powered by Android and the robust Google Play store.
As for mounting the tablet for the little ones in the back seat, the LISEN Tablet Holder ($10) fits all tablets and iPads ranging from 4.7 to 12.9 inches, and affixes to the back of a headrest.
The tablet holder features 360-degree rotation, a strong arm (that extends up to 4 inches) and can be dismantled and folded for easy transportation.
FUEL UP
Why pull over and stop at Tim’s when you’re making good time?
Instead, stay on the highway and let passengers brew up to eight cups of espresso (40ml) on a single charge with the Conqueco Portable Espresso Machine ($169).
Whether you use your vehicle’s 12V/24V port (“cigarette lighter”) or USB-A or USB-C port, simply pour in cold water, press the power button for two seconds, and after 2.5 minutes it’s heated up and ready to pour cups of Jo.
This device is compatible with Nespresso Original capsules, as well as aluminum capsules from LOR, Starbucks, Lavazza and illy.
Developed in Canada, General Motors recently announced several innovative towing and trailering aids for use with vehicles like their 2024 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.
Trailers can obscure the vision behind or beside a vehicle, of course, but Canadian engineers have eliminated those blind spots, with eight available cameras that offer up to 15 unique views. The aptly named “Transparent Trailer” is one of those camera views, letting the driver virtually “see through” a compatible trailer.
Super Cruise, on the other hand, which as you may know offers hands-free driving on many of its vehicles – handling accelerating, decelerating and even lane changes – now offers support for trailering on the more than 1.2 million km of mapped roadways in Canada and the U.S.
Super Cruise for Trailering is similar to regular sedans, SUVs, and trucks but makes teeny corrections to keep your vehicle and trailer centered within the lane, as well as setting appropriate gaps based on your speed (and the weight you’re towing).
GM says emergency breaking can react quicker than a human can.
Speaking of tech, in-vehicle Trailering App – developed by Canadian software development teams – gives drivers real-time info, such as tire pressure and temperature monitoring and a pre-departure checklist including a trailer light test.
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