Gifts for gearheads - Off Duty, Automotive - Army Times

Get your gearhead out of bed with this chrome-plated, billet-wheeled self-driving alarm clock. It works just like a regular alarm clock except for one difference: If the gearhead doesn’t rise and shine after the first time hitting the snooze button, Clocky will shift into overdrive and take off across the room — wheels spinning, horn buzzing — until someone gets out of the sack and chases the thing down. It safely leaps off nightstands as tall as 3 feet. It might not land safely when you throw it out the window, though. Cost: $64.95 www.cruisingoods.com or call 888-215-3150

COURTESY OF AUTOSPORT CATALOG Most gearheads change their own oil, but it’s a messy and unpleasant job that requires jacking up the car and crawling underneath it with a catch pan and wrench set — unless you have this handy tool. The Oil Extractor sucks the old oil out of the engine from the top via a vacuum-actuated pump and a nozzle that slips into the oil dipstick. This is the same method used by Mercedes-Benz dealers, and it works great on lawn mowers and motorcycles, too. No more oil slicks on the garage floor! No more dirty oil sloshing around in a pan! (Holds 7 quarts of old oil.) Cost: $69.95 www.autosportcatalog.com

COURTESY OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON Maybe your gearhead has always wanted to ride a Harley-Davidson. Here’s a way to do that without actually buying the bike. The Born To Be Wild program works just like renting a car, but instead of a Taurus, you get a big V-twin cruiser for 24 hours (or more, if you want) along with a helmet and area maps. This gift is ideal for a gearhead who will be traveling to one of the major cities where the rental hogs are offered. Fly in, ride out! Available in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas and several other major cities. You will need a valid motorcycle permit and appropriate riding gear — like Harley-Davidson’s Men’s Bar & Shield perforated leather jacket. Rental cost: starts at $200, www.excitations.com, search “Born To Be Wild”; jacket cost: $340, www.harleydavidson.com

COURTESY OF TERRAPASS Gearheads want to know what their engines are up to at all times — and the ScanGauge II car computer is just the ticket. It plugs into any 1996 or newer vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics port, located under the dash on the driver’s side of the car. The LCD readout displays real-time data, such as coolant temperature, intake air temperature, instant/average fuel economy, fuel usage rate, maximum and average speed, distance to empty, engine RPM at any given speed, top speed reached and more. Use it for tuning purposes or to adjust driving style for maximum fuel efficiency. No wiring is needed; ScanGauge II is “plug and play.” Cost: $159.95 www.terrapass.com or call 877-210-9581

COURTESY OF CEN-TECH Gearheads often need to take the temperature of their cars and bikes, for example, to trace an overheating problem. The non-contact laser thermometer saves time and hassle by reading the temperature of things like radiators and cylinder heads just by pointing it at them. Very helpful for diagnosing problems with AC systems, too, the thermometer can read temperatures from minus 4 degrees to 968 degrees Fahrenheit. The perfect addition to any toolbox. Cost: $59.95, www.harborfreight.com, keyword search “laser thermometer” or call 800-423-2657

COURTESY OF CALIFORNIA CAR COVER COMPANY This little guy makes clearing an ice-covered windshield almost enjoyable. Ok, well, certainly more efficient. An internal heating element quickly melts ice and snow, making scraping easier and faster. It plugs into any 12-volt power source or cigarette lighter and comes with a 15-foot cord and handle extender for use on trucks and SUVs. Cost: $19.99, www.calcarcover.com, search “ice remover” or call 800-423-5525

COURTESY OF CAR GUY GARAGE Storage space is a big issue for many gearheads. These dollies (you’ll need four) make it simple to raise and move a car — including sideways — an ideal solution for a tight-fitting garage. Position a dolly at each wheel and use the foot-actuated hydraulic pump to raise the vehicle. It can now be rolled easily — forward, backward or sideways — on the dollies’ heavy-duty casters. Do it by hand and without having to start the engine. Dollies support up to 6,000 pounds. Cost: $149, www.carguygarage.com, search “dollies” or call 800-736-9308

COURTESY OF IDCOW.COM Gearheads usually like car models as much as real cars, but you want to get a model made for grown-ups, not kids — and ERTL makes some of the finest, most detailed models out there. The 1:18-scale 1974 Dodge Monaco (complete with an enormous megaphone bolted to the roof and a 440 cop motor V-8 and no catalytic converters) is just one fine example. Ertl makes models of virtually any classic muscle car, hot rod, movie car or modern auto — and even motorcycle, truck and tractor models. Cost: $44.95, www.idcow.com/dc2020.html or call 818-248-7165

COURTESY OF GENUINE HOTROD HARDWARE This piece of Genuine Hotrod Hardware is a ceramic replica of an old-school Stromberg 97 carburetor like you’d find feeding an old Model A Ford flathead V-8. Only this one feeds you coffee (or beverage of your choice) and holds 14 ounces of liquid. It’s also dishwasher safe. Cost: $19.95, www.summitracing.com, search “carb cup” or call 800-230-3030

COURTESY OF MARGARITAVILLE CARGO Be the life of the tailgate party with this full-size, propane-powered grill that hooks to your receiving hitch and swings out for easy operation. It never goes inside your vehicle, and the 20,000-BTU burner will cook burgers for the whole crowd in a breeze. The only thing missing is the six-pack and giant foam hand. Cost: $399.99, www.margaritavillecargo.com