Hit the open road in comfort and style with crash bar chaps.

If you’re a diehard motorcycle fan or looking to pimp out your ride, engine guard chaps are a must. Also known as soft lowers or lower covers, these chaps offer both protection and style.

Soft lowers help keep your feet and lower legs dry in the rain by shielding them from water sprayed up by your bike or by other vehicles around you. Soft lowers also work as a barrier against the cold and wind.

As you ride your bike, cold wind and rain can whip up your pant legs, leaving you soaked and freezing by the time you reach your destination. Engine guard chaps take the bite out of cold winds and block rain and water to keep your legs dry and warm out on the road.

Some lower covers include pockets, which come in handy for storing maps, sunglasses, a cell phone or flashlight. DuraShield’s soft lowers for Harley come with a pocket on one side and a bottle holster on the other. They’re also designed to fit bikes with stock engine guard bars, toe shifters, and highway pegs.

Most engine guard covers slip on and off quickly with snaps and secure webbing straps so you can use them when you need to and store them when you don’t.

Get your boat to the water and back safe and sound with these trailering tips.

The first step in hauling your boat is to choose the right trailer. Your boat trailer should be long enough to fully support your boat and be able to handle the weight of your boat along with the boat motor, gas, and all equipment in the boat. In addition, the tow vehicle must be capable of towing the combined weight of trailer and boat.

As you load the boat, make sure the hull is evenly balanced between the bunks or rollers. Even weight distribution from front to back and from side to side helps prevent damage to the boat during trailering. Uneven weight distribution can damage your boat or affect the steering and responsiveness of the tow vehicle.

If you are using a trailerable boat cover, secure the tie downs evenly and tightly. Trailerable boat covers keep your boat dry, prevent equipment from flying out of your boat, and hide your boating equipment from prying eyes at rest stops and gas stations. You may also want to protect your boat’s engine with an outboard motor cover.

After loading the boat, secure the boat to the trailer with tie downs and fasten the bow to the trailer with a rope or chain in addition to the winch cable. Crisscross the safety chains underneath the coupler and hook them to the tow mount on your vehicle.

Follow the instructions in your boat trailer manual to safely hook up your trailer and secure the boat. Double-check the safety chains, trailer hitch lock, and trailer lights before towing.

As you trailer your boat, remember to factor in the extra distance needed to brake. Allow more time to accelerate, pass, slow down, and stop. You will also need to make wider turns and allow extra space for curbs and other roadside barriers.

Is your spare tire ready to save the day? Inspect your spare tire regularly for proper inflation and dry rot.

You may not think about your spare tire until you get a flat, but when that time comes, is your spare up for the challenge? A spare tire that sits neglected over time may fail and leave you stranded on the roadside.

Although you may remember to check your car tires on a regular basis, don’t forget to include your full-size or compact spare tire in your maintenance schedule. Make spare tire care a habit by clearing the clutter out of your trunk and making it easy to reach your spare wheel for maintenance.

The two most common reasons for spare tire failure are underinflation and dry rot. Your spare wheel loses air slowly over time. Without proper care, your spare wheel may be flat by the time you need it. At the least, this means poor tire performance. At the worst, it means another tire failure, which could possibly damage other parts of your vehicle as well.

As your spare tire ages, it can also become susceptible to dry rot. The first and most obvious sign of dry rot is cracks in your sidewalls. Spare wheels mounted externally on your vehicle should be protected with a spare tire cover. Exposure to damage from the sun, ozone, and weather accelerates the aging process and shortens the life and usefulness of your spare tire. A cover for your spare tire will prolong the lifespan of your spare.

If you own a trailer or RV, include your spare trailer tire and spare RV tire in your maintenance routine to protect the value of these investments. You can also purchase a trailer spare tire cover and RV spare tire cover to limit damage caused by exposure to the elements.

A damaged full-size or donut spare tire can shred on your way home or to the repair shop, leaving you just as stranded as before. To reduce your risk of spare tire failure, take a few minutes every month or two to check your spare tire, inflating it as needed and checking for cracks in the sidewalls that may signal dry rot damage.

Prolong the life of your golf cart with regular golf cart maintenance.

The more you use your golf cart, the more often you should perform regular maintenance checks. Regular maintenance will keep your golf cart working longer and performing at the level you expect.

Here are some maintenance tips for general golf cart maintenance:

•  Always wear thick rubber gloves and goggles to protect yourself when working with the golf cart battery in any way.

•  Fill each cell of the battery with distilled water until the leaded plates are submerged. Use only distilled water in your golf cart’s battery. Refer to the owner’s manual for your golf cart to find out how full your battery needs to be. Maintaining the correct fluid levels in your battery will go a long way in keeping your golf car working up to its full potential.

•  Keep the battery clean. Remove dirt and debris from around the battery casing, and wipe off fluids. For battery acid spills, you can neutralize the acid with a mixture of baking soda and water. Never touch battery acid with your bare hands!

•  Check the battery connections for corrosion, debris, dirt, or any signs of damage. Replace the connections if there are signs of corrosion or other damage. Unless you are fully confident in your wiring and electrical skills, take your cart to a maintenance shop with experience in golf cart repair. You should also take it in for regular maintenance checks on the engine, brakes, suspension, tires, and other parts.

•  Wash your golf car on a regular basis to prevent damage to the finish. Use a golf cart cover to protect your cart between rides and during short-term or long-term storage.

•  Check your owner’s manual for other regular maintenance information specific to your golf cart model.

Protect your motorcycle during long-term storage with a thorough wash and a motorcycle bike cover.

Washing your bike thoroughly is an important step in winterizing your motorcycle. Dirt and grime left on your motorcycle can damage the paint, chrome, and other surfaces during long-term storage.

Wash your motorcycle in a shady area. Exposure to direct sunlight can leave spots on your motorcycle as it dries. Use a mild cleaner or a specially formulated automotive cleaner. Alkaline or acidic cleaners can damage your bike’s finish. After washing, thoroughly rinse the bike and wheels with water. Dry the bike thoroughly to prevent streaks and spots.

A wax or sealant will also protect your motorcycle’s finish from damage caused by the elements. If your motorcycle needs a new coat of wax or sealant, you may want to think about applying a new coat to protect your bike and keep it looking new.

When it comes to protecting your bike, one of the most important accessories is a motorcycle cover. Make sure the motorcycle is completely dry before protecting it with a cruiser cover. Whether you are storing your motorcycle indoors or outdoors, your bike’s storage cover should be breathable. Trapped moisture can damage your bike, but a breathable motorcycle cover allows moisture to evaporate.