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by Craig Nicholson
(©2005 by Craig Nicholson. All rights reserved.)
Communicator Plus is a money-saving add-on for use with helmet-to-helmet communicators. By using power from your sled’s engine, it eliminates the need for those bothersome battery packs, and for constantly replacing or recharging batteries.
The system has two small, very light boxes, one of which mounts easily under the hood. This box has a small fuse that can be hard to get, so although I never had to replace it, my advice is to carry a spare. The second box clips to the back or side of your helmet, and the power wire from your like-mounted helmet communicator plugs into it. One wire runs from the Communicator Plus to a plug from its under-hood companion.
I used Communicator Plus on several tours and it performed flawlessly with my Collett Communicators. My experience is that while having another box affixed to your lid may look a little strange, the new attachment is so light that I wasn’t even aware of it. However, I did inadvertently dislodge the unit several times when taking off my helmet, so I installed it more securely with black duct tape that matched both box and helmet. I also used duct tape to secure the various wires.
For those unused to it, another possible concern is being wired to your sled; you have to remember to unplug. Or if you already have an electric face shield wire, the two wires can become tangled. But neither of these factors is more hassle than carrying extra batteries or a charger, or having your communications go dead in the middle of the day because of power failure. www.communicatorpower.com.
Hand-e-View Mirror
Why any snowmobiler would ride without being able to see behind remains a mystery. And with a Hand-e-View, there’s no excuse. The mirror straps around the wrist of your glove and fastens to itself with velcro, so the glove slips on and off easily while it remains in place. To see behind, all you have to do is raise your left hand. Hand-e-View is excellent for trail riders and a must for mountain snowmobilers because their sleds don’t have mirrors. I carry one in my tour kit just in case I lose a mirror off my sled along the way. www.eztraxx.com
Universal Tow Mirrors
Awhile back, a policeman pulled me over and issued a ticket for trailering with an obstructed rear view because I had no side mirror extensions on my tow vehicle. He wasn’t impressed by my story of not being able to find a set that fit my Japanese van. In fact, I had looked everywhere and even bought a set for American vans that I tried and failed to adapt to my particular configuration.
I was out of luck until discovering the Universal Tow Mirror. This aerodynamic unit has adjustable feet, adaptable to almost any existing side mirror and is held securely in place by two equally adjustable nylon straps with clips on the end that grip the mirror edge. The installation of the Universal Tow Mirror is easy and, once in place, it does not interfere with the remote operation of the vehicle’s existing mirror surfaces. Meanwhile, the mirror surface of the Universal Tow Mirror itself tilts to suit various driver heights.
I drove all winter with a Universal Tow Mirror on each side. They never came loose or marked my vehicle. If there is one drawback, it may be whether or not these add-ons can survive an automated car wash, so to be safe, I only used self-washing locations after installation. www.eztraxx.com.
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