It's that time of year again, thank goodness, to start thinking about taking some good old fashioned road trips.  If you live up around the Midwest US, you can start off with the Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan the beginning of May.  In June, head over to St Paul, Minnesota for the NHRA Back to the Fifties Car Show out at the State Fairgrounds.  The Fourth of July around Milwaukee, Wisconsin is always a rockin' good time.  With August comes the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise outside of Detroit, Michigan, without over 30,000 cars cruisin' up and down the best strip ever.

And I know there are a multitude of fishing and boating excursions, as well as motorcycle rides, and marathons.  All this, and more, adds up to some fun times here in the Midwest.  And to make sure you are ready, steady, Teddy, you need to make sure you've got your wagon, van, or rig hooked up all nice and proper.

Since you're probably jammed full on the inside and in your camper or boat, you may want to think about adding a classy roof rack to the top of your family trickster!  Pack all your gear up on top of your Van and motor over to the West MIchigan coast.  If you're like many travelers coming to the campground, you're driving a full size van.  It's a perfect match to gear it up with a roof or van rack and an access ladder, so's to make the trip that much easier.  By providing additional storage space for your extra luggage or camping stuff, you will free up some valuable seating space on the inside.  This makes all the fellow travelers much more mellow, for sure, and opens up some sleeping or napping room as well. 

The access ladders provide a simple and safe way to get up top, to pack, to arrange, to unload, all without denting up the hood or sides!  These guys come in matching sets, most often in stainless steel or aluminum.  Either way, they're built solid and sturdy, to stand up to whatever you have up there.  The tube style makes for easy tie downs, putting them wherever you need them, without having to "make do".  The ladders attach with either universal mounts or "over the door" hooks - complete with rubber feet to protect the finish! 

You can also add extension hitch racks, which install into your trailer hitch receiver, giving you some additional storage space if you need it.  Most of these are solid covered units, so your stuff is protected.  These provide a little easier access as well, so you can put the things you might need to get at more often in these. 

All in all, Spring is here, the Tulips are too, and it's a great time to get out and get to traveling.  West Michigan is always a terrific place to start.  And to come back too!  So rack it up, and head on out!  The season is just begun!