Gas prices,



prices,

prices. The

at the pump is here to stay and while most recent studies show travel

is down from last year, plenty of Americans are still hitting the highway this

summer. If you've got a vacation coming up - and you're looking to stay on

- trust these ten

to help you get where you're going without breaking the bank.

10. Bolt on hitch receivers

While roof top racks have long been the most popular way to travel with gear,

more and more consumers, even those with smaller vehicles, are utilizing a

trailer hitch to tote their stuff. Hitches help keep your gear in your vehicle's

slipstream, which helps avoid the drag often caused by roof carriers. Bolt-on

hitches are

to install: installation can take between 30 and 60 minutes and

generally doesn't require any special tools to get it in place. At $129 - $199

depending on your vehicle, installing your own will save you hundreds of dollars

over having your vehicle's manufacturer install the towing package.

.

9. Thule Spirit

But don't get the wrong idea: roof racks can still get it done. Popular roof

rack manufacturer

has listened to its customers who are looking to maximize their

mileage. New for 2008 is the

, which features a lower-profile, more aerodynamic

design. The Spirit still sports plenty of room (16 cubic feet) for all of your

travel gear.

8. Softride Access Dura

Released in 2007, the

remains one of the hottest bike racks on the market

for two reasons: it has an almost unbeatable price ($252 and

shipping) and has a unique parallelogram fold down design, that allows

full access to the rear of your vehicle and

waist-level loading/unloading. Check out the

to get a feel for how it works.

7. Yakima Hitch Bike Racks on Clearance

Yakima Racks, one of the biggest names in

racks, released a whole

line of hitch bike racks in 2008. Smart shoppers are realizing great

deals are to be had on

. Swingaway, fold down and wheel

mount styles are all available and most are offered with

shipping.

6. Yakima DoubleDown Hitch Bike Rack

Of course, if you are looking for the latest and greatest, one of Yakima's

bike racks, The

for 2008 combines

features and great pricing. Available in 2, 4 and 5 bike models, the

Double Down folds down for access to the rear of the vehicle, has anti-sway

cradles to ensure your bikes do not shake during travel, and an integrated

security cable to keep your bikes away from enterprising thieves. All this, and

the Double Down 4 bike rack retails at around $200. Hard to beat that.

5. Inno Kayak Carrier

A relative newcomer to the

scene, Inno Racks has been popular in Japan for years. Inno offers

a full line of roof racks but their latest offering, the

, may be its best yet. The Kayak Carrier does what few

other roof water racks can: it carries 2 full size kayaks at the same time. It

even includes all the locks you will need to keep your boats safe. The Inno

Kayak Carrier attaches to any square cross bars. Again, at roughly $200, this

rack can't be beat.

4. Thule Tahoe

Another great



from Thule this year is the

. The soft-sided Tahoe offers 17 cubic feet of

space yet only costs $165. It's hard to get a better bang for your

buck when it comes to