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