Damien Volkman

Watt-hours (Wh) tell you how long a power station can run your devices, and watts (W) tell you which devices it can run at once; size for both.

Trimmer line is sold by diameter, from .065 inch for light work to .155 inch for heavy work; use a size your trimmer head lists, then pick a shape.

US tire maker guidance says a plug alone is not a proper repair; a proper fix fills the hole with a stem and patches the inside, for punctures up to 1/4 inch.

Car phone mounts differ in where they attach (vent, dash, windshield or cup holder) and how they grip (clamp or magnet); the right one fits your car and phone.

A cargo carrier rides on the roof or in the hitch receiver; roof boxes run from about 10 to over 20 cubic feet, and the lowest weight rating sets the limit.

Coolant color is a maker's code, not a universal standard, so choose by the type in your owner's manual or a formula for all makes, not by matching color.

Push and reel mowers suit small yards, self-propelled models ease bigger or hilly ones, and riding mowers with wide decks cover large open lawns.

In 5W-30, the 5W rates how the oil flows cold (W is for winter) and the 30 how it flows at engine temperature; use the grade your manual lists.

All-season tires suit mild climates, all-weather tires carry the snowflake mark for real winters, and a tire is worn out at 2/32 inch of tread or 10 years old.

Receiver hitches come in five classes, from Class 1 for trailers up to 2,000 lbs. to Class 5 for loads up to 20,000 lbs., each with a tongue weight limit.

Size a UPS by watts first; the VA number is apparent power and is always at least as high as the watt rating, so a UPS must cover your gear on both numbers.

Add up the running watts of everything you will power at once, then make sure the generator's starting watts cover the biggest motor as it kicks on.

Pick a winch rated for at least 1.5 times your vehicle's weight, and know that the rated pull applies only to the first layer of line on the drum.

A size like 225/65R17 gives the tire width in millimeters, sidewall height as a percent of that width, the construction and the rim size in inches.