Accessories

10 Accessories that turn your Volkswagen Atlas into a road trip warrior

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Jun 10, 2020, 4:31 am

Volkswagen offers a number of road trip-ready accessories for the 2020 Atlas.

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

You're more than ready for a vacation. So is everyone else in your household. This year you've decided to road trip. It takes longer, but there's less healthcare-related variables you need to consider.

Volkswagen offers a number of accessories to make road tripping in your Atlas a little more pleasurable.

Universal tablet holder

Universal tablet holder

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Rear seat occupants can set their device in an available universal tablet holder ($110) for hands-free entertainment. When paired with an existing data plan, the Car-Net Hotspot allows a 4G LTE-enabled connection on up to four compatible connected devices simultaneously, so family members can get connected and entertained. The holder also features two shopping hooks that are integrated into the base unit for added utility.

Muddy Buddy floor and cargo liners

Muddy Buddy floor and cargo liners

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Parents who like to keep their SUV clean will appreciate Muddy Buddy carpet liners ($80-$190). They're custom-molded to help protect interior carpet in the front, back and sides of the vehicle's footwell. They come with a raised edge and extend up to the third-row seat backs. The liner also features a skid-resistant finish that can stop items from shifting while on the road.

CargoTech Cargo Containment System

CargoTech Cargo Containment System

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Stop all the loose odds and ends from rolling around in your cargo area with the CargoTech Cargo Containment System ($45). The four-piece plastic block provides a stable area for bags and other road trip essentials (like a box of wine or case of beer) from tipping.

Retractable privacy cover

Retractable privacy cover

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

When you stop at a gas station or restaurant, you never know who is going to see your possessions in your cargo area. Keep them hidden and keep thieves guessing with a retractable privacy cover ($180).

Tuffy security console safe

Security Console Safe by Tuffy

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

If you want to store sensitive gear or personal items in your car (a few dollars for a toll booth or your house keys) you might consider a security safe ($250) to keep in the center console.

Thule trailer hitch attachments

Trailer hitch attachments by Thule

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

If you aren't towing a trailer, there is a perfectly good hitch mounted option available for carrying bikes.The Thule hitch-mounted hanging rack can carry up to four bikes ($400).

Thule rooftop carriers

Thule rooftop carriers

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

Roof-mounted cargo boxes, cargo baskets and various Thule attachments provide additional transport options ($150-$665) when there just isn't enough room inside the vehicle. Recreational equipment including skis, snowboards, surfboards, bikes or a kayak can be stored on top of the Atlas with Thule carrier attachments.

Urban Loader

Urban Loader

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

If general storage space is needed for luggage, camping gear, or other cargo, there are a few options to choose from. The Urban Loader ($699) adds up to 17.7 cubic feet of space and has a maximum load capacity of 110 pounds.

Cargo Box Carrier

Cargo Box Carrier

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

The Cargo Box Carrier ($499) has the same load capacity as the Urban Loader but features an aerodynamic design helping to limit wind noise. It adds 12 cubic feet of space.

Thule Canyon Basket Carrier

Thule Canyon Basket Carrier

Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG

With its low-profile design, easy loading and unloading accessibility, and ability to hold up to 150 pounds, the Thule Basket Carrier ($350) is for families staying more than just a few nights. A separately sold Thule Stretch Cargo Net ensures everything stays in place while tackling the open road.

Please note: All roof rack attachments require base carrier bars sold separately. All accessories are sold separately. Proper installation of accessories is required. Professional installation may be recommended. See owner's literature and dealer for details.

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Desert racing

Volkswagen ID.4 to tackle Rebelle Rally

The all-electric ID.4 will help its pilot and navigator tackle the grueling race route.

Volkswagen

Off-road racing and endurance races are nothing new, but the Rebelle Rally's approach is unique. The event is the first all-women event of its kind in the U.S. and takes participants through severely challenging terrain with no electronic aids allowed for navigation. This year, Volkswagen is bringing its new ID.4 EV to the event to be piloted by driver Mercedes Lilienthal and navigator Emily Winslow.

Volkswagen ID.4 Mercedes Lilienthal and Emily Winslow will pilot the ID.4.Volkswagen

Tanner Foust Racing and Rhys Millen Racing modified the VW with new suspension system, tubular control arms, fabricated skid plates, battery protection, and other off-road-ready kit. The crossover has also been fited with a Thule roof rack and Yokohama Geolandar A/T tires.

The ID.4's battery and electric motor will remain untouched. That means a combined output of 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The 82 kWh battery can deliver an EPA-estimated range of 249 miles on a charge, but keep in mind that the terrain the team will be tackling will have an impact on that number.

The 2021 event marks the sixth year for the all-women rally raid. Teams are faced with 1,400 miles of desert in Nevada and California, and must navigate the racecourse without the use of electronic guides, such as GPS or cell phones. From the start in Las Vegas to the finish in Glamis, CA, participants must use maps, compasses, and their own skill to navigate.

Volkswagen ID.4 Several modifications were made to the suspension and other components.Volkswagen

Even though it's the ID.4's maiden year on the market, the electric crossover has already had a successful run in motorsport. Earlier this year, another modified version of the vehicle competed in the NORRA Mexican 1000. It was also massaged by Tanner Foust Racing and Rhys Millen Racing, and VW notes that the ID.4 that we'll see in Rebelle Rally vehicle was improved using data from its first races.

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Interesting backstory

Volkswagen Bus part inspired popular dog toy

The classic VW Bus inspired one of the most popular dog toys of all time.

Volkswagen

Product designs sometimes take inspiration from the places we expect the least. Moments of genius are driven by finding solutions to unique problems, and as it turns out, that's exactly how we ended up with KONG. The beefy, durable dog chew toy is modeled after a Volkswagen Bus part.

Joe Markham's shop Markham needed a dog for security, but he unexpectedly got a chew-crazy pet.Volkswagen

KONG's inventor, Joe Markham, adopted a German Shepherd to help with security at his auto repair shop in downtown Denver, CO. The dog, while a great addition to the shop, came with a few bad habits. The dog's most worrisome hobby was chewing, which he would do with almost anything he could find, especially rocks. As you might imagine, chewing on rocks is not good for the dog's teeth. Markham needed a durable chew toy, but nothing seemed to work, from animal bones to radiator hoses.

The solution came from an unlikely place: While working on a 1960sVW Type 2 Bus, Markham discovered that the rubber axle stop made a perfect chew toy. The dog had gotten ahold of the rubber stop, and while he was chewing viciously, neither the stop nor his teeth were damaged.

The discovery led Markham to spend the next six years experimenting with various rubbers, sizes, and shapes for his dog toy. After working with rubber experts in Germany, the design was finalized and the KONG was born. The shape for the toy ended up being very close to that of the axle stop. The funky, bulbous design meant that the toy wouldn't bounce like a ball, and would instead flop around randomly, which is similar to the way that small animals run away from predators.

VW Bus axle stop The axle stop from a VW Bus inspired KONG's shape.Volkswagen

It's worth noting that you should not intentionally let your dog chew on any part of your vehicle. Even unused automotive parts can contain chemicals and other harmful materials that could make your dog sick or worse. This isn't a pitch to buy a KONG, just a warning about the hazards of car parts being used as dog toys.

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