7 Road Trip Gadgets from the ’80s That Broke Immediately

The 1980s were a time of innovation, with countless gadgets designed to make road trips more exciting or convenient. Unfortunately, not all of these devices lived up to their promises. Many were fragile, unreliable, or just poorly made. These seven road trip gadgets from the ’80s became memorable for all the wrong reasons.

1. Portable Cassette Players

Portable cassette players were supposed to make long drives more fun by allowing passengers to listen to their favorite tapes. While the idea was great, the reality often fell short. These devices had flimsy parts that were prone to breaking after a few uses.

Even when they worked, tapes would frequently get tangled inside the player, ruining both the music and the mood of the trip. Many road trippers learned to bring backup entertainment just in case.

2. Plug-In Travel Coolers

Travel coolers that plugged into car cigarette lighters seemed like a perfect solution for keeping drinks cold. However, the flimsy cooling mechanism often broke quickly, leaving users with lukewarm sodas instead of icy refreshments.

The coolers also drained car batteries if left plugged in too long. Many people eventually switched back to old-fashioned ice chests.

3. Car-Mounted TVs

Car-mounted TVs were an exciting gadget for kids on road trips, but they weren’t built to last. The small screens were fragile, and one bump in the road could cause the picture to go out completely.

The poor reception often led to more frustration than entertainment. By the end of many trips, these TVs were more of a hassle than a help.

4. Folding Maps with Built-In Lights

Illuminated maps were meant to make navigation easier at night, but they were far from reliable. The tiny light bulbs often stopped working after a short time, leaving travelers squinting in the dark.

The fragile wiring and awkward design made them inconvenient to use. Most drivers ended up switching back to flashlights or daylight planning.

5. CB Radios for Family Cars

CB radios became a popular way for families to communicate with other drivers or listen to road updates. However, the cheap, plastic designs of many consumer-grade models made them prone to breaking.

The static-filled sound quality and limited range added to the frustration, and many were abandoned after just a few trips.

6. Dashboard Organizers

Dashboard organizers promised to keep everything tidy, from maps to sunglasses. However, the plastic compartments and adhesive strips often didn’t hold up. Items would spill all over the car after a few bumpy roads.

The clutter these gadgets were supposed to solve often got worse, leaving road trippers wishing they’d skipped the purchase altogether.

7. Rechargeable Flashlights

Rechargeable flashlights were a trendy alternative to traditional batteries in the ’80s, but their reliability left much to be desired. Many failed to hold a charge for more than a few hours, making them nearly useless for long road trips.

The fragile charging ports also broke easily, leaving travelers in the dark—literally.