Yesterday i went to my sons college graduation it was several hours from my home. I carried 2 of my pistols with me one for vehicle and one for ccw. But you cannot carry on campus so i had to leave my weapons in the car. I have used the search feature and cant find what im looking for. Does anyone make or produce a secure storing device that can be either bolted to the vehicle floor or secured to the seat frame. I dont like to leave my weapons in the car but sometimes you cant take them in with you and I would hate to have them stolen. I dont leave them in plain site but if some one broke into the vehicle they are going to look in the usual storage areas. Any ideas on this subject would be much appreciated.
gun security in vehicle
- Thread starter kabrn
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Hoxviii
Member
Something to look into (seriously) is if one was an OEM option on your vehicle. In the 80's and 90's at least Ford and GM had secure under seat locking areas. In the F-150 Ford even listed the option as an "underseat gun storage".
I found a rifle version- now I just need the time to install it. It's absolutely inconspicuous and totally out of the way, plus it installs without having to drill any extra holes in my truck.
I found a rifle version- now I just need the time to install it. It's absolutely inconspicuous and totally out of the way, plus it installs without having to drill any extra holes in my truck.
ScareyH22A
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- Feb 25, 2009
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I've been obsessing over a secure method of carrying handguns in my SUV for the past couple of months.
In California, we can't lock the handgun in the glove or "utility" compartment, whatever that means. I've done a lot of research and found out that a "utility" compartment could be a center console, spare tire well, jack compartment, or anything else that has a lid or is covered with a top, that is fixed to the vehicle.
But you CAN get a safe and chain it to the vehicle. There's a few companies that sell small pistol safes with a thin steel cable to loop around seat rails and stuff. This is ok for most people I guess but I don't like thin steel cables because they can be cut with even a pair of electrical crimpers. If these seem right for you GunVault offers their units with security cables http://www.gunvault.com/cables.nxg. There's not law for a DOJ approval stamp for vehicle carry as long as it's locked.
So I decided that I wanted to use a sturdy bicycle chain or even a U-lock. I went to the hardware store and bought a couple of 1/2" eye bolts, washers, and lock nuts. Then I found a metal panel behind some plastic lid in the rear side of my SUV. I drilled a hole and bolted the eye bolt into it.
I bought a plastic, fire and water resistant Sentry Safe at Walmart and drilled a holt in it and bolted the eye bolt into it. Then I locked the safe into my vehicle with a U-lock.
I used it like that for a couple of months but realized that the lock is really easy to pick or even forcefully twist with a flat head screwdriver. Plus it wasn't very pry resistant. I think if I had a large flat head screw driver, I could easily pry open the lid without much effort.
So I went on the hunt for a steel safe that would fit behind my 3rd row seat and the hatch lid. I wanted a steel safe because they're harder to get into. But also, I wanted a digital lock so that I could quickly get in and out without rousing suspicion from onlookers. And I needed the locking bolt assembly to be pretty sturdy to resist prying attempts.
After searching and searching, I found a safe for $50 at Harbor Freight and Tool. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45891 It's not the prettiest of the highest quality but it was exactly what I was looking for.
It came with a cylindrical key that's obviously harder to pick. I've even tried the "BIC" method and it didn't open up. But the best part is that the key hole is hidden so it's probably not going to get attacked right away.
This little safe is made of 9 gauge steel so it's very solid. The welds are pretty amateurish but it's fine for what it is. I even took the lid off the lock assembly to have a look inside. It's made pretty well and looks to be reliably designed. There's thick steel to hold the door from caving in and the hinged side of the door is inside the safe so it can't be pried out.
I can fit 3-4 pistols all with their own individual soft case.
In California, we can't lock the handgun in the glove or "utility" compartment, whatever that means. I've done a lot of research and found out that a "utility" compartment could be a center console, spare tire well, jack compartment, or anything else that has a lid or is covered with a top, that is fixed to the vehicle.
But you CAN get a safe and chain it to the vehicle. There's a few companies that sell small pistol safes with a thin steel cable to loop around seat rails and stuff. This is ok for most people I guess but I don't like thin steel cables because they can be cut with even a pair of electrical crimpers. If these seem right for you GunVault offers their units with security cables http://www.gunvault.com/cables.nxg. There's not law for a DOJ approval stamp for vehicle carry as long as it's locked.
So I decided that I wanted to use a sturdy bicycle chain or even a U-lock. I went to the hardware store and bought a couple of 1/2" eye bolts, washers, and lock nuts. Then I found a metal panel behind some plastic lid in the rear side of my SUV. I drilled a hole and bolted the eye bolt into it.
I bought a plastic, fire and water resistant Sentry Safe at Walmart and drilled a holt in it and bolted the eye bolt into it. Then I locked the safe into my vehicle with a U-lock.
I used it like that for a couple of months but realized that the lock is really easy to pick or even forcefully twist with a flat head screwdriver. Plus it wasn't very pry resistant. I think if I had a large flat head screw driver, I could easily pry open the lid without much effort.
So I went on the hunt for a steel safe that would fit behind my 3rd row seat and the hatch lid. I wanted a steel safe because they're harder to get into. But also, I wanted a digital lock so that I could quickly get in and out without rousing suspicion from onlookers. And I needed the locking bolt assembly to be pretty sturdy to resist prying attempts.
After searching and searching, I found a safe for $50 at Harbor Freight and Tool. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45891 It's not the prettiest of the highest quality but it was exactly what I was looking for.
It came with a cylindrical key that's obviously harder to pick. I've even tried the "BIC" method and it didn't open up. But the best part is that the key hole is hidden so it's probably not going to get attacked right away.
This little safe is made of 9 gauge steel so it's very solid. The welds are pretty amateurish but it's fine for what it is. I even took the lid off the lock assembly to have a look inside. It's made pretty well and looks to be reliably designed. There's thick steel to hold the door from caving in and the hinged side of the door is inside the safe so it can't be pried out.
I can fit 3-4 pistols all with their own individual soft case.
sltintexas
Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2009
- Messages
- 80
I still have night mares about the harbor freight safe listed above. Keep the key is all I can say. I went through 3 of them and finally gave up.
I bought this one http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_91412____SearchResults and never looked back. You can do the cable thing with it as well.
I bought this one http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_91412____SearchResults and never looked back. You can do the cable thing with it as well.
DoubleAction
Member.
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2004
- Messages
- 233
Carrying Self Defense Weapons does not mean your can leave the weapons in you car, while you go about your business elsewhere. If you heading out to a restricted area, leave your weapons at home or change your venues for the day.
Where's all the Boy Scouts ?
ScareyH22A
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- Joined
- Feb 25, 2009
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Rockwell1 - I completely understand. I looked at the mechanics of it and there doesn't seem to be much that can go wrong. I work with electronics so I'm pretty familiar with it's layout. Not too enthused about the number key pad but what can I expect from such a "budget" box. But even if I wanted to spend more than a typical GunVault, there really isn't anything in the same size that's better quality. If we're looking at Fort Knox quality or even Browning quality, everything is just too large to keep in a typical car, let alone the space that I have behind my 3rd row. The closest decent quality safe that I saw was a Cobalt. It's 14 7/8"H x 15 3/4"W x 12 1/2"D but weighs 128lbs and costs $589. I think at that point, my car would be easier to steal than try to bust into the safe. I figured that worse comes to worse, I have a thick steel box that I can weld on some eyelets for a quality lock.
sltintexas - what happened with them? I'm obviously very curious.
sltintexas - what happened with them? I'm obviously very curious.
sometimes you go places that you cant carry, but i hate to leave my weapon at home just because of one place. We are alowed to have a weapon in our vehicle on school grounds as long as it doesnt leave the vehicle and we are dropping or picking children up or attending a function. But as stated the weapon must stay in the vehicle.
I've got a Titan Gun vault, no batteries keys just push buttons. Can be bolted whereevr you want.
http://www.titangunvault.com/gun-safe/titan-gun-vault
http://www.titangunvault.com/gun-safe/titan-gun-vault
Thomas Garrett
Member
Sportlock has 2-3 different types of lockable cases. Mountable.
Dan Crocker
Member
Sure, because it's better to be unprotected during the 2 hour drive up, dinner after graduation, visiting, then the two hour drive back.
Good advice. I won't listen to it.
UpTheIrons
Member
In-Vehicle gun storage options
You may want to look at Center of Mass ( http://www.center-of-mass.com/ ). They've got in-car safes, console vaults and PacSafes (which I'll likely use in my little Honda).
You may want to look at Center of Mass ( http://www.center-of-mass.com/ ). They've got in-car safes, console vaults and PacSafes (which I'll likely use in my little Honda).
dan crocker i agree with you that is why i was looking into a more secure way of keeping my firearm when i did have to leave it in the car.I wish that i was allowed to carry everywhere but the law says that i cant. Thanks to everyone for there posts and sugestions.
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