Gun safes for cars

[hsart]

Is anyone aware of any manufacturers or websites that have a good selection of ways to safekeep handguns in automobiles. I am looking for something readily accessible but secure from prying hands of hotel valets, garage attendants and carwash personnel. My glove compartment works for one handgun but looking for a way to store 2 or 3 with ammo and accessories. I have found center console storage the best. There is a site - gunsafes.com - they have custom safes for center consoles and more but mostly for large suvs and trucks. Has anyone experience in losing handguns to valet parking, etc??

[9mmFL]

First off I would take my gun out of my car no matter what if i was handing the keys to someone, its too risky to chance something of that nature, then again I don't trust leaving my gun in my car overnight in my driveway wether its in a safe or not. But if you're looking for a safe you can find them as low as $30.00 at cabelas.com some go for over $150.00 with a safety cable included on the $30.00, so you don't have to mount it inside your vehicle and keep it stationary. But IMO take it with you or take your chances because valet, carwash etc all state on signage or receipts they are not responsible for anything sometimes even damage to the vehicle.(which is a whole different topic that drives me nuts and makes me uneasy about handing over the keys...) But if you really want a safe keep it hidden and keep it locked. But that gun in a locked safe still doesn't protect you from criminals... Might be a good idea to throw a 10.00 book bag in the backseat to take your gear with you... But thats my backup if I have extra ammo or both my guns with me.

[Ol'coot]

First I do not normally leave my gun in the car for at car washes, hotels , etc. If it is legal to carry then it is on my person. The only time I leave my gun in my vehicle is if I must go somewhere during my normal day where you may not carry as mandated by law, an example in Michigan is the US post office, a Hospital, A school, federal buildings, A court house Sometimes you just need to run into these places for a very short period of time and this little case fills the bill for me. I can put both my PM( and the wife's J frame in it with out a problem. I have one of these in each of my vehicles all are keyed the same and I feel they are fine for my intended use. Cabela's also sells this one in there stores and on their website.


Car safe (http://www.center-of-mass.com/Store_InCarGunSafe.htm)

[jlottmc]

I have one of those Cabella's safes, not too bad, the only thing about the cable is that it needs a rubber coating, especially at the cable clamp. It works well enough, but is not hard to get into. I just don't let any one else drive my truck, even my wife. Besides, they see my truck and know that a working man drives it, or they want nothing to do with it, either way, I win.

[jameswilson29]

I bolted a $45 Wallyworld Stack On drawer safe (with pre-drilled holes) to the floor behind the passenger seat because I regularly have to enter courthouses where guns are not permitted.

That prevents a casual thief from breaking the window and stealing my gun(s) easily from the glove compartment. Some one could remove the safe with tools and some time, but since I park in open, obvious areas, they would probably have to steal the car first to move it to a secure location, thus raising the costs of stealing my gun(s) from a Petit Larceny to a Grand Larceny.

I have gotten some looks when my car is serviced, but no one has asked about the safe.

[garyb]

I researched this a while back and looked at the pros and cons of all of them. I settled on the Gun Vault Nano 200. It was only $16 from www.Amazon.com (http://www.Amazon.com) . It is compact; fits under the seat of your car or RV; is secured by a cable (supplied) to your car seat frame; operates with a simple key turn; key is placed on your car key chain; can be easily transferred from vehicle to vehicle or moved into your home; very inexpensive and effective. I have one in each of my vehicles and RV, as well as next to my bed for those times that unexpected little visitors arrive. It allows me to keep my firearm close to me at night, yet secure from little hands. It is rarely used, but there when needed. I rarely use the one in my vehicle, because like everyone else, I carry it and rarely lock it up. I did not select anything bulky, expensive, complicated (with finger print device). Why spend more than you need to? It is only a deterent not a home gun safe. If you research the complicated finger print mini safes, you will find they are not 100% reliable and may require several attempts to access your weapon AND they beep, alerting the BG that you are accessing the weapon. A simple key turn is just as quick, quiet, inexpensive, reliable. Take a look at all of them before you purchase. There is another thread on how to eliminate the moth ball smell in these GunVault Nano 200 foam pads. That was the only negative I found with them. Good luck on your decision.

[earle8888]

I have a couple of those little ones with the cable. One with combination lock and one with key. Us them when I MUST due to pesky "NO GUNS ALLOWED" areas I need to enter.
Don't know a better solution, But am looking!!!!

[pm9fan]

Same concern since I go to schools and government buildings on a regular basis. Went to Walmart and bought a $25 steel box/safe. Has the circular key, all steel with a padded floor area and just lag bolted it in my trunk.

[bunkynuts]

Maybe try http://consolevault.com/ (http://consolevault.com/)

[hsart]

Maybe try http://consolevault.com/ (http://consolevault.com/)



Thanks for this link. These look very well made - if anyone has experience with this brand please comment. They need to come up with some additional sizes so that all of us with smaller vehicles can get a built-in-console model. I think a lot of people (with or without handguns) would opt for this as an option when buying a new car.

[garyb]

I don't suspect that you will use the car vault all that much if you are prone to make the decision to carry 24/7. Good to have something available to secure your piece when you are on the road, but your car can be stolen easily and off goes your gun. All you can do is deter theft not prevent it completely. If they can SEE there is something worth taking like a visable vault, it will likely promote a theft. They know there is something in there worth getting. Out of sight, out of mind. Gunvault Nano 200 is under the front seat out of sight, cabled as a decent deterent and inexpensive ($16). The BG would need to know it is there and prepared to cut the cable. Unlikely. Try it and if you start to feel you need something more, you can probably sell it for at least $10 or more. It is decent, reasonable, hidden, inexpensive deterent.

[OldLincoln]

The best one I've seen slides into a mount (usually in the trunk) and is quite secure. If I remember right it opens from the front so you can get into it while on the mount. If you go someplace that you need to take it securely, you remove it from the mount and carry it.

[In-Yo-Grill]

I have one very similar to this and bolted it to the floor board of my truck. I've been real happy with it thus far.

http://www.amazon.com/ADG-Sports-Secure-Electronic-Pistol/dp/B000ACANYG/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&qid=1296054595&sr=8-28

[garyb]

I have one very similar to this and bolted it to the floor board of my truck. I've been real happy with it thus far.

http://www.amazon.com/ADG-Sports-Sec...054595&sr=8-28 (http://www.amazon.com/ADG-Sports-Secure-Electronic-Pistol/dp/B000ACANYG/ref=sr_1_28?ie=UTF8&qid=1296054595&sr=8-28)


This is a nice portable vault, but it is larger and more expensive than the GunVault Nano 200. It appears that the gun would bounce around in it. The Nano200 top and bottom hold the gun tightly inside, so it does not move around. It could be bolted down too, but the cable is a reasonable deterent. Both are nice.

[In-Yo-Grill]

This is a nice portable vault, but it is larger and more expensive than the GunVault Nano 200. It appears that the gun would bounce around in it. The Nano200 top and bottom hold the gun tightly inside, so it does not move around. It could be bolted down too, but the cable is a reasonable deterent. Both are nice.

I bought one similar to the Nano 200 for my wife's burban but am skeptical. All it takes is bolt cutters to get through the cable.

As far as bouncing around...I don't intend to keep my gun in my safe while I drive, nor do I think bouncing is an issue as it sits inside the cab of the vehicle. I like it for it's size as I can fit multiple guns, GPS, or any other valuables of decent size at the same time.

Not to mention it's bolted to the floor and tucked under a seat. No easy smash and grabs with this one...

Just my $.02

[garyb]

Good point about not leaving the gun in the vault when driving. However, I've been in a hurry and forgotten it was there and drove off with it locked up. Stupid me. The nano can also be bolted down and is approx 1/5th the cost. Being tucked away under the seat, it would be out of sight and most people on the street do not carry bolt cutters. I don't see it as a real issue either way, because the fact is that securing a gun in a car is not securing a gun...it is only detering quick theft. Both are good solutions.

[OldLincoln]

One of our cars has room for the Nano under the passenger seat. The cable is looped around the front part of the seat frame bolted to the floor and the box slides over an adjustment bar which keeps it in place. The thing about this is I pull on the cable to fish out the box and put on the seat to load/unload. It's very convenient and legal for CA which is nice.

The box that slides into a frame I've seen mounted on the shelf in the trunk next to the spare tire. It opens from the end, wouldn't get in the way and would be tough to rip off as the bolts are secured under the box when it's in the slot.

The box that opens from the top would be in the way every time I go anywhere. Being careful as I am, I carry a plastic milkbox with first aid kit, flares, blanket, a few critical tools, and of course a "portable pee" container. Besides being heavy it takes up more room than the safe would, but we gotta have it.

[garyb]

Good points Oldlincoln. I use my Gunvault nano200 the same way and have found it to be very convenient to set it on the floor or front seat while I load or unload the safe. Then simply slide it back under the seat. The cable makes it convenient to use. Then, out of sight.

You make another very good point, concerning users needing to assess: HOW they will use it in their vehicle?. Where it will be located? How often they will use it relative to the cost? How secure they want their gun when it is in the vehicle? Will the safe be visible to passer by? Etc... Then decide what you need.

My 3 Gunvault Nano200's fit in ALL my vehicles and RV very nicely under the front driver's seat. They are easy to remove and relocate. I use one of them in my nightstand and cable it to the bed frame through the back of the night stand drawer. Again, out of sight, out of mind. Simple. Reliable. Compact. Well Built. Inexpensive. Good deterents. Are NOT gun safes and no vehicle gun safe will be provide complete security...the vehicle can be stolen. Only negative - Moth Ball Smell - Simply wash the foam pads, which are simple to remove from the safe; with baking soda and white vinegar then throw it in the dryer with fabric softner to get rid of the moth ball smell. Good luck!
TX.

[kwh]

The gun laws have recently changed in N.C., for the better. My question to an older thread, is the Nano200 still deemed the" best "? for a deterrent. I have a station wagon and do not want to bolt to floor. Glove compartment meets the letter of the law but I prefer something a little less obvious and more secure.

[ltxi]

Gun safes in cars get in the way as much as the bedside ones at home. Due to workplace restrictions I have Glocks in permanent residence in the consoles of both of my personal vehicles. I don't use valet services and do remove them for dealer service, detail service, etc. Other wise that's where they be easy access living.

[jocko]

Good points Oldlincoln. I use my Gunvault nano200 the same way and have found it to be very convenient to set it on the floor or front seat while I load or unload the safe. Then simply slide it back under the seat. The cable makes it convenient to use. Then, out of sight.

You make another very good point, concerning users needing to assess: HOW they will use it in their vehicle?. Where it will be located? How often they will use it relative to the cost? How secure they want their gun when it is in the vehicle? Will the safe be visible to passer by? Etc... Then decide what you need.

My 3 Gunvault Nano200's fit in ALL my vehicles and RV very nicely under the front driver's seat. They are easy to remove and relocate. I use one of them in my nightstand and cable it to the bed frame through the back of the night stand drawer. Again, out of sight, out of mind. Simple. Reliable. Compact. Well Built. Inexpensive. Good deterents. Are NOT gun safes and no vehicle gun safe will be provide complete security...the vehicle can be stolen. Only negative - Moth Ball Smell - Simply wash the foam pads, which are simple to remove from the safe; with baking soda and white vinegar then throw it in the dryer with fabric softner to get rid of the moth ball smell. Good luck!
TX.

thats odd, thaty is the same recipe my wife uses when she washs my shoprts that I wear all week. I would not call it a moth ball smell though.:Amflag2:

[berettabone]

Firearm goes along 24/7........If I can't carry wherever, I leave.......................

[CB3]

Maybe try http://consolevault.com/ (http://consolevault.com/)



I helped my son install one of these in his Tahoe. Solid and secure. Invisible under the console cover. It would take a lot of tools and time to get into his. It's good to have it accessible rather than under a seat or in the trunk.

[muggsy]

thats odd, thaty is the same recipe my wife uses when she washs my shoprts that I wear all week. I would not call it a moth ball smell though.:Amflag2:

Jocko, here's an underwear tip. You can get an extra week out of a pair if you turn them inside out.
Yer Friend,
Muggsy