Dedicated Space For Coach Strong Box

[HB of CJ]

Now at the point (in the planning stage!) where a space is needed for a valuables safe lock box.  How much cubic will be needed and any ideas where physically it may/should be located?  This is NOT the firearms/taser procrument quick-access box.

Right now the plan is to mount the safe down and next to the main frame rails (rectangular channel) employing either welding or bolting.  Crown Super Coach.  Need a safe place to store the stuff like licenses, papers, passports, her jewelry, etc..  Any ideas? 

[captain ron]

Jack Conrad owner of the "Orange Blossom Special" put his ........................................................................................... ........... ...
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I can't tell you but it's in a safe place

[Ncbob]

Mine's right under the Glock .40 with the Laser sight.  Convenient to get to and definitely bugler proof.

Bob

[jjrbus]

 after considerable thought, speculation and chatting with a bunch of people, I went with the small fireproof box. It is about 16x16x8, I believe the brand name is Sentry and they are available at Wal Mart, home Depot etc.
This box is for items I do not need quick access to, vehicle titles, will, passport, birth certificate, medical records. I mounted it in the floor under a cabinate, in order to access it I have to remove the drawer above the bottom drawer and then open the bottom drawer.
Inconvenient yes, but fireproof and should not be found by the average thief.  In the drawer above this I keep a decoy wallet with a laminated photocopied driver license some expired cards, library, debit and some cash. Hopefully they will grab that and run.Other items you could add are a fake Rolex, A cheap camera that looks expensive and whatever your imagination can come up with. This will not deter a professional thief, but hopefully will distract the average smash and grab type.
Why cant we tell him where Jack put his box?

[FloridaCliff]

HB,

Just a couple of thoughts on this.

I have a small 12X6X6 steel lock box that I use, keyed with round control key.

Its final destination will be in the parlor area, built into an endtable.

The reason I want it up front are, the odds of a break in are small, and the chances of having to remove  the contents or access it if you had a fire or some other "abandon ship" reason are much, much better.

You could build an end table like I am doing out of steel and secure it through the floor or however.

As a friend of mine in the security business will tell you, 99% of alarm trips are false, by the owner or residents, I doubt you could really put in a safe to keep out the willing, but maybe to keep out the opportunist.

Cliff

[Kristinsgrandpa]

I've been contemplating the same problem.

The rear is probably more prone to fires and the front is more prone to crash damage.

I like jjrbus's idea but will probably use an old canister vacuum cleaner and store it in the closet for a fast getaway in case of a fire.

Ed

[captain ron]

When I was living in my stick and staple and rolling in the doe I would leave $50.00 and a lot of change laying out in eye site then I would stuff $1000.00 behind each speaker grill, there were 8 of them. I never locked my motor home unless I was going away from it fo an extended period of time and would take most of my cash with me anyhow. I also kept my papers in a fire proof box in the oven.

[jjrbus]

 My concern with grabbing it in case of fire was, what if I am not there? The coach is engulfed in flames, full of smoke, do I really want to stop for the paperwork, can I even get to it?
The small fireproof lockboxes are cheap.                          HTH Jim

[Kwajdiver]

Charley,

Time permitting, wouldn't they steal the stereo and the SPEAKERS.....

Where do you park your bus...

Bill

[boogiethecat]

I had a friend who owned a plumbing shop.  He got broken in to at least 4x a year due to where the shop was located.  After replacing his cash register 2 or 3 times plus all the breakage that went along with it, he decided to hang a bottle of whiskey on a string over the register, a $20 bill and a little sign that said "just take this and go, there's no more money in the store".
From that point on all a break in cost him was $30 plus the door repairs.   Smart guy! I wouldn't keep a box of valuables around in my bus, hidden or not...

[HB of CJ]

Thanks everyone...right now we are planning to full-time/boondock/dry camp, sossss some important papers and stuff will ride along with us.  Have also found out (the hard way) that cash/barter sometimes works best and plastic not at all...thus the need to have a hiddie place for both.

This space need not be tooss big, but it does have to be secure.  Fire resistance/proofnessness better. Quick access desirable but not necessary.  Security more important.  Prefer simple but secure keyless entry. Muscle memory best. The 3-day boogie bags and other necessary items/gadgets will be stored/accessed separately.

Would desire/prefer inside access.  Again, this space is dedicated and separate from the secret smuggling compartments and instant weapons/blasters/armor/ba access.  JUST KIDDING!!  He he he.  Anyway, the mill is in the middle, fuel tanks everywhere, not much remaining room  and I'm running out of places to put this space. 

[Hartley]

Why not make a drop-safe... Not what you are thinking either.

a 6 or 8 inch diameter schedule 80 steel tube that is mounted so the upper end is up inside the coach. a lockable cap is clamped down over the opening end with room to place valuables in a tubular insert that sits inside the big pipe.

Down at floor level is a cross hole with a hard wax candle sticking into the tube
to keep the insert section from sliding down to the bottom of the main tube.

The bottom of the big tube exits out just above the bay floor with enough room to allow the dropable insert to be retrieved but with a locked cover over it.

Now.. If there is a fire, the candle melts, the drop box insert slides down below the floor level to the bottom of the bay where it's probably going to be cooler a lot longer than if it were above the floor level ( where all the flammable stuff is! ).

Of course this construction theory is up to the imagination of the builder.
you could have alarms or solenoids that could trip the box release and send the
goodies down farther into the vault (bay) area. You could have an air fitting to send the drop box back up to access level when you need it.

There's lots of ideas and ways to rig this stuff up. The idea is to make it troublesome to the pillager and keep them confused until they give up.

Just a thought.....

[RJ]

HB -

Just a thought for location.

How about under the floor in the vestibule area up front, between the top step and the driver's seat?  Access panel could be hidden under entry carpet.

Or even under one of the upper steps, with a "false floor" step treadle that uses hidden hinges to reveal the fire-proof safe?

Take a look underneath from outside.  You might be able to build a steel box that looks "stock" to the uninformed - think "belly pan" - that hides the goodies from below.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[WEC4104]

This discussion got me thinking about the temperature ratings of these "fireproof" boxes.  How well will these boxes handle sitting on top of a full tank of diesel or a propane tank that let's loose?

[jjrbus]

WEC, you could send that one to myth busters maybe they woul blow one up for us!