How can I create a lockable cabinet?

[chenderson1965]

Hi.

I want to create a lockable cabinet inside our new motorhome to keep electronics, passports et cetera. Our van is protected by a high-quality alarm so any intruder wont be spending a lot of time inside with the alarm going off.

Ours is a Fiat and there is a plastic key operated locker in the centre console but it looks pretty flimsy.

I’ve looked into buying a safe and fitting this inside one of the storage areas (probably one under the seats) but it’s hard to find one that fits well, they are heavy and it’s also going to be difficult to access easily.

Our overhead bins are the push to open kind, with a front that is slightly convex from top to bottom (see pic), and I’m wondering if there’s some way I could fit a lock/s to one of them to create a secure compartment. If we can do this in a way that places the lock face where you put the key underneath (i.e. out of sight) that would be better than attracting attention to it by having the locks on the front face.

I realise it won’t be as strong as a safe but it’s better than nothing.

I’m pretty sure I could do this myself but can’t picture quite how the lock would work or what kind of lock I need. Has anybody else done something similar or could give me a bit of guidance?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Figaro]

I believe a carefully selected concealed hiding place is better than a safe for passports, spare keys, cash, vehicle docs.
After that just hide electronics out of sight, they're easily replaced.
Just my opinion

 

[Zigisla]

Our over cab bed tilts up for daytime travel etc and we stow all valuables at the fwd end, under the mattress. This hiding place is out of the way and nobody would think of searching there. ????

 

[Newfie]

They will now

 

[Zigisla]

They will now

I’ll have to change it to the sides now then. ??

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[tacr2man]

Using any furniture as a strong box is going to end up with a lot of damage and theft of the items .
A real strong box , not immediately apparent , and difficult to get at is what is needed to be effective . Otherwise a waste of time and effort .

 

[Mousy]

Our old van had a wooden box in the bottom of the wardrobe that looked like the bottom of the wardrobe ( does that make sense?) it had a very discreet lock in the corner. It worked well.

Our new van has these locks on some of the cupboards....could you do something like this?

 

[chenderson1965]

Our old van had a wooden box in the bottom of the wardrobe that looked like the bottom of the wardrobe ( does that make sense?) it had a very discreet lock in the corner. It worked well.

Our new van has these locks on some of the cupboards....could you do something like this?

Possibly. Could you send me a pic/s of the internal mechanism?

 

[Southdowners]

We hide our valuables around the vehicle.

There’s lots of hidey holes and once you get used to your vehicle I feel sure you’ll discover them. Putting a lock on a overhead locker is just inviting a criminal to break into it... you might as well put a note on it saying valuables in here!

 

[Mousy]

Possibly. Could you send me a pic/s of the internal mechanism?

Our new van is in Belgium, we hope to collect it within the next week. I’ll post pics for you then

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[pappajohn]

I'd use a keyed safe regardless of a few kg or inconvenient location. Needs to be bolted, not screwed.
Definately not an electronic keypad type.... Opened in a few seconds if its accessible.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I put a key safe in the bottom of the wardrobe, it's buried under many hundreds of pairs of Ann's shoes so you can't even see it ??. 2 x M10 threaded rods hold it down with immovable channel nuts (zebs) under the chassis ?

 

[MANGOFORTH]

I'd use a keyed safe regardless of a few kg or inconvenient location. Needs to be bolted, not screwed.
Definately not an electronic keypad type.... Opened in a few seconds if its accessible.

The way you've written that makes me nervous to ask........why not a keypad type? ?

 

[596]

I put a key safe in the bottom of the wardrobe, it's buried under many hundreds of pairs of Ann's shoes so you can't even see it ??. 2 x M10 threaded rods hold it down with immovable channel nuts (zebs) under the chassis ?

Maybe you should delete this, is it wise?

 

[pappajohn]

The way you've written that makes me nervous to ask........why not a keypad type? ?

As its all over you tube......
Bang repeatedly hard on top with your fist while turning the open knob.... It'll open.

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[Richard n Ann]

Maybe you should delete this, is it wise?

? You're right I'll be in trouble if Ann sees it ?

 

[596]

? You're right I'll be in trouble if Ann sees it ?

And in more trouble now thieves know you have one and where it is, may as well bolt it to the outside to save them breaking in.

 

[Southdowners]

I put a key safe in the bottom of the wardrobe, it's buried under many hundreds of pairs of Ann's shoes so you can't even see it ??. 2 x M10 threaded rods hold it down with immovable channel nuts (zebs) under the chassis ?

The OP has an N&B Arto. I doubt whether it would be worth him drilling through the winterised double floor!

If thieves have broken into and are inside your vehicle I don’t see the point in locking things away. I’d rather they grab what they want and leave rather than wreck the vehicle crowbarring lockers, etc open.

There’s lots of ways of hiding items in a motorhome if you give it a bit of thought.

 

[Richard n Ann]

The OP has an N&B Arto. I doubt whether it would be worth him drilling through the winterised double floor!

If thieves have broken into and are inside your vehicle I don’t see the point in locking things away. I’d rather they grab what they want and leave rather than wreck the vehicle crowbarring lockers, etc open.

There’s lots of ways of hiding items in a motorhome if you give it a bit of thought.

Can't imagine they'd be crowbaring doors off safes(if they find it), it takes time and there might not be anything much in it anyway. I may be wrong but I think they would quickly grab what they can see and be off.
Now if they knew you travelled with a load of cash, that would be different.

 

[Southdowners]

Can't imagine they'd be crowbaring doors off safes(if they find it), it takes time and there might not be anything much in it anyway. I may be wrong but I think they would quickly grab what they can see and be off.
Now if they knew you travelled with a load of cash, that would be different.

I said crowbarring the doors off lockers... the OP initially asked for info on putting a lock on an overhead locker.

To be honest if you’ve got your safe at the bottom of a wardrobe then it’ll take no time to find it - shoes or no shoes. I’d also think that having a safe suggests that you do have valuables in it... why else would you have installed it?

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[Colintheolder]

I use an A4 size fire safe with a cycle cable lock to the frame of my trailer, secure from thieves & fire

 

[Richard n Ann]

I said crowbarring the doors off lockers... the OP initially asked for info on putting a lock on an overhead locker.

To be honest if you’ve got your safe at the bottom of a wardrobe then it’ll take no time to find it - shoes or no shoes. I’d also think that having a safe suggests that you do have valuables in it... why else would you have installed it?

I suppose every situation is different. If the thieves think they have some time to work on it and nobody is about to hear the banging etc, they would have a go at a safe. But that's very unlikely on a campsite or in the dead of night. Anyway we can always empty the safe and leave the door open... If you haven't got a safe you haven't got that option.

 

[596]

I have one of these, great for iPads, phones e.t.c. you can attach it too anything such us under a seat, it has a mesh of wire running through, very light co can be taken on holiday if flying, it stops the random thief and is also a great way of keeping your valuables together so you know ever they are, good if weight is an issue

Pacsafe Travelsafe 5L GII Portable Safe OutdoorGB

The Travelsafe® 5L portable safe is perfect for securing your small essentials such as your iPad® or tablet, passports, jewellery, point & shoot camera and extra cash & cards. Based on the award winning original Travelsafe® series the new generat

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[Vipar]

Get a cash box bolt it in a cupboard leave it unlocked put something in it £5 and some costume jewellery then hide your valuables spread everywhere that’s what we do at home.

 

[Reallyretired]

As its all over you tube......
Bang repeatedly hard on top with your fist while turning the open knob.... It'll open.

Although awkward, if you mount it upside down gravity will prevent it being opened by the thumping technique. Its a really bad design of the interior mechanism.

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[peterc10]

You are listed as having an N&B Arto. Is that the model you are referring to? I suspect that N&B will offer a safe as a factory fit option. Have you asked your dealer if they can fit the same one in the same place.

 

[DDJC]

I've got the standard Ducato cab with the swivelling seats. There is a cavity under the driver's seat that can take a specially designed safe. https://www.rhinoinstalls.co.uk/Mobil-Safe-Underseat-Safe-Fiat-Ducato-Peugeot-Boxer-Citroen-Rely (I neither endorse nor reject them or the supplier!!)
There are three sizes but are expensive and pretty heavy.

I have seen a better option whereby a sheet of steel has been affixed (welded) to the front of the cavity and access is gained through a removable sheet at the rear. This means that you can access it from inside the van (if you access through the front, you have to have the driver door open).

However again, I work on the principle of hiding or carrying must-haves and insure everything else. I can replace the boy's DVD players, but being without passports or driving licences in Yerp after Oct 31? Not for me.

 

[pappajohn]

Although awkward, if you mount it upside down gravity will prevent it being opened by the thumping technique. Its a really bad design of the interior mechanism.

Possibly, but then it will give access to the reset button via the bolt holes in the bottom panel unless it's bolted to something substantial above the safe.

 

[Minxy]

We've always use hidey-holes for our stuff when away, there are loads in most MHs, the problem is remembering where they are when you want to retrieve something!

I've already found some in our soon to be collected new Carthago, one is big enough for our laptop etc which is a bonus but is very easy to retrieve stuff from.

 

[thebriars]

I use an A4 size fire safe with a cycle cable lock to the frame of my trailer, secure from thieves & fire

A battery angle grinder costs just a few quid these days. Pick em up in Lidl.