Lockbox for gear

Micah Hooverwrote:

An expensive looking box filled with goodies seems only mildly less enticing to the average smash and grabber than laying it all out on the seats. I'd recommend looking at a big roof box, I've yet to hear about one of those getting broken into (and after losing the keys to one I can attest it's surprisingly hard to do)

In my experience, two separate Yakima products (bike rack and roof box) had the same keys despite being bought years apart. Either unlucky or the set of possible keys you can have is quite small. I would make sure my key is rather unique before believing in those locks.

If you can afford a “boatload” of gear just get a storage unit. A 5x10 unit is typically ~$35-50/month. Using a car for storage seems like a good way to end up with significantly less gear overnight. 

ZT Gwrote:

If you can afford a “boatload” of gear just get a storage unit. A 5x10 unit is typically ~$35-50/month. Using a car for storage seems like a good way to end up with significantly less gear overnight. 

This. All a box does is invite a planful thief. 

I have a Rav4 and a Chey Bolt that I use interchangeably. They both have a covered back area that keeps stuff out of sight and has worked OK so far. It probably depends upon the area where you travel/park/climb.

I second the renters/home owners insurance and documenting your gear

Finally, don't mark your car as a target with climbing stickers...

Plenty of “here’s a better idea” suggestions. I suspect you’d probably like to have your actual question answered. If you want a solid lockable steel box, get a construction site job box. Just Google “job box” and go from there. Harbor freight probably has cheapest ones. Designed for secure tool storage at construction sites. Many sizes available, but you’ll have to find a way to secure it to your outback. You’ll have to buy a pad lock to use a job box, but the lock is protected from bolt cutters. It takes an angle grinder to break into one of those.  Ideally you’d bolt the box directly to the floor of the back of the Outback. Do not drill through the floor of your car from the interior, you don’t know what you might hit ( gas tank is under there) drill from beneath the vehicle. If you aren't/can’t bolt it down, Outback’s used to have steel tie-down rings in the back. If not that, then you might use the steel rings that the back seat (back part or seat part) latch to, you could get to those be leaning the seat back forward or lifting the seat itself. If you look around where the spare tire is you might also find something to lock too.

This may make your car a target. Some people leave their cars unlocked to discourage smashed windows. Good luck.

We should all note the OP is from 2020 and this was necro’d yesterday by a bot.

Hmmm… should a looked at that before bothering with a serious response… Thanks Sean

Google Img search: diamond tread box

Google Img search: vehicle slide out storage

Slide out can be fairly camo'd with carpeting, etc and choice of locking style is flexible based on what you buy, commission, or make yourself.