Community Forums

Dippytwo · 12-22-2019, 11:01 AM

We are FT’ers and want a small safe to keep passports and documents in. We really haven’t found a good location to bolt down a safe inside and are thinking about putting it in the basement, maybe bolt it down to one of the sliding storage trays. My concern is with all the temperature changes and humidity, will the documents stay dry. Has anyone installed a small safe in their basement? Has everything stayed dried or has the temperature and humidity changes damaged the documents? We plan on going north in the summer and south in the winter, trying to keep from being to hot and to cold.

WeRetired · 12-22-2019, 12:35 PM

Following, my DW bought one for our toyhauler and not real sure to install. Space is an issue.

TwoGrizz · 12-22-2019, 01:01 PM

My last MH had a floor safe in front of passenger seat.
Took up no space and the only place where the floor has no basement under it.
I am looking for one for the bounder.
We now have a small fire resistant lock box under the bed.

twogypsies · 12-22-2019, 01:22 PM

The issue is not keeping things dry. It will be to protect them in case of fire.... which we all know spreads rapidly (within minutes) in a RV. Make sure you get a fireproof one; not fire resistant. It should be mounted where you can access it immediately. In case of a fire you won't have time to root through your closet, under the bed or in the basement bays to get your things out.

We had a friend involved in a fire and when they opened their safe... even though they thought it was fireproof ... everything inside was ash from the heat.

We always kept a 'bug out bag' loaded and ready to grab by the door. We took it along when going for an all-day siteseeing drive in the car and when taking the RV in for maintenance. Simple to do. At night we moved it into the bedroom in case we had to use a window escape. Maybe overkill but gave us peace of mind.

Nowadays important documents can be kept on a flash drive for a computer or for full-timers, leave them with family who could get them to you if needed in a hurry.

gljurczyk · 12-22-2019, 02:28 PM

I had a fireproof one bolted under my bed, I was never worried about a fire, I would be out of there, but the fire would never hurt it, and pretty hard to steal.

ByeTheWay · 12-22-2019, 02:37 PM

Mine is bolted down in closet bottom.

Solo_RV_Guy · 12-22-2019, 03:04 PM

Hi Dippy!

There was a document safe discussion a few months ago that got me to looking at what safes do and how they do it.

The Reader's Digest version: Safes are either Fire safes, Burglary safes, or dual function. Fire safes are rated by how long the contents can survive a fire of specific temperature; burglary safes are rated by physical security criteria (construction, locking type, design resistance to various attacks) and water resistance is a separate rating, IIRC. The safes that are rated for both are more expensive that single mode designs of similar size.

For fire protection, size matters. Bigger boxes have more area, and have more room for insulation around the inner box. For theft protection, being big and heavy or secured to structure are part of security but can compromise fire protection.

So for RVers, what does this mean? Small boxes, bolted or welded over the engine area, are unlikely to have surviving contents. The heat from the fire, and the duration of that heat, will exceed the rating of the safe. Bigger boxes bring location and weight issues but if not in the engine area, are more likely to survive. When I was riding on Prevost tour crew buses the safe in the artist's suit (in the back of the bus) was for the artist's valuables; the tour manager's money safe was elsewhere in the coach.

Where do RV fires occur? I'm not an expert and welcome any that are reading, but one iRV2 member was at an RV salvage yard looking for parts; in talking with the yard manager he was told that in diesel pushers most fires (well over half) were engine area, followed by ammonia evaporation refrigerators, and battery/electrical compartments. Locating your safe in the master suit or under the bed might better if you're in a Class A gasser or Class C, but not so good in a DP.

That's the distillation of 4 hours of google and coffee.

baraff · 12-22-2019, 03:57 PM

We installed a lockbox, not a safe in our dinette, covered by the cushions. It is certainly not fireproof and could probably be easily opened with a crowbar but the object was to have a place to store our emergency cash and valuables where they wouldn't be easily accessible or visible.
The average RV burglar wants a quick in and out: grab what they can and get out.
The box is bolted through the dinette into a storage compartment. If determined, a thief could remove it but it would require destructive tools, noise and time, things the average thief doesn't want.
EDIT: Pics are 90º rotated. Why does it do that???

Dutch Star Don · 12-22-2019, 04:12 PM

If you have any bedroom drawers or other drawers close to the floor, once pulled, there is often 6" - 8" of dead area under them. Mount a document safe and hide it with the drawer.

On my Diplomat, I had a cabinet above the combo washer/dryer cabinet. I bolted the safe to the floor of the upper cabinet, with carriage bolts inserted from the underside.

TwoGrizz · 12-22-2019, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baraff

We installed a lockbox, not a safe in our dinette, covered by the cushions. It is certainly not fireproof and could probably be easily opened with a crowbar but the object was to have a place to store our emergency cash and valuables where they wouldn't be easily accessible or visible.
The average RV burglar wants a quick in and out: grab what they can and get out.
The box is bolted through the dinette into a storage compartment. If determined, a thief could remove it but it would require destructive tools, noise and time, things the average thief doesn't want.
EDIT: Pics are 90º rotated. Why does it do that???

Very nice install, looks good too.
Nothing is fire proof.
Any burglar RV or otherwise wants quick in and out.
We can just make it harder for them.
My pix do that too, didn't use to.

hohenwald48 · 12-23-2019, 05:18 AM

I had one mounted in the basement once. I didn't like the fact that anyone watching knew it was there and knew when I was gone. Your neighbors can see you anytime you get in the safe.

I think an indoor location is preferable.

tcg · 12-23-2019, 05:35 AM

It's unclear if you're looking for security or fireproof.

If it's mostly fireproof they make fireproof document bags, they're pricey but they would be easier to store and easier to grab on the way out the door in a fire situation. They may offer more protection than a metal firesafe.

Something to look at as another option.

Teamfoxy · 12-23-2019, 05:58 AM

I have seen fire-proof bags on-line which seems like a good option, since it would be easy to grab them a run when you have to get out of there. We really have no valuable jewelry or other small items that would fit in a safe. Copies of most documents can be stored in digital format and you and you can get replacements for auto titles etc. The only document that we absolutely must have is the original of is our will because Florida will only probate an original. We leave that on file with our attorney in her fire-proof safe and our children know they have it.

Dippytwo · 12-23-2019, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcg

It's unclear if you're looking for security or fireproof.

I’m looking for a little of both. I know I want to bolt it down in the basement and I also know the small safes will not be that fireproof. I’m betting that my risk for fire is pretty low, otherwise why would I live in a MH. There is no propane in the MH and I mostly want a safe that will not let moisture in with all the temp changes. I will bolt it onto one of the metal slide out trays to help keep it secure.