Well, today I got it in my head that I want the option of better security for my pistol than the locking plastic glove box. Normally, I’m carrying, but for longer drives than say 10 min, I usually unholster and put the gun in the glove box. Been doing it for so long, it’s muscle memory. It works for me.
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But there are times I want some more secure storage, especially if I’m at a place where I can’t take my gun inside, or areas where it just wouldn’t be appropriate. A lot of times, these areas are more prone to vehicle break-ins, like a concert, comedy club, or other places where car prowlers know that the owners won’t be coming out to their cars for awhile. For these times, I want better security.
I can’t say total security because there is no such thing, especially in a vehicle with glass covering a large portion of the occupant/cargo area. But we can make a thieve’s job a bit more difficult.
I should point out that in the state of Utah, you can have a loaded gun hidden in your vehicle, and it may be left there, since according to Utah law, your vehicle is an extension of your private property.
Mind, if I know I’m going somewhere that I can’t take my gun, and I’m not making a bunch of stops to get there, I may opt to leave it home. But that’s a matter of circumstance and personal choice. When it comes to concealed carry, there is no on-size-fits-all option.
So how do you do it? Well, I don’t want it to be obvious. If I were to break into a random SUV, the first places I’d look are the glove box, center console, under seats, and in the cargo area. You’d almost be asking to have your valuables stolen if you put them there. Nope. All a thief is gonna find in my glove box and center console are toothpicks, a cheap knife, and some baby wipes & napkins.
Luckily, we Xterra owners have a little place that not a lot of people know about, and if you’re not looking for it, you won’t find it. Yep, it’s the little compartment in the back for smuggling Cuban cigars and illicit alcohol across Utah borders.
Now, I’m not going to attempt to fool myself nor you into believing this is the best solution for secure storage. I’m sure somebody somewhere can roll in a better idea, and with enough money, anything is possible. But I had this little locking box kicking around from when I had my JEEP, and it served me for 7 years under the front seat.
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The first thing I did was to see how I wanted it. The box can fully open in that position.
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Next I removed the plastic liner, marked & drilled my holes, and then drilled holes in the tub to put my nutserts into. I had removed the tire to facilitate access to the bottom so I could be sealed up from both sides.
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After everything was prepped, I installed the box with some grade 8 bolts and Loctite.
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Test fit the ole pistol and a couple of Mags. Looks good there.
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I put all the other crap I usually keep in there and verified one last time the box will open and close without issues.
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Put the WeatherTech mat back in, and unless you own an Xterra or are knowledgeable about this spot, you’re none-the-wiser.
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One final note: most car prowls are crimes of opportunity. I had a car broken into before at a concert, and the thief would have made off with my expensive laptop if not for the fact I locked it in the trunk. But the thief did make off with a few coins and a couple fivers that night. SUV’s are inherently less secure than a car with a separate locked trunk because there isn’t a physical barrier between the occupant space and the cargo area. And most thieves aren’t interested in actually working for the crap they are gonna pawn to get their next fix. So stealth, and having it locked can be an advantage unto itself. But if a thief wants it that bad, the thief is gonna get it.