- Essential things to know about RV safes
- What are the Best Type Of Motorhome Safe Or RV Safe?
- Storing Valuables While Traveling in an RV/Motorhome
- Better Protection with an RV Gun Safe
Essential things to know about RV safes
How can you describe and distinguish a safe for RV‘s, campers and motorhomes?
Avoid Theft On The Roads
For starters, RV or motorhome safes are usually considered to be small or regular-sized safes, which are compact enough for fitting into most RV‘s. They are great for storing valuables while on the go. That’s mainly because of their easy to conceal nature.
Most good quality Winnebago safes are excellent for keeping cash, maybe a few passports, jewelry, papers and possibly – a smartphone or two away from thieves. Some larger ones can hold a lot more but with those you also have to consider the extra size and also the extra weight.
Why are they worth considering?
If you look at the numbers and if you have a little bit of experience travelling in an RV, you’ll definitely know how common theft can be. For an experienced burglar, breaking into any kind of caravan or mobile home would be a piece of cake. Rough estimates suggest that over 25 thousand motorhomes are broken into annually. That’s just in the US.
The high numbers can be linked to the fact that most RV lock compartments use the same, cheap CH751 lock. There is no point in having a built-in “secret compartment” if the lock on the safe is cheap and easy to pick for opening.
When you travel in an RV, you are always facing a much higher risk of theft than at home. That’s regardless of how many of you are travelling. Especially if there are no blinds or if the doors of your motorhome have plastic latches and a puny lock – thieves won’t have to struggle one bit to take what they want. They peek through the window, scope out the RV, break-in and take everything they want. That only takes a few minutes. Tops.
Motorhome RV Floor Safe
A concealed or floor-fitted safe in an RV largely eliminates the risk of losing your most precious belongings. Remember that for any thief, it’s best to steal the safe itself, rather than getting bogged down with trying to open it on the spot. If you just sit a regular safe on a table or even hiding it in a cupboard – it isn’t doing anything good for you. Since RV and motorhome safes are light and small, fitting them in a secret compartment or floor could be the best solution.
A thief only has a limited amount of time to break-in and then search for goodies. The harder you make it for them to find the safe the better chance you have of keeping your most important valuables secure.
Another great option is to actually bolt your safe to a permanent surface. So maybe you could create a secret compartment at the bottom of a cupboard and you could have a top opening safe bolted to the base. You can also do this with the common side opening safes but this time bolt it to the back of a cupboard hidden in its own secret compartment.
Examples of popular small safes perfect for RV’s or motorhomes
Safe and Lock Box - Safe Box, Safes And Lock Boxes, Money Box, Safety Boxes for Home, Digital Safe Box,...
- STRONG AND VERSATILE PROTECTION - Secure your valuables with the SereneLife Electronic Safe Box. Made with a durable steel alloy, it provides reliable safety for cash, firearms, jewelry, and documents.
Yuanshikj Electronic Deluxe Digital Security Safe Box Keypad Lock Home Office Hotel Business Jewelry Gun Cash Use Storage Money (Black...
- STRONG & SECURE:Digital Locking- the Electronic Safety Lock Box Is Equipped with an Easy to Program Digital Keypad That Is Simple to Lock and Unlock by Entering Your Security Combination. Two Emergency Keys Are Included for Faster and More Immediate Access.
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AmazonBasics Home Keypad Safe - 1.52 Cubic Feet, 13.8 x 13 x 16.5 Inches, Black - 42SAM
- PROTECTS VALUABLES: 1.52-cubic-foot home safe for safeguarding important documents, jewelry, cash, devices, and other precious items
- RELIABLE SAFETY: This safe box features a programmable electronic keypad for secure, easy operation, along with a back-up key for emergency access; requires AA batteries
Digital Safe-Electronic Steel Safe with Keypad, 2 Manual Override Keys-Protect Money, Jewelry, Passports-For Home, Business or Travel by Stalwart
- PORTABLE SAFE BOX - This digital cash box can conveniently be utilized in your home, office, or business and is portable for use while traveling. It can be mounted on your wall or floor if you wish to keep it in one place, making it an ideal hidden safe.
SentrySafe 1170 Fireproof Box with Key Lock 0.61 Cubic Feet
- FIREPROOF: Box is UL Classified to endure 1/2 hour at 1550°F to protect irreplaceable documents and valuables from fire and is ETL verified to protect CDs, DVDs, and USBs
- KEYLOCK: Fireproof safe features a flat key lock to prevent the lid from opening in the event of a fire; Includes 2 keys
JUGREAT Safe Box with Induction Light,Electronic Digital Securit Safe Steel Construction Hidden with Lock，Wall or Cabinet Anchoring Design for Home...
- √The Latest Unique Intelligent Lighting Design: This safe box is equipped with the latest humanized lighting design. As soon as you open the box with the numeric keypad, the light will light up, even in the dark, you can see the internal items, hidden and safe.When the door is opened, its brightness reaches the brightest for 30 seconds, then slowly dims and goes out automatically.
Free shipping
Honeywell Safes & Door Locks - 6104 Fire Resistant Steel Security Safe Box with Key Lock, 0.17-Cubic Feet, Black
- CASH MANAGEMENT - security box is small and lightweight, but big enough to store small documents, personal items, passports or a cell phone
- FEATURES - a double steel wall construction with a fire resistant insulation
More RV safe examples at the end of the article
What about if you wanted to store large items in an RV safe?
So far, we’ve established that RV safes, for the most part, are quite small and should be concealed. However, if you wish to keep thieves away from your laptops and/or larger gadgets, as well as other bigger valuables, you might need to search for a larger RV safe.
These can come in all shapes and sizes d most have pre-drilled holes specially designed for easy bolting. However, with a bigger safe you must also take into account the extra weight, the extra space it will take up and most importantly the challenging concealment aspect.
Many of the larger camper safes have extra features like fireproofing, waterproofing, shelving and many other things, however…where are you going to put it? Some people have large security safes and literally leave it out in the open because there is nowhere else to put it. They cover it with a cloth and make a table out of it. So, to make do, you’ll have to somewhat compromise.
Overall, the majority of the smaller motorhome RV safes are not big enough for large laptops or huge amounts of camera equipment which tend to be standard for a lot of “van life” type people who want to document their journeys.
Try to optimize packing for the road. Only take what’s necessary and avoid being victims of fear. Keep things simple and enjoy travelling itself. One way to deal with this is to keep your most precious things on you, at all times. Even when you’re away from the RV. You could also consider an additional safe; there is no reason why you couldn’t have two small safes secured within your Winnebago or campervan.
How to find the best RV/motorhome safe for you?
Dimensions and Composition
If you were to follow the advice we gave you, concealing and fitting the safe should seem like the obvious option. However, you need to find a suitable space for that. In any campervan/RV, space for this is limited, so try to find a private, inconspicuous place where a safe could be hidden in plain sight. Once you got that, measure the area suitable for fitting.
These safes have a number of different styles; however there are two most-common shapes. These are the wide and low variety and the square-shaped versions. Tall and narrow options are also available, but they’re not as popular.
When searching for safes online or in stores, pay attention to their composition. Steel is a durable material that is heavy and very difficult to break through. Check out the casing thickness to make sure it is not super thin. Here are the standard thicknesses available:
- 4 Gauge
- 7 Gauge (3/16″)
- 9 Gauge
- 10 Gauge
- 11 Gauge (1/8″)
- 12 Gauge
- 14 Gauge
The higher the gauge, the thicker the steel.
Also, look for features and technologies that thoroughly describe how they prevent theft and aren’t just sales marketing terms.
What are the best RV safe locks?
That is a difficult question to answer because any lock can be broken into; the question is which is the right one for you? At the start of this article I mentioned the easily crackable lock that most RV’s have; the poor quality CH571. That is a big part of why people look for additional safes.
Motorhome safes can come equipped with either mechanical, electronic or combination locks. The latter (combo locks) being listed as the safest and mechanical options are usually deemed as the easiest to crack.
However, in an RV, what you’re looking for isn’t necessarily a military-grade safe. It should have a lock that’s complicated enough, so the thief won’t crack it with ease. Give a burglar enough time and they will eventually get into your safe. Most popular units that RV owners seem to fall in love with are simple, inconspicuous units with electronic locks.
Insurance rating & other perks
For any unit, not just a campervan or RV safe, some additional features are of great importance as well. A proper insurance rating will allow you to feel much safer about your belongings. Moreover, pry-resistance, fireproofing and waterproofing as well as a sound alarm are worth paying extra for.
Why is this worth it? Well, for example, if your safe is fireproofed, then in case of a fire emergency, you have more time to save the precious belongings. In general, the best safes for your motorhome should be fireproof and be equipped with a sound alarm.
How much do RV, motorhome, campervan safes cost?
It‘s hard to give you a precise number because costs vary depending on your needs and expectations. A small, tin lock-box with a key lock should set you back 15-40 USD. However, if you decide to buy a good quality RV gun safe or a large, solid steel safe, prepare to spend upwards of $100 to even as high as $500.
Features like suitability for firearms can really up the price. Try to be flexible and don’t compromise when it comes to safety. Look for the very best and nothing less.
Most RV owners realize it is difficult to keep valuables safe and secure. Even with a deadbolt in place to safeguard the entry points, there are still issues with the windows and the quite flimsy plastic latches.
But, there is one solution to give an extra layer of protection from theft and that is to install one of the small safes for motor homes. You may have important documents, valuable watches or jewelry. Or even a nice sum of money to last the duration of an extended trip.
In order to install the right type of RV safe, you really need to determine the type of items that need to be protected. Beyond, the risk of theft, there are other issues to consider such as water or fire damage.
What are the Best Type Of Motorhome Safe Or RV Safe?
Small safes can easily be installed in most makes and models of RVs to provide a useful place to keep valuables like cash, jewelry, passports, etc safe and secure. But, the effectiveness of a safe-in-a cupboard only goes as far as the installation.
Beyond the floor safes for protecting valuables, there are also the fireproof safes that are practical for protecting the small and important things against water or fire damage. But, this type isn’t as effective when it concerns theft protection because most can’t be secured to the floor.
Installing a traditional locking safe is always a reliable option. The most efficient safes for the RV include those with a locking mechanism that secures it to the wall, shelf or floor. Most of the safes have a small footprint to make it easy to position the safe in an out of the way place, such as in a closet or under the bed.
Any of the small safes for motorhomes that are bolted down from the inside would be very hard to physically remove by the intruder.
Safes are built with plenty of features to make them easy to use, such as concealed and pry-resistant hinges, a carpeted floor to avoid damage or scratches, a solid steel construction and a digital access panel.
Storing Valuables While Traveling in an RV/Motorhome
1. Get yourself a good quality security safe. This should actually be a priority because there is only so much security your RV can provide regarding your belongings. All you need is a medium to small safe that can be tucked away in a drawer or closet somewhere. 
2. Something like a Biometric fingerprint safe. Biometric safes tend to cost more but they are perfect for fast access and tend to also be very well constructed. A good example would be a Barska security safe.
3. The best place would be in plain sight. There are these really cool diversion safes that look like regular everyday items but in fact have hidden compartments inside them. You can use them to stash small items and no one would be any wiser.
4. There is a whole variety of different styles many of which are made from real products such as books, shaving cream, hair brushes, soda cans, water bottles, candles, canned goods and even wall clocks and garden rocks!
5. If you have many important files then you are going to need a fireproof file safe. These come in all shapes and sizes with the top quality ones offering lots of room for large hanging folders. 
6. There are actually specially designed laptop safes that are deep enough and flat enough for storing laptops. Some are top opening and others are front opening. Make sure that the interior safe dimensions are big enough because they come in different sizes.
7. There are many really good security safe brands on the market, however before buying you first want to know what your needs are. Would you prefer a digital safe or a combination safe? Does it need to be fireproof and waterproof? Will you be storing large items? Will you be storing delicate electrical items, etc…
8. If you have loose cash, then you would benefit from having a couple different diversion safes placed around your RV. A more secure option would be to have a fire resistant safe to protect any paper money in case of a fire. Fire safes also tend to be tough enough to deter would be thieves.
If you were wondering where to hide a safe in an RV, we pretty much covered it above. However, we should let you know that there are additional security options that can improve security. We are talking about diversion safes. They look like cans, bottles, books or other regular household items. Nonetheless, with hidden storage compartments, you can spread them all across the RV to keep more of your belongings safe.
We would recommend opting for a regular-sized RV safe and looking for an extra safe which is designed explicitly for laptops and larger gadgets on the side, instead.
This is really difficult to say. Most safe experts do recommend floor-fitted safes but a wall-mounted safe is not too shabby as well. It depends on your preference, really, but a floor-hidden safe might be a safer bet, even if it’s a tad bit more expensive.
amazon.com
Better Protection with an RV Gun Safe
Be vigilant and stay safe
When you are traveling around to different places there is one thing that will make most people feel a little at ease. That is, knowing that they have some kind of self-defense safety device or weapon hidden in their mobile home.
In the USA, this will most likely be a gun of some sort. Bear in mind, a gun is not a guarantee of security.
Your gun should be your last line of security. With that said, when you are on the road with a gun you will need a safe place to store it.
Basically, you will need an RV gun safe. These are specifically designed for storing a variety of legal guns whether they are small or large. For any type of recreational vehicle, you will need an effective way of securing your guns.
If you have been RVing for any length of time you will know that the risk of theft increases with valuables stored in vehicles. You need to take precautions and secure your weapons as you would in your permanent home, ie. In a safe or vault.
Where are the best secure locations in a motorhome?
For RV’s, motorhomes, campers, etc. there should be plenty of storage options for your guns. The best thing you can do is create a secret compartment in a cupboard or closet where you can bolt down your RV gun safe.
Another option is to get yourself an RV floor safe, however these may require a little more expense to have them fitted. Some mobile homes already have a unit fitted but the quality may not be what you would expect.
What are the best quality RV safes?
It goes without saying that the better the safe, the more secure your guns will be. You cannot go wrong if you get something that is well built and is a reputable quality brand.
Go for the heavily reinforced steel safes with the higher gauge ratings – (see above list). You want one with a really good, strong locking mechanism that is not only reliable but easy to use. These days electronic digital security safes seem to be the trending thing right now. The big sellers at the moment are the biometric fingerprint safes.
These tend to cost a little more but it is well worth it. Fingerprint scan safes are usually quick release which means you can get to your gun fast in an emergency. Just scan your fingerprint and within a second the door will pop open. Fast and efficient.
Here are some RV gun safe examples:
Eliminate Temptation
The principle of “out of sight, out of mind” can apply when it concerns safeguarding the valuables in the motorhome. By eliminating the possibility of temptation while the RV is parked up, such as cleaning up the camp area, locking the door and windows and keeping attractive items out of sight.
Other Things To Consider Include:
Camp near other people – there is greater safety in numbers. Most would-be thieves will actively avoid the populated areas and look for easier targets. By camping near others there is the benefits of having someone looking out for not only their own things, but will also keep an eye on the surrounding motorhomes.
I wish someone made a top-opening safe or lockbox with an interior that was more than one gun high. I have a perfect hidden space in my RV but it’s boxed in. A side-opening model won’t work, and all the top-opening models are flat as pancakes. I can’t just turn a side-opener, as you need to lag into the floor of an RV, not the walls.
Good info. But the higher the gauge, the THINNER the steel.
Good catch. You are absolutely correct.
I would understand how you might still carry valuables whenever you go RV camping. So to remove the temptation from bystanders, it’s a good idea to have a safe. A reliable installation service is also a must to ensure that they do not put some secret way to unlock your valuables.