Notebook Computer Storage

[brgmgb]

Have any of you built a secure storage area in your popup?  

If so, how did you do it?

Our favorite campground has expanded its wireless Internet access area, so now most of the campsites have access.

I will be taking a few online courses this summer.  It would be great to be able to go camping and still keep up with the school work.

My concern is about having a computer in a popup camper.  I know some say "out of sight, out of mind", but I would like to be able to lock it up.  My thoughts are to beef up one of the underseat storage areas, but I'm not sure how to do it (plywood vs. steel, etc.)

If anyone has built a "computer storage" location in their popup, I'd like to hear what you have done.

Thanks!

Bill Barge

[wavery]

Have any of you built a secure storage area in your popup?  

If so, how did you do it?

Our favorite campground has expanded its wireless Internet access area, so now most of the campsites have access.

I will be taking a few online courses this summer.  It would be great to be able to go camping and still keep up with the school work.

My concern is about having a computer in a popup camper.  I know some say "out of sight, out of mind", but I would like to be able to lock it up.  My thoughts are to beef up one of the underseat storage areas, but I'm not sure how to do it (plywood vs. steel, etc.)

If anyone has built a "computer storage" location in their popup, I'd like to hear what you have done.

Thanks!

 

Bill Barge

Ya......It's called, "Lock it in your vehicle"

[dthurk]

Ya......It's called, "Lock it in your vehicle"

I was thinking the same thing!!  

[Tim5055]

Ictually, I was thinking about this recently.  I have seen several small safes that can be bolted through the floor.

As with all crime deterence, the object is not to "stop" them because adetermined person with unlimited time will get in anywhere - you just want them to go next door.

So, I think a safe bolted to the floor might be the ticket.

[dthurk]

Ictually, I was thinking about this recently.  I have seen several small safes that can be bolted through the floor.

As with all crime deterence, the object is not to "stop" them because adetermined person with unlimited time will get in anywhere - you just want them to go next door.

So, I think a safe bolted to the floor might be the ticket.

So, what would this do for your tongue weight?  Or GVWR? :yikes:

[Tim5055]

So, what would this do for your tongue weight?  Or GVWR? :yikes:

Well, I wasn't planning on a cement filled 4 hour fire safe

You should be able to get one that weighs less than 20 pounds I'm sure.  I guess it's off to wally world.....

[tlhdoc]

So, what would this do for your tongue weight? Or GVWR? :yikes:

It would depend on where you mounted it.  Above the axel nothing, behind the axel it will lighten the tongue weight and in front of the axel it will increase the tongue weight.

[wavery]

My biggest reason for keeping valuables locked in my tow vehicle is 2-fold.

1. My tow vehicle has an alarm and most thieves would suspect that it does. That's a great deterrent.
2. If a thief suspects that there is something valuable enough to steel, they will do more damage trying to get at the item than the item is likely worth. That is the same reasoning that I use for items left in my car. I always put them in the trunk. It's not that I care so much about the item but I don't want my car window broken from some idiot steeling a jacket or to see what is in a closed package.

If a thief gets inside your PU while you are gone and finds a safe, chances are very strong that he will tear you PU apart trying to get the safe out. Reasoning would tell him that if there is a safe, there is cash. They will stop at nothing to get cash.

[Tim5055]

I always put them in the trunk. It's not that I care so much about the item but I don't want my car window broken from some idiot steeling a jacket or to see what is in a closed package.

But, that's making an assumption that the TV has a trunk.  Minivans and in my case a pick up does not have a trunk.  There are a lot of times at a campground we want to go swimming etc. and really don't want to leave the keys to the truck inside a "tent".

I'm comfortable with the idea of a safe in the pop up, but as you imply there are many factors that need to be thought of and you need to be comfortable with the idea before you do it.

[dthurk]

Well, I wasn't planning on a cement filled 4 hour fire safe

You should be able to get one that weighs less than 20 pounds I'm sure.  I guess it's off to wally world.....

Not sure one of those 20 pounders would be large enough to hold a laptop.  Trying to imagine a safe with a hole big enough for a laptop.  Imagining something along the lines of a dorm refrigerator.  May be way off base, as I've never researched safes before.  Figure my laptop's not got that much value left anymore, at least in monetary terms.

[tlhdoc]

There are a lot of times at a campground we want to go swimming etc. and really don't want to leave the keys to the truck inside a

Tim does your truck have a key pad on the drivers door?  If not you can add one.  We have to two of our vehicles.  Ford makes a stick on key pad that works like a remote does.

[Tim5055]

Not sure one of those 20 pounders would be large enough to hold a laptop.  Trying to imagine a safe with a hole big enough for a laptop.  Imagining something along the lines of a dorm refrigerator.  

I know they are made in a size just big enough for a laptop.  I've stayed in a couple of hotel rooms that had them.  No bells or whistles, just a steel lock box that was the foot print of most laptops.

I picked one up today at Wal-Mart that while not big enough for a laptop would hold a bunch of other stuff.  I plan on bolyting it to the floor in one of the cabinets.


Sentry

[Tim5055]

Tim does your truck have a key pad on the drivers door?  If not you can add one.  We have to two of our vehicles.  Ford makes a stick on key pad that works like a remote does.

I do but that kind of defeats the purpose to leave the keys inside.  Then if they break in they get the whold truck.

[tlhdoc]

I do but that kind of defeats the purpose to leave the keys inside. Then if they break in they get the whold truck.

Better than leaving the keys in the PU though.  If I had to do that I would hide the keys in the truck.  I have given my keys to someone at work so that they could leave something in my car along with the keys.   I used the key pad to get in at the end of my shift.  Don't tell anyone though, I don't want them to know that I had unattended keys in my car at work.:yikes:  We are not even allowed to leave a window cracked in the summer.

[brgmgb]

Thanks for the input.

While it sounds great to store the computer in the tow vehicle, the Jeep has no trunk.  And usually the back is full of supplies, so in the trailer is the best place for my situation.

I know I would not be able to stop someone who really wanted to get something that's in my pop up.  But just like with the tow vehicle:
1. If I can hide the computer out of sight, then some of the temptation to take it is gone
and
2. If someone is willing to tear my PU apart to get out the computer, then that same person would be willing to break out a window in my Jeep.  I had the passenger side window broken out of my car about 20 years ago.  All they stole were the knobs off the radio.  It cost me a $200-$300 to get the window fixed.  With the pop up, a $30 for a sheet of plywood would probably be enough to make most repairs.

The pop up is all "wrapped up" for winter, but when I get a chance, I'll work my way into the "unpopped" camper (or as my daughter calls it, a "popped down" camper) and take some measurements.  There is a lot of storage, but the real question is where will the computer and its bag fit.


Thanks for the input.

Bill