It saddens us to share that Lock’er Down has closed due to family medical issues and tough economic times. Our hearts and prayers go out to those at the company. Working with them was a privilege, and we wish them the best.
For nearly 40 years, our company has provided the best solutions for securing your firearms and valuables — at home and while you’re traveling about. In this post, we’ll offer an unbiased look at the importance of a vehicle gun safe, along with sharing our top picks. In this post, we’ll cover:
- A Brief History of Lock’er Down Console Safes
- The Importance of a Console Vault
- Top Alternative — The Original Console Vault
- 7 Vehicle Safes for Any Car (even those without a console)
History of Lock’er Down Console Safes
Lock’er Down made premium console vaults with extreme pry resistance. The company was founded by Bobby Newell. In 2011, Newell had a handgun stolen from his truck while he was a Bass Pro, which sells outdoor recreation equipment. The experience made him committed to providing secure vehicle handgun storage.
While their heavy-duty console safes put them on the map, Lock’er Down also found success with their long gun vehicle storage solutions. These safes were particularly popular with police departments throughout the US and earned them multiple government orders.
The Importance of a Console Vault
Car gun safes offer a tamper-resistant in-car storage solution for securing firearms and valuables. Console Vaults, in particular, are ideal for discrete storage. Installed within the center console of large SUVs and trucks, these safes are imperceivable unless the console is opened.
They offer several key benefits:
1. Quick Access
Located within the console, these vehicle safes allow you to retrieve your personal defense weapon relatively quickly while in the driver’s seat.
2. Tamper Resistance
These vehicle safes keep curious fingers (like those of small children) at bay. With your gun stored in a locked console vault, there’s no need to worry about a kiddo getting ahold of your pistol while you’re pumping gas.
3. Protects Accidental Discharge
In the event of a crash, a vehicle console vault eliminates the chance of a loose firearm discharging.
Top Alternative — The Original Console Vault
Console Vault® was the first company to design and manufacture in-vehicle console safes. It was founded in 2002 by two entrepreneurs who were the victims of smash-and-grab robberies. A lifetime warranty backs these hidden car gun safes.
Why Didn’t We Sell the Original Console Vault® Initially?
We promised to be as unbiased as possible, so here are the two reasons we sold Lock’er Down instead of Console Vault®:
Console Vault® Did Not Offer a Dealer Program — We’re in the business of helping people, but we also have to turn a profit. Dealer programs allow businesses to buy a brand’s product a a discount, so they can sell it to their own customers at full-retail price and make a small profit. Without a dealer program, bringing in a product is cost-prohibitive for our business. However, we are currently working directly with Console Vault® to help them establish a dealer program and become one of their first dealers.
Lock’er Down’s EXXTREME Console Safes Were Made with Stronger Steel — Before Newell developed the Lock’er Down line of EXXTREME Console Safes, he sold the Console Vault® product. Newell’s EXXTREME option utilized 12 gauge steel for the body and 10 gauge steel for the door, giving it slightly enhanced security.
That being said, vehicle safes aren’t generally considered a long-term storage solution for any firearm. They offer tamper-resistant storage. The security of these safes is heightened because they are hidden. (It’s hard to steal what you can’t see.) Console Vault® offers a secure locked container, discreetly hidden in the same way within the console of your vehicle.
7 Vehicle Safes for Any Car (even those without a console)
What if you don’t drive a truck or SUV? A lot of our customers (and staff) drive cars that don’t have a console. Heck, plenty of old-school trucks don’t have consoles! There are several effective ways to store your personal defense firearm securely within your vehicle.
1. Vaultek LifePod
Small and lightweight, Vaultek’s LifePod is secured with a 48" steel security cable. It can hold up to one 7.75” handgun and features both a biometric lock and a touch-activated keypad.
2. Vaultek LifePod 2.0
Slightly larger than the original, Vaultek’s LifPod 2.0 can hold two full-size pistols (handguns up to 9.25”). It is secured with a 48" steel security cable and features an anti-impact lock design.
3. Vaultek Slider
Vaultek’s Slider Series features a collection of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and unconnected single handgun safes. These slim, high-tech safes rapidly deploy your firearm with a silent slide opening, presenting the gun so it can be quickly grabbed when needed. Two different mounting kits are available to easily attach the safe to the seatback of any car:
4. V-Line Brute
V-Line’s Brute pistol box is constructed from 10 gauge steel with an overlapping lid design to enhance pry protection. It features a reliable mechanical lock and can be mounted to the floor or trunk of your vehicle.
5. V-Line Compact
V-Line’s Compact pistol box is smaller and more discreet than its bigger Brute brother — meaning it takes up less floor real estate and can be discreetly covered if that’s a concern. In addition to mounting holes, it can also be secured using a cable, giving you more installation options.
6. V-Line Top Draw Pistol Safe
V-Line’s Top Draw Pistol Safe is another non-nonsense small handgun safe that can easily be installed within your vehicle. It features a foam lining on the top and bottom to protect contents and keep them securely in place.
7. Vaultek VE10
A sub-compact handgun safe, Vaultek’s VE10 can hold one pistol and a magazine. It features Vaultek’s quick access keypad and is built with 18 gauge carbon steel. It can be mounted to the floor or trunk of your vehicle or secured with a security cable.
Do I Need a Vehicle Gun Safe?
The question as to whether you need a vehicle safe comes down to whether or not you have valuables or firearms you want to secure while driving. As we noted before, vehicle safes are not intended for long-term storage or offering extreme protection for high-end valuables.
These small, discrete safes are ideal for keeping curious fingers at bay and preventing smash-and-grab robberies.
To get more helpful tips about securing firearms and valuables, along with sales updates, sign up for our newsletter.