Hello All, I've not been using my Bay Window that long, but enjoying it so far. The one thing that worries me when I'm away from the vehicle is the lack of secure storage inside. I tend to travel light, but there are times when I need to leave a camera bag and laptop in the vehicle, as well as any other stuff that would be a pain/expensive if it went missing. My interior is a Westfalia Berlin, mostly original, so I don't want to chop it about at all. I was wondering if anyone has tried bolting a storage box in the back above the engine? Of course, that means solving how to sleep downstairs... A company called Metallics UK does heavy duty lockable boxes. A shallow one up to the top of the back seat might work... https://www.metallicsuk.com/products/aluminium-tub-lockable-storage-box?variant=45176139481378 Your thoughts much appreciated! Cheers, Al.
That box is huge with enough room for a desk top computor, a screen and several cameras, it would attract the attention of anyone having a look through the windows. If you need something as big as that a large keep cool might be less obviously a strong box with something worth stealing inside. If I have to leave valuables in the bus I leave them out of sight and not easy to get at quickly – I'll leave you to guess where that might be.
I take your point, but size was why I was thining along these lines. The space above the engine isn't actually that big when you're standing looking at it. I figured having the plaid matress on top of it, to the untrained eye would just look like the back of any other Westie. There are other small safes etc. but a larger solution would be more useful. Thanks for your thoughts... Cheers, Al.
That storage box costs more than I paid for the laptop if that was in my bus would be far and away the most expensive thing in there.. I’d be worried about it being stolen
Not bothered about giving away secret stashes as thieves are out there now and too busy. My mate made a great one ( my idea !! ) out of a carefully cut out 5 litre oil can with flip top , an old tatty one which was left with a designer oil rag tucked in the handle. ……. Problem was they nicked his van with it still in…… Van recovered, a few dents and bits missing but……oil can still there Ps . He hadn’t put any valuables in it so don’t really know if it worked.
For a Berlin you can put a false bottom on the under sink cabinet or the smaller one next to it ( that’s where my propex heater lives actually and cover with some carpet and hinge it so lifts from side so not obvious and poss some little trickery like a steel peg to be removed first and stash underneath.
You could also stick the laptop up in the back of the pop top ( feet end rear of bus ) I doubt a thief will go to that trouble to lift the pop top up - if you really wanted you could lock that latch as well somehow
I’d toyed around with the idea of making something that fits underneath between the top hat section under the sliding door, hinged flap and a clasp for a padlock. I don’t ever leave anything valuable in the bud though so it’s not really needed
Put it in the sink water storage tank - who in their right mind owns a westy and ever uses the thing!
...and pray tell what is wrong with 40 year old plastic! As for safe storage, if you are a LHD, then the spare wheel well could be a good spot with some fettling.
He'll never get a 88x90x22cm box in the spare wheel well. I'm fairly sure we don't carry enough stuff to fill a box that size even when we're away for a month or more.
I agree Geoff, but I wasn't implying the box would fit, just that it could be made into a secure area.
I know Chris, but the stuff he's filling the box with won't fit in the wheel well. And it was just a failed attempt at a bit of humour. I wonder how much he'd take if he didn't travel light?
