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I'm considering getting a fireproof box/safe. What brands and models does anyone recommend or advise against?

 

I've been looking at the Honeywell 1104. Looks to be the right size. Weighs 56 pounds. 1700 degress for an hour. Waterproof for 24 hours at 1 meter. Waterproof is not really a concern outside of water for fighting a potential fire, but the temp resistance looks pretty good.

 

Where do you recommend placing it? I am thinking in a rear corner of our 5er. No utilities and less chance of fire. I am a bit concerned of a 56 pound object in a corner during travel. Is that a valid concern?

 

Thanks.

The richest are not those who have the most, but those who need the least.

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We had a small cheap Sentry but for the fiver we upgraded to a water-proof one thinking that if the rig caught fire we were going to see a lot of water put on it.

 

Cheap: http://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-500-FIRE-SAFE-Cubic-Black/dp/B000W8J75E

 

Waterproof: http://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-H0100CG-Fire-Safe-Waterproof-Chest/dp/B00GE586CY

 

Big: http://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-1170BLK-Fireproof-Security-Cubic/dp/B004QWZIMI

 

Big Waterproof: http://www.amazon.com/SentrySafe-HD4100CG-Fire-Safe-Waterproof-File/dp/B00GE57DFK

 

Lots more SentrySafe versions to pick from too: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=SentrySafe

 

 

A key thing to remember is to lock them and remove the key or spin the lock dial so they don't pop open if they are bounced around while on fire. We just tied the key to the handle so it wouldn't get lost and any crook could open the box and see there was nothing worth stealing inside.

First rule of computer consulting:

Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day.

Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime.

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We picked this Sentry last summer when we knew we would be full timing. Simply for papers, Passports, vehicle titles, birth certificates, etc.

 

I picked it based on size because I had the perfect place for it behind a bottom drawer in the fiver. Turns out it will not work there because ....wait for it ....I would have to lie on my belly and hold the box 6" off the floor with my arms fully outstretched to get it in there. I can't do that!!

 

So it lives in a side compartment in the Volvo, actually very easy access and I just throw the keys in the door pocket.

 

Happy with the safe otherwise, perfect size for storing documents.

Dennis & Nancy
Tucson, AZ in winter, on the road in summer.

1999 Volvo 610 "Bud" 425 HP Volvo, Super 10 spd.
2005 Mountain Aire 35 BLKS
2013 smart fortwo CityFlame riding on Bud
(Replaced '05 smart first loaded in '06

and '11 smart that gave it's life to save me!)
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When we first started full-timing 5 years ago I got a fairly large Sentry safe and I filled it with passports, insurance documents, original DVDs of computer programs, blank checks, etc. Over the 5 years I've noticed that I have less and less need for any of that paper all of which is pretty much on the internet, anyway. Passports are the only identity document you need; despite all sorts of misinformation on the internet, if you have a current passport in your current name you don't need birth or marriage certificates. Computer programs are downloaded these days and rarely loaded from DVDs, etc, etc. It's getting to the point where the only things of value left in this safe are the passports, a couple of vehicle titles and a few checkbooks and even the titles and checkbooks could be replaced fairly easily (and at the rate we write checks a book of 25 lasts for more than a year.)

 

Still, I didn't mind having the safe until a couple of weeks ago when I tried to open it and couldn't. Even replacing the batteries didn't work at first and that's when I started to panic. Fortunately, I did get it open but that's when I spent some time reading about Sentry safes on some of the "angry consumer" websites. One of the most common complaints was safes that wouldn't open for which owners had to pay someone to get them open. Add to those the comments about how easily professionals seemed to be able to open the safes in minutes with nothing more than pry bars and I quickly came to the conclusion that the safe has outlived its usefulness for us. So the only issue will be removing it from the basement and disposing of it after it is out. As I recall it weighed more than 100 pounds. ;)

Sandie & Joel

2000 40' Beaver Patriot Thunder Princeton--425 HP/1550 ft-lbs CAT C-12
2014 Honda CR-V AWD EX-L with ReadyBrute tow bar/brake system
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Having gone through a wildfire in Texas where 1700 homes were lost. The fireproof safe is basically worthless. Lots of our friends had them when they opened them after the fire all that was left were ashes. The best thing to do is scan your important papers to electronic media and store in several places.

2011 Berkshire 390-rb-40, upgraded tires and front axle airbags, 2012 Jeep Wrangler 2 door, Blue Ox baseplate and BlueOx aladdin tow bar, Blue Ox Patriot brake system, wiring run through right frame rail and homemade led taillight bar.

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Having gone through a wildfire in Texas where 1700 homes were lost. The fireproof safe is basically worthless. Lots of our friends had them when they opened them after the fire all that was left were ashes. The best thing to do is scan your important papers to electronic media and store in several places.

 

Probably correct, in a sticks and bricks you need a serious fireproof safe. But an RV burns FAST, so one of these fireproof boxes - I hesitate to cal them a "safe" - will probably be sufficient.

Dennis & Nancy
Tucson, AZ in winter, on the road in summer.

1999 Volvo 610 "Bud" 425 HP Volvo, Super 10 spd.
2005 Mountain Aire 35 BLKS
2013 smart fortwo CityFlame riding on Bud
(Replaced '05 smart first loaded in '06

and '11 smart that gave it's life to save me!)
Our Travel Blog

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Probably correct, in a sticks and bricks you need a serious fireproof safe. But an RV burns FAST, so one of these fireproof boxes - I hesitate to cal them a "safe" - will probably be sufficient.

That's what I'm thinking. Especially if it lives at or near the rear of our 5th wheel. No propane or other propellants in that section, just the walls and flooring. I figure that area, if it were to burn, would do so for only a short time. Any high temps would be of short duration. BTW - I ordered the Honeywell 1103 from BB&Y. After tax, shipping and the 20% coupon: $58.19 to my door. I'm happy with that.

 

Thanks for everyone's input.

The richest are not those who have the most, but those who need the least.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Having gone through a wildfire in Texas where 1700 homes were lost. The fireproof safe is basically worthless. Lots of our friends had them when they opened them after the fire all that was left were ashes. The best thing to do is scan your important papers to electronic media and store in several places.

 

I'm with Accumack in this regard. We keep originals of all important documents in our safe deposit box at the bank. I've got a scanned copy of everything in the safe deposit box on electronic media - in an encrypted format stored on OneDrive. All financial records are stored in the same manner. If/when a physical document is absolutely necessary - both our kids are authorized to access the safe deposit box and can ship them to us in a pinch. We haven't had to go to that extreme ... but it's a plan that we've tested (at least as far as verifying that the kids can walk into the bank and access the safe deposit box is concerned).

The Spacenorman

2012 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 43' DFT

2012 Jeep Liberty

Our Travel Website: www.penquinhead.com​

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Valuable stuff inside? Bolt it down out of sight or better get a built-in version and have it installed in a concealed location.

 

Just papers and such? Put the key on a string and tie it to the handle so a thief can look inside and move on. We did that.

 

No sense having them damage your rig trying to steal something when there is nothing there worth taking.

First rule of computer consulting:

Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day.

Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime.

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