Gun Safe in Garage

T

theogre_52

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 29, 2010
114
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Eastern, Iowa
#1
I am interested in getting a large gun safe, and with my stairs I think that I am going to have to put it in the garage. I live in Iowa and my garage is not heated. It is attached to the house so it usually stays about 15-25 deg f. Anyone have any experiance / tricks for keeping a gun safe in a garage? Or just don't do it?

--Thanks
 
#6
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine has always been in the garage. No worries.</div></div> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kengel2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is yours tied to the foundation or is it just sitting there?</div></div>

If it's just sitting there, do you have a remote keypad? Can I have the combo?
laugh.gif


If you must put it in the garage it's fine, just be sure to properly bolt that sucker to the floor. If it's not bolted to the floor 2 guys and a pickup truck can steal a gunsafe in about 30 seconds.
 
#8
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

My 1800lb safe is in the garage and bolted to the floor and to the studs. If some one wants it they will have to take some of the floor and walls.
 
#10
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: theogre</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I actully don't know which brand / model that I am going to get want something at least 40 gun, and I shoot trap so I want it tall to get my long guns in there.

-- </div></div>

I recommend the Liberty safe in the 50 model, Franklin series or better.

http://www.libertysafe.com/safe_franklin.php?tab=sizes

It's a lot of safe for the money.



 
#12
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

I had my security products safe in the garage when I was stationed at Campbell. It works. A good dehumidifier is key when humidity picks up a little bit.

If you own the house it would be a good idea to bolt the safe down. You might want to look into something that lets water or some ventilation under the safe to help prevent water from getting trapped up under the safe and causing it to rust.
I didn't look at where you live and don't know the conditions there (garage floods some when it rains, humidity etc etc).
 
#13
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

Mine wasn't bolted, although it shoulda been...

Now, it's going in a room that used to be a garage and is now built in. I won't bolt it in there, but I'll say this, if they can get it out of where it is, they deserve it.. LOL
 
#14
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tommy5.56</div><div class="ubbcode-body">1 in the garage and one in the bedroom. If they can crack and haul away the one in the garage they are more than welcome to it. ;-) </div></div>

this is how i feel considering the pain in the ass it took us to get it into the garage... they can have it if they feel like dismembering the house and attempting to haul the thing off
 
#16
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine wasn't bolted, although it shoulda been...

Now, it's going in a room that used to be a garage and is now built in. I won't bolt it in there, but I'll say this, if they can get it out of where it is, they deserve it.. LOL</div></div>

You've never seen 2 of the right guys move a safe. You'd be bolting it down!
 
#17
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

I have mine in the garage, it weighs something like 1300-1500 pounds. It is bolted down with 1/2"x6" wedge anchors. I am not 100% how thick the slab of the house is there but I know these things are down under the rebar in the slab by a bit. Did make the addition of some golden rods while I have been home since while I was gone I had a bit of rust issue on a couple of my rifles due to humidity.
 
#18
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

I have two in the garage. They are both fine, actually it is one of the best places to have your safe. If you house catches on fire,, that is one of the fist and easiest place to get the fire out vs in interior of the house. I would recommend on bolting it down or weighting it down. Me, I have about five boxes of full 50cal ammo helping to weight it down.
 
#19
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

Mines in the garage and I have not had any problems.

I also keep my oxygen/acetylene cutting torch head in there too. I don't want the house burnt down if some a-hole tries to burn there way into it.
 
#20
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine wasn't bolted, although it shoulda been...

Now, it's going in a room that used to be a garage and is now built in. I won't bolt it in there, but I'll say this, if they can get it out of where it is, they deserve it.. LOL</div></div>

You've never seen 2 of the right guys move a safe. You'd be bolting it down! </div></div>
+1, I worked for a bank security company and got to go along on some installs. The right stuff makes it easy and it is much simpler tools than you would suspect.
 
#21
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Phylodog</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine's been out in the garage for five years. I have a Golden Rod in there and haven't had any issues with moisture. </div></div>

exactly what mine is... no issues !
 
#22
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine has always been in the garage. No worries.</div></div> <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kengel2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is yours tied to the foundation or is it just sitting there?</div></div>

If it's just sitting there, do you have a remote keypad? Can I have the combo?
laugh.gif


If you must put it in the garage it's fine, just be sure to properly bolt that sucker to the floor. If it's not bolted to the floor 2 guys and a pickup truck can steal a gunsafe in about 30 seconds. </div></div>

Jason... I thought what you and I did on the week nights was our secret
blush.gif
oh well !!
 
#23
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

It is easy to rock a safe even when it is bolted down. It is best to bolt down the cement floor and to the wall and then add a regular type wall around the outside of the safe to stop someone from using leverage and rippin the bolts out or the floor. I have read about bad guys linin the floor with plastic wrap and using cooking oil and just pursuing the safe out the door. A few motivated individuals can get into and take a safe that most think is secure faster than you would believe.
 
#24
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Slickrick0999</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonk</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JRose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mine wasn't bolted, although it shoulda been...

Now, it's going in a room that used to be a garage and is now built in. I won't bolt it in there, but I'll say this, if they can get it out of where it is, they deserve it.. LOL</div></div>

You've never seen 2 of the right guys move a safe. You'd be bolting it down! </div></div>
+1, I worked for a bank security company and got to go along on some installs. The right stuff makes it easy and it is much simpler tools than you would suspect.</div></div>

The other thing to remember is that the bad guys won't worry about your carpet, walls, door frames, etc etc. It makes it really easy when you don't have to be careful.
 
#25
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

They would need a heavy duty forklift to pick it up. The ammo in the safe alone gotta weight around around 1500 lbs. They also need to move at least half of my junks just to get to it
grin.gif
 
#27
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

A few thoughts on home gun Safes... My opinion.

"layers" of security is the idea.
Even the best gun safe is safer if nobody knows you have it. when you buy the safe... pay cash! That way, nobody at the store knows where you live, no personal records of who you are exist if you don't use a credit card.
Be VERY,VERY selective who you have help you unload your safe at home for obvious reasons. Don't advertise to neighbors what your unloading.
One observation I have made having responded to hunderds of structure fires is this, Sheetrock or gypsum board provide GREAT fire protection.
I have literally seen room and contents fires reduce everything in a room to melted, sooty, burned nothingness. However, look behind the 1/2 inch sheetrock and the studs/joists/rafters are untouched.

Solution = Frame in a "false" wall made out of sheetrock just wide enough to conceal the safe from prying eyes and heat of a fire. Tape and texure it to match the other walls in the garage. Cut out just enough sheetrock in the front to make a removable door the size of the safe door to access the safe. Cover the cutout with hanging garden tools and extension cords.
If your garage is not finished in sheetrock, just build a makeshift looking version of the above and make it look Un inviting to a thief. make it look like a furnace closet or water heater closet.
Odds are it's gonna take a thief a bit of time to realize, unless he gets lucky, that you have a safe at all, he's already used up much of his "grab and go" time and won't have the time to work the safe. Which is bolted to the foundation of course!
Oh yea, if you do get burglerized, and they find your safe but cant breech it... Best to remove the valuables and stash um somewhere else for six months or so just in case they come back to finish the job.
When you access your safe, please do so with the garage door down.
Hell, I have even thought of buying a
Dummy" safe to foil someone into thinking they found the mother load, when the real one is behind my false wall.
2 to 3 guys using mechanical advantage techniques can lift an amazing amount of weight in the blink or an eye.




 
#28
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

Due to my line of work I am generally very overboard on security because I have seen some crazy stuff stolen in some even more crazy ways.

But as for my safe, it is bolted to the floor and to the wall but its on an interior wood floor so I wall bolted it to the wall as well. (I don't have a garage just a car port).

If they want the thing more then I do they can have it. There is a reason I have an insurance policy on the guns as well as home owners insurance that covers the safe, its contents, and the rest of the house. I bought the safe to protect rifles that were passed down to me from my grandfather so as far as my rifles go the insurance will more then cover what I have in them. but they do all stay inside the safe.
 
#30
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

My safe is in the garage and it's hidden from street view when the garage door is open. I never open my safe when the garage door is open. I don't "show off" my safe or it's contents to anyone. The one thing that sucks is if there are two cars in the garage I can't open it. The door is way too large and needs a lot of space to swing.
 
#32
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

A garage is not a good place for a gun safe.Its too visible,too easy to get to,too close to your tools(usually),sees to many temp changes,ect,ect.If its your only option,bolt it to the floor and the wall.Build a room around it.Use several methods to control moisture.Good Luck with your new safe, Pete
 
#33
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pete Theodore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A garage is not a good place for a gun safe.Its too visible,too easy to get to,too close to your tools(usually),sees to many temp changes,ect,ect.If its your only option,bolt it to the floor and the wall.Build a room around it.Use several methods to control moisture.Good Luck with your new safe, Pete </div></div>

I agree. I have my safe in the garage out of necessity only. I would definitely recommend dehumidifying measures, especially in the garage because of the temperature changes.
 
#34
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

My neighbor has his sitting on his carport and it's not even bolted down! It's not visible from the street, he lives on the outer edge of town, and it's a really small town. Nobody has ever messed with it and he only recently put a dehumidifier in it after my urging.

My safe on the other hand is well placed in a large walk-in closet and bolted to the floor with grade 8 carriage bolts with steel plates under the floor. I had to rip the door frame out to put in in so it would take soem time for someone to get it out of there!

Take the time to bolt it down!!!!
 
#35
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

Statistically, fire is a much higher risk that theft. Make sure the safe has good fire protection. I'd like to have my safe in the house, but just can't fit the darned thing and it's in the garage. Guess that's good for fire protection but bad for theft.
 
#38
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Laser1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How does the humidity in Richmond affect the items inside the safe and what type of humidity control do you use? </div></div>

Well, I have AC in my garage so hot summers are not the problem. I run a little machine shop here so AC is a must. I also run a plug-in rod on the top of the canned dehumidifier that I reheat once a month. So far so good.
 
#39
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

You cant put enough ammo or other weight in there to keep a guy who knows what he is doing from taking your safe. Do you really think an extra few hundered pounds will stop them? They would take your ammo and sell it, or shoot it up before they sell your guns. Also safes are not that hard to crack or beat open, check youtube, there are plenty of videos. So bolt it down and keep it hiden. If it is in your garage, use a false wall or somthing to keep it hidden from street view.
 
#41
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

Someone stealing your safe is not interested in how badly they scratch your floors getting it out. The classic way to steal a safe is to knock a small hole in the wall, wrap a cable around the safe, and jerk it through the wall. Then they load it in the truck and deal with it someplace else at their leisure. Bolt it down, and it will make the insurance claim go easier.
 
#42
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

None of them are "safe". I read a police report a number of years ago where someone knocked two holes in the side of a house and removed the gunsafe that was bolted to the floor "securely" with a tow truck....out the side of the house. Specialized tools but nothing is truely "safe". As others indicated not letting anyone know the safe is there would be the best defense.

Then there is the story of the family that "won" a 4 week cruise. When they got home their house was gone. The before and after photos were of a two story home to boot. They found it in the desert stripped bare. Guess the theives gone their cruise money back
crazy.gif


Pat
 
#43
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

I agree, a safe is just a nice gun case and fits easily in a pickup truck bed. A safe keeps out the kids and honest folks, a motion sensor tied into a house alarm system linked to the police is the way to go. Put it facing the safes, and one in the safe if you have power strip in the safe.

That gives the thieves about five minutes to jack the bolts out of the slab, load the safe, and beat it....

But the extra wide from costco, they will ship it for free and set in in your garage, all for around $650.00
 
#44
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

"Safe" is misleading. No company that makes gun safes makes a safe that is actually insurable to mercantile & broadform insurance standards except American Security (they have one TL-15 and TL-30 rated safe). The best you can hope for is a UL "RSC" rating which stands for residential security container which means it withstood a 5 minute attack with simple hand tools, but buying 5 minutes is fine if you augment it with alarms and other deterrent methods that stack up.

Almost every gun safe today is nothing more than sheet metal and drywall "fire insulation" with a whole lotta lipstick. Its no problem if you're aware of how much protection this offers but most folks aren't aware of this when talking to a salesman trying to sell suede interior upgrades. Bolting it down to a corner with the door swinging away from an interior wall is the best location. Makes it hard to do a pry attack on the door if it's butted against a wall, which is what most common criminals will do (and smash off your handle and dial). Not bolting it down is the worst thing you can do. $5 worth of steel you can buy at Home Depot and anyone can roll your safe out of your home.

Cover it up too. I know you spent good money for that glossy paint but you don't want prying eyes to admire it either when you've got the garage door open. Do an inventory of your tools and keep in mind the RSC 5 minute rating is for hand tool attack only. If you've got drills, sawzalls, and other power tools...well it doesn't take much imagination to realize how fast you can peel open a sheet metal can.
 
#45
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

Just bolt it down, and put some de-humidifier in it. Although I have kept the de-humidifier units in mine, they have never filled with water, and the salt-like granules appear unused after 2 years....best part though is no rust on anything.
 
#46
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

So i think i have decided to put my gun safe in the garage. I see the most of you are all from some place nice and warm. lol I am in Manitoba Canada. Question is do you think there should be a problem with temp. gets down to -30 or more here some times i know the garage wont get as cold as that, but close. Is there any concern with this?
Yes i will have a dehumidifier in it also.
 
#47
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cesiumsponge</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"Safe" is misleading. No company that makes gun safes makes a safe that is actually insurable to mercantile & broadform insurance standards except American Security (they have one TL-15 and TL-30 rated safe). The best you can hope for is a UL "RSC" rating which stands for residential security container which means it withstood a 5 minute attack with simple hand tools, but buying 5 minutes is fine if you augment it with alarms and other deterrent methods that stack up.

Almost every gun safe today is nothing more than sheet metal and drywall "fire insulation" with a whole lotta lipstick. Its no problem if you're aware of how much protection this offers but most folks aren't aware of this when talking to a salesman trying to sell suede interior upgrades. Bolting it down to a corner with the door swinging away from an interior wall is the best location. Makes it hard to do a pry attack on the door if it's butted against a wall, which is what most common criminals will do (and smash off your handle and dial). Not bolting it down is the worst thing you can do. $5 worth of steel you can buy at Home Depot and anyone can roll your safe out of your home.

Cover it up too. I know you spent good money for that glossy paint but you don't want prying eyes to admire it either when you've got the garage door open. Do an inventory of your tools and keep in mind the RSC 5 minute rating is for hand tool attack only. If you've got drills, sawzalls, and other power tools...well it doesn't take much imagination to realize how fast you can peel open a sheet metal can. </div></div>


Brown safes are TL rated
 
#48
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

I like the silica dehumidifying beads in a container with a mesh lid because they turn from blue to pink when saturated so you have a visual method of confirmation. Just remember in a fire, they're going to bake dry when the internals heat up so your guns get a nice steam sauna.

At the same time, research the actual fire barrier material used in your safe. Most (not all) composite materials designed as a fire barrier are designed to release moisture during a fire in the form of pressurized steam (the fire seals at the door would have expanded by now and formed an air-tight seal) to keep temperatures down and to prevent smoke from entering since the internals are at positive pressure. This is great for documents and paper which might get soft and wrinkly, but not necessarily good for firearms.

It's hard to say what gun safes use because none of them to my knowledge submit to a UL fire rating and use smaller third-party lab to test so it's hard to make direct comparisons between brands as far as fire protection goes.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: koz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Brown safes are TL rated </div></div>
Brown makes more than gun safes, so it's safe to say they aren't a gun safe-only safe manufacturer as they make UL-rated burglary safes. They also make some wacky products. I'm on their site right now looking at their $74,500 watch safe which isn't even TL-rated so I don't know who their market demographic is for some items. If I had a bunch of Jaeger LeCoultre and Patek Philippe watches, I'd want something TL rated!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Medic75</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So i think i have decided to put my gun safe in the garage. I see the most of you are all from some place nice and warm. lol I am in Manitoba Canada. Question is do you think there should be a problem with temp. gets down to -30 or more here some times i know the garage wont get as cold as that, but close. Is there any concern with this?
Yes i will have a dehumidifier in it also. </div></div>

You should be fine with some dehumidifier inside the safe. Theoretically condensation can form if the garage heats up and the safe and the contents are much colder but that doesn't seem to be a real world problem that I've seen. The outside is painted so there isn't really any worry about rust. I'd just keep the hinges greased.
 
#49
Re: Gun Safe in Garage

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cesiumsponge</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Brown makes more than gun safes, so it's safe to say they aren't a gun safe-only safe manufacturer as they make UL-rated burglary safes. They also make some wacky products. I'm on their site right now looking at their $74,500 watch safe which isn't even TL-rated so I don't know who their market demographic is for some items. If I had a bunch of Jaeger LeCoultre and Patek Philippe watches, I'd want something TL rated! </div></div>

The F rated safes (which are TL-30) have 1/4" ballistic steel on the door only.

The watch safe is M rated which has 1/4" ballistic steel over the entire body and 1/2" ballistic on the door.
 
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