Top 10 Hiding Places in Pickup Trucks
By Bob Carpenter
Out in your pickup truck and need to stash something valuable where prying eyes won't find it? We're not talking about drug smuggling here, just the kind of stuff you don't want nefarious peeping Toms to see in your truck and be enticed to swipe.
Everyone knows that you shouldn't leave cash sitting on your center console. Same goes with an iPad resting on the seat. These kinds of temptations might lead a scoundrel to break a window and make your stuff theirs. But what to do with the $8 in cash that you don't want to stick back into your wallet? Or the expensive Beats by Dr. Dre headphones your passenger was rocking out to? Sometimes small items can be tricky to store or hide.
Of course your pickup is likely to have a good glove box (or two) and a large center console, but don't forget about some of the less obvious nooks and crannies any pickup offers; it might take a small amount of modification or the purchase of a small lock box or special sleeve. Here are some nontraditional suggestions, but we're positive you have many more. Feel free to share your creative ideas in the comment section below.
1. Under the Cupholder
In some trucks the cupholders can be popped out, either for cleaning or because there's a bigger cupholder underneath. Either way, pop it out and stash your cash there.
2. Under the Mat
Simple enough? Just slip a few things under your floormat to keep them out of eyesight. And if you really want security you can install a vault in the floor. This one came standard in a heavy-duty truck. Seems about right for ammunition that must be stored separately from weapons.
3. Under the Rear Seat
If your rear-seat bottoms lift up, you can get some things under there. This Nissan even has cubbies to make storage easier, but just about every truckmaker has some kind of hidden storage in the rear of the pickup.
4. Build Covered Storage
These vaults from A.R.E. (there are many others) are out of sight view when they are closed. Perfect for fishing and archery equipment.
5. Behind the Stereo
This might not be the most convenient place to hide things, but if you really don't want your buddies to find your Miley Cyrus fan club card, you can pull out your stereo (providing you have a pullout stereo or a 2015 Suburban) and stuff a few things behind it.
6. In the Toolbox
Many trucks have a lockable toolbox in the bed. Use it!
7. Behind the Door Panel
If your door panels pop off without the use of tools, you could easily hide that letter from your girlfriend. Or the divorce paperwork from your new girlfriend.
8. In the Engine Compartment
There are several nooks and crannies inside your engine compartment that can be used to hide things if you find the right storage box. Even the fuse box or your air filter box could work in a pinch. But remember things are likely to get a little warm in there.
9. On the Frame
Have you seen those magnetized key holders that a lot of people put near their grill to hide the spare house key? You could do something similar to the frame of your truck, assuming you don't do a lot of four wheeling.
10. In the Headliner
Whatever you want to store or hold needs to be thin and light, but there's more room than you would think in the headliner — especially if you have a sunroof. Additionally, there are plenty of products that can attach to the sun visor to hold and house extra gear.
Cars.com images by Bob Carpenter & Evan Sears
Comments
Nobody should be buying Beats headphones. It sickens me that people spend $200-300 on those things when they are simply $20 Monster headphones. Then these people wonder why rich people get richer. I think the Honda Ridgeline has a few hiding places.
I've never gotten around to actually doing it but always wanted to have a small hidden box under the hood. Many full-size trucks have a second tray for an additional battery that is just stamped with the sheet metal and sitting empty, and I always thought it would be neat to fabricate or modify an existing box to bolt right onto the tray. Something like a surplus .50cal can would be perfect. Obviously just for small tools, parts, or things you don't mind getting warm, but you get the idea.
I like the A.R.E. cargo trays.
They make custom fit safes for all makes of pickups. http://www.autosafes.net/f150-truck-safe.php
I have a small key lock box hidden back in the frame work of my back seat. So I may have to break a window but I will be able to drive my pickup away. I did it when I had OnStar so I could have them open the doors.
I also carry a portable hard drive with all my most important pictures in my pickup in case the house burns down.
"Behind the Stereo"
Interesting...
I have a german shepherd.
For a small fee I'll let you record his bad bark.
rig your stereo to play the bark real loud if the burglar alarm is tripped.
Leave toilet paper nearby.
Option: Record gunfire, instead dog--play it loud
Leave two rolls toilet paper nearby.
As for the hide-a-key I had one on a car one time and when I had some body work done and the the hide-a-key was rusted to the frame of the car with little left of either the key or the container.
papa jim--sounds like a good idea. You could also record Dirty Harry, "Do you feel lucky sucker, do I have one bullet left...go ahead and make my day."
Wow that was useless information.
@Tom#3 thanks for sharing the safe site. Might have to buy me one.
I've only seen them on a few Rams, but they have a lower storage bin under the seat below the center armrest, which I like and think is a great idea. You wouldn't know it was there unless you knew about it.
BenThere, my 2008 Silverado has one and it has a lock keyed the same as the ignition. I try not to leave important documents in my truck but if I have to they go there. With the center console armrest down you'd hardly know a seat was there, let alone a locking box.
@ BD
Nice! I figured the other brands had to have them. I'm a Dodge Ram guy so I've only noticed the box on them.
Makes sense to use as much space as possible.
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I find some of the ideas very smart and I'll use it. It's good to know some places to hide things in the car.
Really interesting how many hidden storage places there are in a pickup!
2015 dodge ram 1500, is it possinle for a dude to hod in the dash or under the carpet, wife may be cheating or im loaing my mind.
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