Best Safe for RV and Motorhome – 6 Picks to Bolt, Tether or Carry

Best safe for RV and motorhome – the short answer

Bolt a steel box into the rig for what lives there, carry a case for what moves with you, and keep papers in a fire-rated chest. No single RV safe does all three jobs, so I sorted the six picks by bolt, tether or carry.

• Bolt it in: Stealth College Dorm & RV Safe for laptops, medication and cash; Fort Knox PB1 for a handgun.
• Tether it: Vaultek LifePod 20, Grimtron Portable Electronic Car Gun Safe or the Pacsafe Travelsafe GII 5L.
• Carry it out: SentrySafe 1200 for passports, titles and insurance papers.

If the gun also rides in your tow car, our car gun safe picks go deeper on cable and console mounts.

From our notes: The Stealth’s 35 lb weight is what reordered this list for me. RV owners count every pound of cargo, so I put the maker’s weight next to the inside space for all six picks. The Pacsafe weighs under a pound and holds a tablet; the Stealth weighs 35 lb and holds an 18-inch laptop on three shelves. The SentrySafe 1200 sits in between at about 13 lb, and it is the only one of the six with any fire rating. That one table decided the order.

RV safe picks compared

This table puts mount, lock, inside space, weight and fire rating side by side, all from the makers’ specs.

The 6 best RV and motorhome safes, reviewed

Each review covers the maker’s specs, what owners report and who it suits; we have not bought or used these safes ourselves.

Stealth College Dorm & RV Safe: Best safe to bolt into the rig

3.1Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)6/10
• Access (speed and ease)6/10
• Capacity8/10
• Value5/10

I score it highest for capacity among the bolt-in picks and fair for security thanks to its steel body, bolt holes and relocker; the missing backup key and weight cost it access and value points.

How we score

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What we like

• Narrow vertical shape fits a closet or dinette base
• Four pre-drilled bolt holes plus a free security cable
• Cord holes in the back let a laptop charge while locked inside

What we don't like

• 35 lb of cargo weight
• No backup key on the standard electronic lock; no fire or water rating

What owners and reviewers say review themes from 16 owner reviews, plus 4 posts and reviews we read

Praised for

• Owners call it well built and heavy enough to secure to a fixed object
• The size fits a laptop and small valuables, and the cable reaches a bed frame or desk

Common complaints

• One owner wasted an hour opening it before finding the right battery type and wants the lockout steps explained better
• Not fire or water resistant (not advertised as either)

Read on: Dean Safe: Stealth Compact College Dorm & RV Safe customer reviews (16 reviews)

Who it's for: A full-timer or long-stay RVer who keeps a laptop, medication, cash and passports in the rig and can bolt a safe into a closet or dinette base; it has no fire rating and no backup key.

The Stealth College Dorm & RV Safe is a vertical steel security safe from Stealth, sold for dorm rooms and RVs. I picked it because its shape suits a rig: 20 inches tall but only 7 inches wide, so it slides into a closet or the base of a dinette. Dean Safe lists the inside at 18 ½ x 6 ½ x 12 inches, with three lined shelves and room for an 18-inch laptop. Two holes in the back let a charging cord in while the door stays locked.

It has four pre-drilled bolt holes plus a free security cable. The lock is a UL-listed electronic keypad on one 9V battery, with a 5-minute lockout after four wrong codes, protected by a hard plate and an internal relocker. My catch: there is no backup key, so change the battery before a long storage stretch.

What owners say: of the four Dean Safe reviews we read, owners call it well built and heavy enough to secure to a fixed object. One wasted an hour opening it before finding the right battery type.

Fort Knox PB1 Original Pistol Box: Best battery-free RV gun safe

3.8Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)9/10
• Access (speed and ease)7/10
• Capacity7/10
• Value6/10

I give it the top security score here for its thick steel, battery-free lock and bolt holes; it loses access points because a top lid needs clearance.

How we score

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What we like

• 10-gauge steel body, the thickest published steel on this list
• Mechanical Simplex lock: no battery to die in storage
• Four pre-drilled 3/8-inch holes for bolting down

What we don't like

• Heavy (about 24 lb) and top-opening, so it needs lid clearance
• One owner found the quiet buttons give little feedback

What owners and reviewers say from 4 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Owners say it is far thicker and heavier than the gun vaults they replaced
• The mechanical lock opens with no power at all

Common complaints

• Unbolted, the heavy lid can make the box slide as it opens
• The buttons are quiet with little tactile feedback

Read on: XDTalk: Fort Knox FTK-PB (PB-1) Pistol Vault Review · USCCA: Long-Term Review of the Fort Knox Original Pistol Box · r/CCW: why low-end pistol lockboxes cost less

Who it's for: An RVer whose handgun stays in the rig, including months in a hot or cold storage lot, and who can bolt a top-opening box to a floor or cabinet base; it will not fit under a sofa.

The Fort Knox PB1 Original Pistol Box is a 10-gauge steel handgun safe from Fort Knox with a mechanical lock. I chose it for a gun that stays in the motorhome: the Simplex push-button lock needs no battery, so months in a hot or freezing storage lot do not matter. The body is 10-gauge steel with a 3/16-inch wraparound door, the thickest published steel on this list.

Four pre-drilled 3/8-inch holes let you bolt it to the floor, a cabinet base or a bracket. It opens from the top and weighs about 24 lb, so it needs a spot with lid clearance, not under a sofa.

What owners say: owners on XDTalk and USCCA describe it as far heavier than the vaults it replaced, and like that it opens with no power. One warns that unbolted, the heavy lid can make the box slide as it opens.

Vaultek LifePod 20: Best RV gun safe that rides in the tow vehicle

2.7Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Access (speed and ease)6/10
• Capacity6/10
• Value7/10

I score it high for weather sealing and travel and low for security: the polymer shell keeps out kids and casual hands, while the cable and a hidden spot do the anti-theft work.

How we score

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What we like

• Airtight, water resistant and dustproof seal (Vaultek)
• Fits a handgun up to 9.25 in long; removable tray for extras
• 9V battery rated up to a year, micro-USB backup power, two keys

What we don't like

• Polymer shell resists prying less than a steel box
• An owner found the latches a pain under a seat

What owners and reviewers say from 4 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Owners recommend it to friends and use it on the go for compact pistols
• Easy to carry from the car into a building

Common complaints

• One owner found the hinged lid latches awkward under a car seat
• Another could not fit it inside a compact sedan console

Read on: r/CCW: Under-car seat storage, thoughts · r/CCW: Vaultek · r/NJGuns: Suggested safes for in car · r/CCW: Car storage for ccw, center console too small

Who it's for: An RVer whose handgun travels in the tow vehicle on driving days; it is polymer, not steel, so the cable and a hidden spot do the theft work.

The Vaultek LifePod 20 is a weatherproof polymer handgun case from Vaultek with a keypad lock. I picked it for RVers whose pistol moves between the motorhome, the tow car and a campground picnic table. It weighs 3.3 lb, seals out water and dust, and fits a handgun up to 9.25 inches long.

The backlit keypad runs on a 9V battery rated up to a year, with two backup keys and a micro-USB port for emergency power. A 48-inch steel cable loops around a seat frame or a cabinet base.

What owners say: r/CCW owners use it on the go and find it easy to carry inside. The complaints are fit: one found the latches awkward under a car seat. In my view the polymer shell keeps out kids and casual hands; the cable and a hidden spot do the anti-theft work.

SentrySafe 1200: Best fire-rated RV safe for documents

2.6Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)2/10
• Fire protection7/10
• Access (speed and ease)8/10
• Capacity2/10
• Value9/10

I rate it well for value, quick access and its UL 30-minute fire rating; a privacy lock, no water seal and little space keep the rest low.

How we score

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What we like

• UL Classified for 1/2 hour at up to 1,550°F (843°C)
• Light (about 13 lb) with a carrying handle
• SentrySafe sells a bolt-down kit for its chests

What we don't like

• No water rating; SentrySafe calls the key lock basic protection
• Owners on SentrySafe's site report cheap keys and a lock that would not turn

What owners and reviewers say from 9 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• Sturdy box that gives peace of mind for papers and small valuables
• Key code stamped on the lock makes a replacement key possible

Common complaints

• Cheap keys that broke or a lock that would not turn
• Units arriving defective or without a key

Read on: SentrySafe customer reviews: 1200

Who it's for: Any RVer who carries titles, insurance cards, passports or a backup drive and wants one box to grab in a fire; it has no water rating and only a privacy key lock.

The SentrySafe 1200 is a small fire chest from SentrySafe with a key lock and carry handle. I picked it for the papers a full-timer cannot replace on the road: titles, insurance cards, passports, a backup drive. It is UL Classified for 30 minutes at 1,550°F, and at about 13 lb you can carry it out the door.

Its inside is 3.5 x 12 x 7.5 inches (0.18 cu ft), enough for folded papers and passports. SentrySafe calls the key lock privacy protection, not a theft barrier, and sells a bolt-down kit for its chests.

What owners say: on SentrySafe’s own review pages, owners call it sturdy and like the key code stamped on the lock. Others report cheap keys, a lock that would not turn and units that arrived defective, so I would test the key on day one.

Pacsafe Travelsafe GII 5L: Best soft safe for vans and campgrounds

2.8Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Access (speed and ease)6/10
• Capacity7/10
• Value7/10

No fire claim, so fire is omitted. I like the mesh and locking strap against opportunistic theft, but fabric and a small travel lock keep security modest.

How we score

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What we like

• Weighs 0.91 lb and folds flat (1.2 in deep), so it disappears in a suitcase (Pacsafe)
• eXomesh wire mesh in the fabric and a cut-resistant anchor strap that locks around a fixed object
• Owners use it on beach loungers and inside hotel room safes they do not trust

What we don't like

• The bundled 3-dial lock is small; reviewers suggest swapping in a sturdier lock and practicing with it before the trip
• Fabric is water resistant, not waterproof; one owner's safe got soaked under a leaking sink

What owners and reviewers say review themes from 91 owner reviews, plus 8 posts and reviews we read

Praised for

• Peace of mind in rooms with no safe, or with a room safe staff can open
• Wraps around a sun lounger, pipe or bed frame, so the whole bag cannot be carried off
• Packs flat and holds passports, phones, cash and an e-reader

Common complaints

• A thief with professional tools could cut it, as its most enthusiastic reviewer admits
• The included lock feels flimsy to some reviewers
• One owner's bag got soaked when locked under a leaking sink in Vietnam

Read on: Pacsafe Travelsafe customer reviews (5 read) (91 reviews) · Adventurous Kate, Pacsafe Travelsafe review and owner comments · Blissmersion, best portable travel safe options (owner comment)

Who it's for: Van and campground travelers who need to leave a passport, phone, cash and a tablet behind for a few hours; it stops a quick grab, but a thief with cutters and time can still get in.

The Pacsafe Travelsafe GII 5L is a portable soft safe from Pacsafe lined with eXomesh stainless steel wire mesh. I chose it for camper vans with no room for a steel box: it weighs 0.91 lb, folds to 1.2 inches deep and holds 5 liters, enough for an 11-inch tablet, phones and passports.

A cut-resistant anchor strap wraps around a fixed object such as a pipe or bed frame and locks with the included combination lock; I would swap in a padlock I trust more. Pacsafe rates the fabric water resistant, not waterproof.

What owners say: owners like the peace of mind at campsites and beaches, and that it packs flat. Its keenest reviewer admits a thief with professional tools could cut it, and some find the bundled lock flimsy.

Grimtron Portable Electronic Car Gun Safe: Best budget RV gun safe

2.8Best Safe Spec Score out of 5

• Security (lock and build)4/10
• Access (speed and ease)7/10
• Capacity4/10
• Value8/10

I like the keypad, backup keys and rated cable for the money; the thin steel shell, no water seal and a tight interior keep its security and capacity scores low.

How we score

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What we like

• Keypad with no-look shaped buttons plus two backup keys
• 3.28 ft cable with a listed 1,900 lb breaking strength
• Slim enough for under a seat or a glove box

What we don't like

• Not water resistant; runs on 4 AAA batteries
• Thin clearance: one owner says to check your pistol against the size

What owners and reviewers say from 5 reviews and posts we read

Praised for

• An owner uses it as his vehicle safe, tethered out of sight
• Owners describe it as sturdy, with a thick powder-coat finish

Common complaints

• Thin clearance, so thicker pistols may not fit
• One owner locked both keys inside before fitting batteries

Read on: Grimtron store: customer reviews of the Portable Safe Box

Who it's for: An RVer who wants code entry for a slim pistol in a cab drawer or under a seat; it is not water resistant and fits one slim pistol.

The Grimtron Portable Electronic Car Gun Safe (VT1136) is a slim steel handgun safe from Grimtron with a keypad lock. I picked it for RVers who want code entry on a small budget: a 3-8 digit keypad, two backup keys, a silent mode and a 3.28 ft cable with a listed 1,900 lb breaking strength.

It is just under 2 inches tall, so it slides under a cab seat or into a drawer. It runs on 4 AAA batteries with emergency USB power, and it is not water resistant.

What owners say: one owner uses it as his vehicle safe, tethered out of sight, and others call it sturdy. One warns of thin clearance for thicker pistols, and another locked both keys inside before fitting batteries. My advice: measure your pistol against the box first.

Where to put a safe in an RV, and what to bolt it to

Bolt into something solid that you can see, such as a dinette base or a seat-belt bracket, and never drill the floor blind. RV floors and walls are thin, and wiring, tanks and plumbing run under them. RecPro’s RV safe guide says a floor vault should be installed by a qualified dealer, since only they know what sits under the flooring.

1. Pick a hidden spot that cannot be seen through a window: the dinette base, a wardrobe floor or a cabinet under the bed. In a Class A, a fifth wheel or a Class C, think twice about an outside basement bay: an iRV2 member noted a safe there is hard to reach when you need it.
2. Check underneath for wires, water lines and tanks before you mark any holes; we would ask a dealer if unsure.
3. Bolt through the floor or cabinet base with large washers or a steel backing plate, or to a steel bracket. One rvforums.com owner planned to bolt a small safe to the dinette’s steel seat-belt brackets.
4. Where you cannot drill, loop the safe’s cable around a seat frame or bracket and pull out the slack.
5. Keep the backup key or code outside the rig, on your house keys.

Our guide to bolting a safe down covers hardware for wood and metal. The Dean Safe video below covers protecting valuables in an RV.

RV safe weight vs what it holds

Every pound of safe comes out of your cargo capacity, so compare the weight with the inside space before you buy. From the makers’ numbers:

• Stealth: 35 lb for about 0.84 cu ft (18.5 x 6.5 x 12 in), the most space per bolt-in safe here.
• SentrySafe 1200: about 13 lb for 0.18 cu ft. You pay weight for fire insulation, not space.
• Fort Knox PB1: about 24 lb of 10-gauge steel for one or two handguns.
• Pacsafe 5L and LifePod 20: under 4 lb each; light, but they rely on a cable or strap.

My rule: if the safe stays in the rig, spend the weight on the Stealth or the PB1. If it moves with you, keep it under 4 lb.

RV safe problems owners run into, and the fix

Most RV safe complaints come down to a box that only slows a thief, a lock that will not open after storage, or a safe that burns with the rig. These are the problems we saw again and again in RV and gun-owner threads, with our fix for each:

1. A cable box only slows a thief. An r/Firearms reply put it plainly: “Best would be an actual safe, bolted to the vehicle somewhere out of plain view.” Fix: bolt the Stealth or PB1 in, and treat any cable box as short-term storage.
2. The lock is dead after months in storage. Heat, cold and flat batteries stop keypads. On iRV2, a member who researched RV safes advised: “i strongly suggest you consider a dual-entry safe, one that can be opened via electronic keypad or a traditional key.” Fix: pick a keyed backup or the battery-free PB1, and swap batteries before every trip.
3. It can be seen through the window. Fix: hide it in the dinette base or a wardrobe, and lock things away before you park.
4. It slides around while driving. Fix: bolt it, or tension the cable so there is no slack.
5. The rig catches fire. US fire departments get about 4,200 RV fires a year, USFA reports, and none of the steel boxes here has a fire rating. Fix: keep papers in the SentrySafe 1200 by the door, and grab it on the way out. An iRV2 member did the same with a portable document safe, taking it along rather than leaving it in the RV. See our fireproof document safe picks for larger chests.

Which RV safe should you get?

Match the safe to how you use the rig, not to the feature list. Here is the rule we use:

• Full-time or boondocking, valuables live in the rig: Stealth College Dorm & RV Safe, bolted down.
• Handgun stays in the motorhome, even in storage: Fort Knox PB1.
• Handgun moves to the tow car: Vaultek LifePod 20; on a budget, the Grimtron.
• Passports and titles: SentrySafe 1200, kept near the door.
• Camper van with no room to bolt: Pacsafe Travelsafe GII 5L.

How we picked these RV safes

We kept models that at least two independent top-ranking pages recommend for RVs, vehicles or travel and that sell as their own Amazon US listing, then ranked them on maker specs and owner reports. For this search the top 10 is mostly forums, dealers and retailers: Bomb City Safes and Dean Safe both recommend the Stealth for RVs, RecPro sells the SentrySafe 1200 as its RV fire safe, and Cape Fear Investigative’s RV list names the LifePod 20 and Grimtron. We have not used these safes ourselves. Our safe buying checklist covers the same questions for a home safe.

Guns in an RV – state rules vary

Firearm rules for an RV change by state, by city and sometimes by campground, so check the official rules for each stop on your route. We do not give legal advice. Read the state attorney general’s or state police website for every state you drive through, and the campground’s own rules. For a lighter case for flights and hotels, see our best travel safe picks.