New cheap/free mod (key lock box install)

(not sure if someone has done this before, but thought id show my idea for hiding/securing a spare key)

well today i picked up one of those key lock boxes from work, we had ordered what we thought was one, turned out to be one box so they were just sitting around, so i thought to myself that i need a place to put my spare key, but i dont like using those magnetic key boxes that everyone sticks on to the frame

so heres what i did:

i took the passenger side bed compartment lid/door, drilled a couple holes and mounted the box to that:



but since there really wasnt a flat spot on the inside, i had to bend down one of the frame ribs, which turned out to work pretty well cause it put some pressure against the box to keep the screws tight:



since toyota gave me 3 keys, im putting the one they call the "valet" key inside this box, dont know why they call it the valet key cause it doesnt seem to disable anything within the vehicle when ran with this key..but it didnt fit to well so i snipped off the hole for the key ring:


and it fit perfectly:


and now i have a locked up key available if i ever need it:

 

Until someone steals the removable door it's attached to...

FREE TACO'S AT THIS GUYS PLACE!

 

hahaha. yeah they can just take the lid.

i wonder if i can find an old supra key box from work and do the same thing, somewhere else on my truck.

 

Unfortunately

 

I think it's a "valet" key b/c you give it to the valet, thus keeping your house key and everything else with you.

It's easy enough to run a copy of your home keys and pull your address of either your insurance or registration. Then mosey on over while you're still at dinner.

 

COOL!

 

yea i thought of them taking the whole door, but i think this maybe be harder to get to than those magnetic boxes that everyone sticks on the frame, with no lock or anything...

plus i rattle canned the screws on the outside, its pretty hard to see unless youre really looking for it

 

Aren't the bedside boxes removable with some work? I would've attached it to inside of the box after seeing this and thinking about it.

 

they are, about 6 screws will take it off, ill probably switch it to be inside there, once i get the right driver to get the screws off, damn star screws

 

The Valet Key will not open a locked glove box or a trunk. It's so you can put your valuables in either of those places so the valet can't take them, ever hear someone say to a valet in a movie, "I know how many pennies are in the ash tray" same principal.

However a Tacoma has no locked glove box or trunk. Really a valet key is pointless on a Taco. It's just there for title, doesn't work any different from the regular keys.

 

Valet key is supposed to start the truck and work on the door. It does NOT work on the glove box (and trunk if you drive a Camry or something)...that is the only real difference.

 

The valet key is used so that they can't copy the key. Since the keys are chipped, they can't get a duplicate chipped key made. They have to have either the two master keys, or the code on the key ring you got when you bought the truck. They can still get the truck, but it would have to be from their lot. You can put cabinet locks on those covers to make it very hard to just open and remove the cover.

 

Great idea! I don't have a spare hidden but in the case I ever lock the keys inside my dealer sent me a plastic credit card key that I had to come in and have cut to my key configuration....good for emergencies.

 

You could also get this but if the key is on the keychain that's lost it wouldn't help much...
http://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-235-161-toyota-tacoma-bed-security-lockbox.aspx

a combination lock might be a better choice...
http://www.hitchsafe.com/