Whether you’re a casual trail driver, a hardcore off-roader, or are the adventurous type with a sweet overlanding rig, the need for a secure way to lock up your evaluate gear is something we can all agree is a necessary thing. There are quite a few options available for trucks and SUVs, but few are as well made or secure as stuff from Tuffy Security Products. When I decided to add some additional security to my Tacoma, I went with Tuffy’s Toyota Center Console Security Safe in the cab, and their Truck Bed Side Lockbox. The peace of mind they give me and the quality of construction make them worth every penny.
For the bed
Tuffy has a lot of options for different locking boxes for the bed of your truck, or throughout your SUV. Tacoma owners will want to check out the Tuffy box that replaces the small, covered side storage areas on each side of the composite bed near the tailgate. With the stock bed, this is a cool place to store a few tools, but the Tuffy box is more than double the size of the factory box and is made from durable, powder-coated, 16-gauge steel. The Tuffy box expands the depth of the box down into the bed frame. It is a great place to store things like a recovery snatch block, D-rings, or a tow strap. I like it for those things that have a tendency to walk off when I leave the truck on the side of the trail. It’s also great for just being organized.
Inside the cab
The Tuffy Console Safe adds a locking door inside your factory center console. It uses the same 16-gauge steel canstruction with the same Tuffy Pry-Guard locking system with 10-tumbler, double-bitted security key as Tuffy’s other products. It was the console safes that made Tuffy a major player in vehicle accessories back in 1997. They are extremely popular with the Jeep crowd, and if you have a Wrangler, Gladiator or other Jeep-like ride, you will want to add a Tuffy safe to your vehicle. My wife’s cousin has one for her JK and loves it for days when she wants to take the top off and cruise to the beach. I use mine for storing my GPS when not in use, and it is a great way to secure your wallet and phone when you’re out on the trail and are frequently getting in and out of the truck to do trail things – like pulling my wife’s cousin out of a mud hole in her Jeep.
Installation stuff
Okay, installing the side lock box in my Tacoma was not as easy as the instructions made it out. In theory, all I should have needed to do is remove the stock box by unbolting it. Then I should have been able to drop the Tuffy box into the opening and secure it with the bolts. Nothing is ever really that easy, though, right? The Tuffy box size didn’t quite fit the opening. I did my fair share of cussing like a sailor, and I may have thrown a thing or two before I rednecked it. A sawzall was used to open up the spot for the box to slide in and Wah-Lah! It fit! The box comes with a hefty dust seal, which is a big help in keeping everything clean and free of dust, mud and dirt.
The center console safe installation was much smoother – sort of. Toyota added a hole in the bottom of the stock console and while installing the Tuffy safe, I might have dropped the bolt that is used to secure the lid prop. This prop keeps the lid open when you are using it. It’s not a big deal, as I can replace that bolt and the door seems to stay open for me anyway, but it doesn’t look the greatest so I should get the bolt and fix it.
Why you should buy them
Simply put, these are serious security products made to keep your stuff safe in your vehicle. They are very well made and durable, and for what you are getting, the costs are really quite good. I find that I use them quite a bit when I am trail riding or just doing normal driving around town. There are a wide range of products available for a lot of different vehicles and the company is well known for quality. Check them out at www.tuffyproducts.com.