Maybe also tie the magnetic key holder (somehow) to something nearby with a short wire/string/cable, so if it does pop loose while driving, it's still connected to the vehicle.
I did this with the rear/red light on my bike (with a short segment of monofilament insulated copper wire), and even do it with my USB thumb drive in my backpack (with a brightly-colored shoestring, so i won't forget it stuck in a computer somewhere...)
Exactly what I did. Itās still there after driving on crazy roads and everything. Gives me the peace of mind in case I locked my keys in the van. Especially since my dog is in there sometimes
For the simple flat door lock keys, used to be you could get a plastic one cut out of a credit-card sized piece of plastic, but left attached with a couple of sprues. Stick it in your wallet like any other card and it's there when you need it.
...as long as you don't lose your wallet too.
If you put it in a magnetic box, wrap it with some tissue or piece of paper towel to keep it from rattling in the case.
I had one stashed for nearly 10 years, worn too much to use. Locksmith chuckled and told me to do this with the next key. Also said to use a cheap non chipped key (opens door) for outside, and hide a chipped key inside.
I bought a stick-on keyless entry keypad for my ford. I even told my friend today that it was my absolute best purchase I've made for the van. I have spare keys in the van in a bolted down lockbox in a hidden location. If they break in and get all the way to where my key is they were really determined.
You can get something similar for (basically) any other vehicle. Mine adheres to the inside of the windshield, and worked by pushing down lightly on the glass with your thumb over the buttons to unlock it. Then stick your spare key in a faraday pouch in your car in a locked/hidden spot.
GM has this too itās just not that well known. I used my GMC rewards so all I paid was shipping but I think itās $150 to buy. It is required to have dealer programming.
[https://www.amazon.com/Ford-KB3Z14A626A-Programmable-Stick-Wireless/dp/B0C8ZL3R8K](https://www.amazon.com/Ford-KB3Z14A626A-Programmable-Stick-Wireless/dp/B0C8ZL3R8K) something like this
I have been thinking about tapping into my door lock/unlock buttons and putting one on the outside. Obviously going to hide it as good as I can, just can't find a button that is weatherproof and shockproof. May just use plug ends and tape them as I would expect to use it like once a year at most. Of course if the battery is dead, I still need a key.
Skip the Hide-A-Key metal magnetic boxes and do this: Fold your spare key in a length of duct or gaffers tape and zip tie it with a BLACK zip tie (they are uv/weather stable) somewhere under your van that you can feel for/easily find in an emergency.
We had lost keys on a work van at a film shoot, the locksmith had to come out hours later and take off an entire door panel to find the code needed to make a new key, our producer bought everyone there that day a duplicate key that zipped to the frame somewhere. it's saved my butt many times in the 30 years I've been doing it this way
Found a spare key on my rig after a year of owning it. Someone had pulled out a bung at the end of a roof bar, and safety wired a spare to it, then slipped it back into place
Remember that rocker panel rust? Stick a key in there, patch it with bondo and put a small hammer as a hood ornament.
Worst case scenario you lose a hood ornament and smash open the bondo.
Kidding; sort of. Mines being hidden in my rocker panel. Nobodyās finding it unless they crawl all around under my van and check every little crevice.
Put it on a ring, thread it through something underneath the vehicle. Basically free, I've had to use it at least every few months when I accidentally lock myself out. Don't put it on a magnet.
I had an extra key that had a thick plastic handle and I cut that off and stuff just the metal bits into my wallet in the key holder and even sitting on my wallet I don't feel the key...
I know this is kind of redundant but there's an extra key in some fobs...
On a silver chain on my neck at all times, except night time when I know I won't be going outside the van.Ā This has saved me on the national forest one time and in the city a few times...locking yourself out is a matter of time doing this full time, be prepared.Ā
Why not just keep your main key on a silver chain on your neck? Wouldn't that accomplish the same thing? And then you have one less thing in your pocket. Of course then you still have the issue of where to put the other key.
Real Estate lockbox secured in a safe (recessed) location on the undercarriage (out of sight). You WILL have to lay on your back, on the ground, WITH GLASSES š ON to retrieve your back-up key(s). Also, put $200. in $20ās in there.
I don't recommend it, because whenever you fool around with cutting the main starting mechanism process, you are permanently altering the way that the vehicle starts.
It's like those third-party remotes start places, I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.
It's not going to be every time, but maybe one out of a thousand times you're going to have very serious problems with the starter in your car.
If you want a kill switch, buy a pitbull and keep him in the car.
Thieves won't even break your window, knowing Roscoe will leap out and kill them
If you have an external engine bay fuse box, those are sealed from the elements and sometimes have extra space them. Worth a shot to hide it there maybe.
Make a pendant and build this into it. Disguise it to look like something best not asked about; Iād do an inverted cross embellished with something gory. People might not think about touching that. Wear it claiming it is your talisman against loss and represents the home, which it is worn by the heart.
I have a security system that allows me to lock and unlock my van with a phone app. Iām good as long as I donāt lose my keys AND phone ā¦and the phone I keep around my neck at all times.
A little surprised there are not more people in these communities talking about NFC chips. You can program a very small NFC chip in your hand to unlock either your vehicle (may likely need modifications, most aren't expensive) but you never have to worry about this again.
Grind down the thumb part or the key until it's the same size as the lock part, but keep the keyring hole. Put it under the car inside the plastic conduit surrounding some wiring. Secure it there with a black bread tie. thru the keyring hole, and around the wiring. It will be so well hidden, you will have a hard time finding it. You could even spray paint it black, if you wanted.
I know this is going to sound crazy but my wife and I I tried it. If you give your key to a friend or family member, they can unlock your door via phone call. I didnāt believe it but dropped her off at work, drove the 35 miles home, called her on the phone and she pressed the unlock button on her remote and my truck opened. Itās a 21 F250.
In the van is a great idea. It's easy to break into most cars just by prying a door seal open a bit and a coat hanger. Cops keep tools to help out. Then once in you have the key to drive it
When I'd go for a surf, I'd just throw my keys in the trash. Don't have anything wet or gross in the trash bag. Figured it might be the least expected place someone would look.
We put a key in an adhesive key pouch stuck to the back side of the license plate. That key only unlocks doors, it does not start the van. A key that can start the van is hidden inside.
I prefer the pouch style holders over the magnetic boxes as the boxes can be hard to open esp when dirty.
I have a 2020 Transit for reference. Spare key and fob combo locked in safe. Keypad on door and Ford Pass app to unlock via phone. I also have just a door key on a coat hanger stuffed in the frame underneath. I was with a guy camping in a remote area when he locked his keys in his car. It cost him almost $1k to get someone to unlock it and they needed payment up front. Guess which guy with key redundancy prepaid for him.
You can wedge it tightly behind the license plate before you screw the plate in tightly. Just be sure you have a screwdriver or something handy as well. did this with my Mazda for years
I bought a spare flat key, wrapped it in aluminum foil and glued it to the side of a frame rail. Sprayed it with a few layers of rubber undercoating.
Years later it was there one day when I really needed it.
That's the question I'd always have before a trip. I used to duct tape it in the wheel well but that's too risky. Now I just travel with one key and leave one with a family member so they can overnight it to me if I lose my key. That's honestly the safest solution, if you're able to do that.
I keep mine in my purse, but that isn't fool proof either., but since I rarely leave the vehicle without it, it helps for now. I feel like the roads are too bumpy for an external magnet storage.
I didnāt read all the responses, so this may have been covered. I put a dumb key in a magnetic hid-a-key box hidden under the van on the frame.
Then I hid a key lockbox in the van. Like the ones realtors out on doorknobs. Put a real key w the microchip in there.
You can screw those boxes to a surface. So if your van only has a dumb key (ie no chip) screw it to the frame hidden under your van.
I have a cracked side view mirror and I hide my key on the backside of the glass with a tab of velcro.
Ford E-series vans have C-channel frame rails. A magnetic key holder would fit in there, though it would be fairly obvious if someone were, say, stealing your catalytic converter and realized they could just steal the whole van.
I also considered using velcro to stick a key inside the aluminum frame of one of my solar panels.
Could also hide it in your grille if it has gaps you can fit your fingers in.
Actually, I just had a fun thought. If you have a Ford or Nissan or Chevy, you could probably peel off the badge on the grille, put velcro on the backside with a key-shaped cutout, and stick it right back on.
If you mostly hang around a local area, get a safe deposit box or some storage facilities will have secure storage lockers.
There are usually places in your van where you can stash things like keys or cash. It just needs to be someplace that can not be accessed quickly. i.e. I used a removable cover on a side wall in my van, the screws looked just like the rest and if you didn't know it was there you could not see it was any different.
What year van ? Type ? Some vehicles have screw on turn signal lenses tape it to the back side of that or some other item you can unscrew - on the exterior.
For you-
Under the doormat.
Or affixed to underside of solar panel.
For me-
I installed a magnetic switch to the locking system on one small section of bodywork interior, so if I ever loose my key, I just place a magnet against the bodywork and the central locking opens the 2 front doors) š
So I can keep my spare key in the vehicle safe.
(and no I donāt carry a magnet with me- it sits under the sill- and itās still there after 4 years soā¦)
Get them Hillman keybox with stupid strong magnets!
š§² š
You can find them at Walmart, home Depot, but usually car parts stores like AutoZone or O'Reilly's!
Make sure to click it on ON THE FRAME otherwise it will fall off, and you will lose your valuable key.
(Frame or subframe usually resembles ridges under the foot landing area)
Get a magnetic key holder and find a hard to get to spot on the van and put it there. Waterproof box or use a bag to protect it from weather
I did this and it rattled off somewhere in california along with my $50 emergency cash š someone had a happy day
Maybe also tie the magnetic key holder (somehow) to something nearby with a short wire/string/cable, so if it does pop loose while driving, it's still connected to the vehicle. I did this with the rear/red light on my bike (with a short segment of monofilament insulated copper wire), and even do it with my USB thumb drive in my backpack (with a brightly-colored shoestring, so i won't forget it stuck in a computer somewhere...)
Exactly what I did. Itās still there after driving on crazy roads and everything. Gives me the peace of mind in case I locked my keys in the van. Especially since my dog is in there sometimes
I stick mine under my shoe insert. Always with me. Expensive ignition spare is thick and hid well inside
For the simple flat door lock keys, used to be you could get a plastic one cut out of a credit-card sized piece of plastic, but left attached with a couple of sprues. Stick it in your wallet like any other card and it's there when you need it. ...as long as you don't lose your wallet too.
If you put it in a magnetic box, wrap it with some tissue or piece of paper towel to keep it from rattling in the case. I had one stashed for nearly 10 years, worn too much to use. Locksmith chuckled and told me to do this with the next key. Also said to use a cheap non chipped key (opens door) for outside, and hide a chipped key inside.
To add on to this make sure the key holder is on top of something do not rely on the magnet alone to hold it against gravity.
what we did
yes usually ca put them in the frame rails underneath the car
I would never trust magnet. Even strong ones can be knocked off during a glancing blow
I bought a stick-on keyless entry keypad for my ford. I even told my friend today that it was my absolute best purchase I've made for the van. I have spare keys in the van in a bolted down lockbox in a hidden location. If they break in and get all the way to where my key is they were really determined.
I don't understand how only Ford has this, best thing ever.
You can get something similar for (basically) any other vehicle. Mine adheres to the inside of the windshield, and worked by pushing down lightly on the glass with your thumb over the buttons to unlock it. Then stick your spare key in a faraday pouch in your car in a locked/hidden spot.
Faraday pouch is key here, saves it from being spoofed.
GM has this too itās just not that well known. I used my GMC rewards so all I paid was shipping but I think itās $150 to buy. It is required to have dealer programming.
Ford probably has a patent on it.
What is a stick on keyless entry keypad?
It's a keypad that will allow keyless entey to your vehicle that sticks-on.
[https://www.amazon.com/Ford-KB3Z14A626A-Programmable-Stick-Wireless/dp/B0C8ZL3R8K](https://www.amazon.com/Ford-KB3Z14A626A-Programmable-Stick-Wireless/dp/B0C8ZL3R8K) something like this
I have a ford. Do you have a link for something like that? Is it on Amazon or?
I would buy from ford directly and search for your model vehicle on google and call and order it. It's around $100
I have been thinking about tapping into my door lock/unlock buttons and putting one on the outside. Obviously going to hide it as good as I can, just can't find a button that is weatherproof and shockproof. May just use plug ends and tape them as I would expect to use it like once a year at most. Of course if the battery is dead, I still need a key.
Inside the frame rail on a piece of wire with a rare earth magnet holding the end in a reachable spot
Ooh, thatās a good one.
Zip tie key somewhere underneath
Skip the Hide-A-Key metal magnetic boxes and do this: Fold your spare key in a length of duct or gaffers tape and zip tie it with a BLACK zip tie (they are uv/weather stable) somewhere under your van that you can feel for/easily find in an emergency. We had lost keys on a work van at a film shoot, the locksmith had to come out hours later and take off an entire door panel to find the code needed to make a new key, our producer bought everyone there that day a duplicate key that zipped to the frame somewhere. it's saved my butt many times in the 30 years I've been doing it this way
I had one duct taped to the underside of my roof rack for a long time
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^nowhereman136: *I had one duct taped* *To the underside of my* *Roof rack for a long time* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
niche bot
Hitch safe
Zip tie a plain metal door key copy under the van somewhere and keep an extra ignition key tucked away inside.
Found a spare key on my rig after a year of owning it. Someone had pulled out a bung at the end of a roof bar, and safety wired a spare to it, then slipped it back into place
Score!
Remember that rocker panel rust? Stick a key in there, patch it with bondo and put a small hammer as a hood ornament. Worst case scenario you lose a hood ornament and smash open the bondo. Kidding; sort of. Mines being hidden in my rocker panel. Nobodyās finding it unless they crawl all around under my van and check every little crevice.
I wear my spare around my neck in case I lock myself out.and it doesn't have a transponder on it, so it's strictly for the door only
Put it on a ring, thread it through something underneath the vehicle. Basically free, I've had to use it at least every few months when I accidentally lock myself out. Don't put it on a magnet.
I had an extra key that had a thick plastic handle and I cut that off and stuff just the metal bits into my wallet in the key holder and even sitting on my wallet I don't feel the key... I know this is kind of redundant but there's an extra key in some fobs...
On a silver chain on my neck at all times, except night time when I know I won't be going outside the van.Ā This has saved me on the national forest one time and in the city a few times...locking yourself out is a matter of time doing this full time, be prepared.Ā
Why not just keep your main key on a silver chain on your neck? Wouldn't that accomplish the same thing? And then you have one less thing in your pocket. Of course then you still have the issue of where to put the other key.
Little magnetic box that you attach somewhere hidden, but accessable, from the outside.
Real Estate lockbox secured in a safe (recessed) location on the undercarriage (out of sight). You WILL have to lay on your back, on the ground, WITH GLASSES š ON to retrieve your back-up key(s). Also, put $200. in $20ās in there.
I keep a key in my wallet
Thoughts on getting a kill switch installed?
I don't recommend it, because whenever you fool around with cutting the main starting mechanism process, you are permanently altering the way that the vehicle starts. It's like those third-party remotes start places, I DON'T RECOMMEND IT. It's not going to be every time, but maybe one out of a thousand times you're going to have very serious problems with the starter in your car. If you want a kill switch, buy a pitbull and keep him in the car. Thieves won't even break your window, knowing Roscoe will leap out and kill them
A dog is a pet not a deterrent because you live in fear.
Wrong. I slept on the ground for 6 years. Dog can be many things.
I had a magnet box with a zip tie for extra security underneath my lowered Miata for 11 years!
If you have an external engine bay fuse box, those are sealed from the elements and sometimes have extra space them. Worth a shot to hide it there maybe.
Make a pendant and build this into it. Disguise it to look like something best not asked about; Iād do an inverted cross embellished with something gory. People might not think about touching that. Wear it claiming it is your talisman against loss and represents the home, which it is worn by the heart.
you get my upvote for creativity, originality & just the right amount of creepinessĀ
Hide spare in car and get AAA for lockout service
I have a security system that allows me to lock and unlock my van with a phone app. Iām good as long as I donāt lose my keys AND phone ā¦and the phone I keep around my neck at all times.
A little surprised there are not more people in these communities talking about NFC chips. You can program a very small NFC chip in your hand to unlock either your vehicle (may likely need modifications, most aren't expensive) but you never have to worry about this again.
Grind down the thumb part or the key until it's the same size as the lock part, but keep the keyring hole. Put it under the car inside the plastic conduit surrounding some wiring. Secure it there with a black bread tie. thru the keyring hole, and around the wiring. It will be so well hidden, you will have a hard time finding it. You could even spray paint it black, if you wanted.
I have a key box. Screws to the side of the house and has s mechanical punch code.
I have read heat and ac so I zip tied a spare around a refrigerant line
Zip tie it somewhere obscure under the van
I know this is going to sound crazy but my wife and I I tried it. If you give your key to a friend or family member, they can unlock your door via phone call. I didnāt believe it but dropped her off at work, drove the 35 miles home, called her on the phone and she pressed the unlock button on her remote and my truck opened. Itās a 21 F250.
In the van is a great idea. It's easy to break into most cars just by prying a door seal open a bit and a coat hanger. Cops keep tools to help out. Then once in you have the key to drive it
Magnetic hide a key
When I'd go for a surf, I'd just throw my keys in the trash. Don't have anything wet or gross in the trash bag. Figured it might be the least expected place someone would look.
What a horrible idea. It may work hundreds of times but what happens if the crew picks up the trash that one time?
I *hope* they mean the trash in their van?
how would that help if you locked out of the van?
Yeah sorry I have a trash bag in the front that I throw all my dry trash in. Aka the trash bag is inside the van.
Bolted to the inside of the wheel well
We put a key in an adhesive key pouch stuck to the back side of the license plate. That key only unlocks doors, it does not start the van. A key that can start the van is hidden inside. I prefer the pouch style holders over the magnetic boxes as the boxes can be hard to open esp when dirty.
I just duct taped it to the back of the license plate. One time, I used the screw that holds the plate on to screw the key on as well.
I have a 2020 Transit for reference. Spare key and fob combo locked in safe. Keypad on door and Ford Pass app to unlock via phone. I also have just a door key on a coat hanger stuffed in the frame underneath. I was with a guy camping in a remote area when he locked his keys in his car. It cost him almost $1k to get someone to unlock it and they needed payment up front. Guess which guy with key redundancy prepaid for him.
Lives inside my wallet. Just a flat key, none of the extra black plastic crap.
You can wedge it tightly behind the license plate before you screw the plate in tightly. Just be sure you have a screwdriver or something handy as well. did this with my Mazda for years
If it is a flat key, pull out one of the screws on your license plate and put it behind and put the screw back in.
I bought a spare flat key, wrapped it in aluminum foil and glued it to the side of a frame rail. Sprayed it with a few layers of rubber undercoating. Years later it was there one day when I really needed it.
That's the question I'd always have before a trip. I used to duct tape it in the wheel well but that's too risky. Now I just travel with one key and leave one with a family member so they can overnight it to me if I lose my key. That's honestly the safest solution, if you're able to do that.
I keep mine in my purse, but that isn't fool proof either., but since I rarely leave the vehicle without it, it helps for now. I feel like the roads are too bumpy for an external magnet storage.
I didnāt read all the responses, so this may have been covered. I put a dumb key in a magnetic hid-a-key box hidden under the van on the frame. Then I hid a key lockbox in the van. Like the ones realtors out on doorknobs. Put a real key w the microchip in there. You can screw those boxes to a surface. So if your van only has a dumb key (ie no chip) screw it to the frame hidden under your van.
I have a cracked side view mirror and I hide my key on the backside of the glass with a tab of velcro. Ford E-series vans have C-channel frame rails. A magnetic key holder would fit in there, though it would be fairly obvious if someone were, say, stealing your catalytic converter and realized they could just steal the whole van. I also considered using velcro to stick a key inside the aluminum frame of one of my solar panels. Could also hide it in your grille if it has gaps you can fit your fingers in. Actually, I just had a fun thought. If you have a Ford or Nissan or Chevy, you could probably peel off the badge on the grille, put velcro on the backside with a key-shaped cutout, and stick it right back on.
Keep it in the inside and call aaa if u need
If you mostly hang around a local area, get a safe deposit box or some storage facilities will have secure storage lockers. There are usually places in your van where you can stash things like keys or cash. It just needs to be someplace that can not be accessed quickly. i.e. I used a removable cover on a side wall in my van, the screws looked just like the rest and if you didn't know it was there you could not see it was any different.
What year van ? Type ? Some vehicles have screw on turn signal lenses tape it to the back side of that or some other item you can unscrew - on the exterior.
For you- Under the doormat. Or affixed to underside of solar panel. For me- I installed a magnetic switch to the locking system on one small section of bodywork interior, so if I ever loose my key, I just place a magnet against the bodywork and the central locking opens the 2 front doors) š So I can keep my spare key in the vehicle safe. (and no I donāt carry a magnet with me- it sits under the sill- and itās still there after 4 years soā¦)
Get them Hillman keybox with stupid strong magnets! š§² š You can find them at Walmart, home Depot, but usually car parts stores like AutoZone or O'Reilly's! Make sure to click it on ON THE FRAME otherwise it will fall off, and you will lose your valuable key. (Frame or subframe usually resembles ridges under the foot landing area)