OK I have gotten my safe money saved up and I was looking at a 40x60x24. The only bad thing about a safe this big, has to go into the garage. Now I don't mind storing my guns out in the garage, because this baby will be bolted to the concrete floor. I will have a humidifier rod in it also. My other option would be to buy a 30x60x22 and this I can put in my house. What are the negatives to storing your guns in the garage if any? Rick
Safe in the Garage Is this a good Idea
- Thread starter rickyb
- Start date
KAG
New member
Is your garage heated? For me it would be the constant temp changes and humidity that I would be concerned about condensation forming over time. I have basically the same size safe you are looking at. It is a heavy beast. It took a while but we able to get it in the house then we used several of the large disk shaped slider pads under it to move it around once in the house. We put it in our walk out basement and now that its there, there it will stay.
sharkathmi
New member
You might wunna consider placing it on some steel or aluminum discs or something similar.
Wind can blow rain water under my garage door seals and put a little water on the floor near the doors.
Having the safe up off the floor would prevent water damage.
Just a thought...
Wind can blow rain water under my garage door seals and put a little water on the floor near the doors.
Having the safe up off the floor would prevent water damage.
Just a thought...
I would want it in the house if at all possible. If for no other reason but peace of mind. Mine is in my reloading room in the basement (concrete block). Still on the skid it was delivered on. Any house fire will be above it.
Basement temp. in reloading room is a constant 62deg and with a golden rod in the safe it stays at 64deg.
I think your garage would be an inferno if on fire!
Basement temp. in reloading room is a constant 62deg and with a golden rod in the safe it stays at 64deg.
I think your garage would be an inferno if on fire!
tripod3
New member
Some good ideas, I would want an air gap under it or at least drain holes in the rubber. Have seen a few draw moisture from nowhere and rust underneath, even in a heated building.
Also would make sure those bolts truly have holding power.
Several safes have been ripped out of the garage locally and hauled off whole/loaded. Always sad to hear..
Bigger is always better.
Also would make sure those bolts truly have holding power.
Several safes have been ripped out of the garage locally and hauled off whole/loaded. Always sad to hear..
Bigger is always better.
NM Leon
New member
Just a couple of thoughts.
Thieves will have an easier time of it if it's in the garage. They can/have/will just wrap a chain around the safe, attach it to a truck, and pull it out. (A little) more difficult if it's inside the house.
Code requires a fire rated wall between an attached garage and the house, because most "significant" fires start/burn in the garage. A fire in a garage will usually burn much hotter/quicker than one in the house because of the accelerants present (gasoline/fuel/oil/paint/etc in vehicles or cans etc).
Not saying it's a bad idea, just points to consider.
Thieves will have an easier time of it if it's in the garage. They can/have/will just wrap a chain around the safe, attach it to a truck, and pull it out. (A little) more difficult if it's inside the house.
Code requires a fire rated wall between an attached garage and the house, because most "significant" fires start/burn in the garage. A fire in a garage will usually burn much hotter/quicker than one in the house because of the accelerants present (gasoline/fuel/oil/paint/etc in vehicles or cans etc).
Not saying it's a bad idea, just points to consider.
nmleon has some great points.I too have heard of guys backing thru the garage door,(and picture windows),wrapping it with chains and driving off
I had mine in the garage,but I would always put something in front of it.Didn't like the neighbors to see it sitting there if the door was open.
Another thing is if you put the safe up on a pad or such,it can be moved easier,for whoever
So put it to the side,so it can't be seen from outside,if you raise it for water,pour a pad so you can still bolt it directly to the concrete,de-humidify it,and if you are worried about a fire,put a sprinkler head above it.
A salesman told me, the only complaint he has had with safes was the customer didn't buy a big enough one.
I had mine in the garage,but I would always put something in front of it.Didn't like the neighbors to see it sitting there if the door was open.
Another thing is if you put the safe up on a pad or such,it can be moved easier,for whoever
So put it to the side,so it can't be seen from outside,if you raise it for water,pour a pad so you can still bolt it directly to the concrete,de-humidify it,and if you are worried about a fire,put a sprinkler head above it.
A salesman told me, the only complaint he has had with safes was the customer didn't buy a big enough one.
muskrat30
New member
I'd worry some about slightly easier theft & wide temp swings. The safe would dampen the temp variations some. I get some good condensation in the garage when things are cold soaked & there is a rapid warm-up. That's especially true with very humid air.
Depending on how much room you have I'd try to go inside. They cost more per size but a Zanotti safe comes in large parts(sides,floor, & top) then you set it up on site. Once together it's about as secure as the rest. Sorry but I don't get to hung up on the fire ratings. All safes will provide some protection. Much of the damage would be from acidic smoke, & contaminated water runoff. The raging fire that totals the house is a lower probability for most locations.
Depending on how much room you have I'd try to go inside. They cost more per size but a Zanotti safe comes in large parts(sides,floor, & top) then you set it up on site. Once together it's about as secure as the rest. Sorry but I don't get to hung up on the fire ratings. All safes will provide some protection. Much of the damage would be from acidic smoke, & contaminated water runoff. The raging fire that totals the house is a lower probability for most locations.
NM Leon
New member
With 4 safes overflowing I decided that I have far too many guns to keep in gun safes, I eliminated the safe(s) and turned a 2nd story spare bedroom into my "gunroom", putting an external steel deadlocked "fire door" on it.
The (still usable with a Murphy bed) bedroom became my reloading/gunsmithing shop, and the room's walk-in closet (with another external steel "fire door") became my gunsafe.
External steel doors and hardware that will fit into your existing frames are pretty cheap at Lowes and Builders Square.
Not a complete solution as a thief could still go through walls, but you are never going to defeat a determined thief, the best you can do is make it difficult for him.
Fire is (or should be) covered by insurance.
The (still usable with a Murphy bed) bedroom became my reloading/gunsmithing shop, and the room's walk-in closet (with another external steel "fire door") became my gunsafe.
External steel doors and hardware that will fit into your existing frames are pretty cheap at Lowes and Builders Square.
Not a complete solution as a thief could still go through walls, but you are never going to defeat a determined thief, the best you can do is make it difficult for him.
Fire is (or should be) covered by insurance.
OldTurtle
Moderator - Deceased
Rick, Since you live in Little Rock, and while you may get some Winter ice storms, your temperature swings are not that great as the ones up North...I think if I were going to "have" to put it in the garage, I'd seriously think about building some sort of a false wall to shield it from general view...as well as providing somewhat of a protective shield in the case of a fire...Not knowing the exact lay out, it may take some imagination..
Obviously, a basement would be better, if you have the capability of getting one installed there, but I know quite a few houses have been built on slabs and it's not an option..
You might want to consider checking at one of the local hardware stores and see if they carry some of the weight rated hard rubber wheels... Take them out of the mounting hardware and attach them to the bottom of the safe, on their side, where the mounting bolts will be going into the floor and run the bolts through the center of the wheels to hold the safe up, off the floor, but still allow it to be bolted securely down...
They can be had in different thicknesses and weight factors..It will help keep moisture from building up under the safe and allow some air circulation if needed...
Obviously, a basement would be better, if you have the capability of getting one installed there, but I know quite a few houses have been built on slabs and it's not an option..
You might want to consider checking at one of the local hardware stores and see if they carry some of the weight rated hard rubber wheels... Take them out of the mounting hardware and attach them to the bottom of the safe, on their side, where the mounting bolts will be going into the floor and run the bolts through the center of the wheels to hold the safe up, off the floor, but still allow it to be bolted securely down...
They can be had in different thicknesses and weight factors..It will help keep moisture from building up under the safe and allow some air circulation if needed...
Powerfisher
New member
I have four gun safes and 3 are inside and only one is out in my ManCave. It has the dehumidifier rod in it and the rifles/shotguns/MLs that are in that one are my less used and less expencive ones. Its been three years and never had a problem. I live in Tahoe and it gets super cold and humid in the winter. I dont have the heat on unless I am out in the cold doing reloading, cleaning or fly tieing. No issues.
Bill B.
New member
Rickyb,
I live about 20-30 minutes northeast of you and have had a safe in my garage for over two years now. With a golden rod inside I have had no problems.
Mine is anchored to the slab in a corner of the garage. As much as I would have liked it to be in the house it just didn't have a home in there. My wife rejoiced when the oak gun cabinet left the bedroom. However, she didn't notice that I traded an oak ten gun cabinet for a 24 gun safe.
Now, two years down the road I have room for maybe three more long guns and the safe will be full.
I live about 20-30 minutes northeast of you and have had a safe in my garage for over two years now. With a golden rod inside I have had no problems.
Mine is anchored to the slab in a corner of the garage. As much as I would have liked it to be in the house it just didn't have a home in there. My wife rejoiced when the oak gun cabinet left the bedroom. However, she didn't notice that I traded an oak ten gun cabinet for a 24 gun safe.
Now, two years down the road I have room for maybe three more long guns and the safe will be full.
Originally Posted By: sharkathmiYou might wunna consider placing it on some steel or aluminum discs or something similar.
Wind can blow rain water under my garage door seals and put a little water on the floor near the doors.
Having the safe up off the floor would prevent water damage.
Just a thought...
Or raise it off the floor and bolt it to the wall studs.
Wind can blow rain water under my garage door seals and put a little water on the floor near the doors.
Having the safe up off the floor would prevent water damage.
Just a thought...
Or raise it off the floor and bolt it to the wall studs.
Retooferab
New member
It's not that hard to get it in the house. just buy some dowel rods and it will roll across the floor. I have a 72x48x28 it went right in.