HitchSafe Key Vault HS7000

I took a leap of faith buying this based on its mixed reviews, and I'm extremely glad I did - this thing's awesome. It's a bummer that some people have had bad experiences with it, and I'm surprised they did; this is a sturdy, well-made little safe, FAR better than the plastic magnetized compartments you stick under your car, both in quality and general security (most people know to at least check underneath the car for a key safe, and once you see it - the key is yours). Most people's trouble with it seemed to be in the fit, and I did notice that the HitchSafe came with foam seals (the seal sits between the safe's lip and your hitch) of different thicknesses - perhaps they weren't included before, and that was the problem. I haven't had any trouble at all - it's tough, fits well in my standard hitch, and the cover is a great touch, both protecting the lock from the elements and making the safe invisible to anyone walking by. I have sixty bucks, a credit card, and a spare key stored in it, and there's still a little room for something small - a key fob pill bottle or something similar. After seeing some reviews that said the safe wasn't waterproof, I've stuck everything in a little plastic baggie, but after rain, snow, and slush I still haven't noticed moisture in the compartment. I've had it mounted for a few months and taken it far from home, and it's been a great relief to know it's there. I know myself - eventually I *will* lock the keys in the car, and instead of rolling around on a muddy road or in gritty urban slush to get at a cracked-plastic box that may or may not have made it through the last several thousand miles of interstate and off-roading, all I'll have to do is whack myself upside the head and crouch down for a sec to open this little sucker. Huzzah!

The Key Vault appears to be well made, with very little plastic. Being concerned about rust (which may or may not be a problem), I put a little bit of Teflon oil on the inside of the two sliding retainers that hold the two pins in, as well as a drop on the two latch points before installing. This way, if it does get some rust, it will have less of a chance of seizing up. Long term instead of oil, I'd probably recommend a small amount of Teflon based grease where the pin contacts the two sliders, as well as on where the sliders contact the inner wall. Since the drawer walls are high, the oil isn't going to come into contact with the contents. I'd probably consider a drop of oil on the spring in the back that pushes the drawer out when the right combination is entered and the lever pulled. I easily changed the combination and had no problems whatsoever installing it. Time will tell if it gets water into the drawer, but so far, it looks decently water resistant. I personally am not worried about water getting in the drawer. As for people being able to tell it is there, the only real way someone can find it is if they examine the hitch pins and notice that it isn't a standard hitch lock, or pull off the dust cover. If someone had to place a spare key on a vehicle, this is the most secure solution for this answer. Of course, a thief who has some power tools can get into it, as well as someone sitting there flipping through 10,000 combinations. If someone is worried that keeping a spare key in this would be a security issue, you can do the following which an acquaintance of mine does: Keep a "dummy" key in the Hitch Safe that will open the door. Then inside the vehicle, use a console or other strongbox with a stout lock store in there a spare key that works in the ignition. This way, for a thief to steal the vehicle, they would have to either break out the Hitch Safe, then try drilling out a heavy steel enclosure for the ignition key, or break the windows and try to get into the console safe. Either way, eventually a thief would prevail, but it will take a lot of time and noise. For all but the most crime-plagued areas, the Hitch Safe appears good enough -- it keeps all but the dedicated thieves with hand/power tools away.

I’ve been using the HitchSafe HS7000 as a place to store a spare key when I’m out running, hiking, or shooting on location, and it’s been a really practical solution. Once installed inside the trailer hitch, it’s completely hidden from view, which feels much more secure than a magnetic key box or hiding a key somewhere on the vehicle. Installation was straightforward, and the combination mechanism is easy to use but still feels secure. I also like that it keeps the key protected from the elements, and there’s enough space inside for a key and small fob, depending on size. One thing to note is that it’s important to make sure your hitch size is compatible and to take a moment to set the combination carefully before regular use. Other than that, it’s been reliable and gives peace of mind knowing I have a backup key accessible when I need it. Overall, it’s a smart, low-profile solution for anyone who spends time outdoors or away from their vehicle and wants a secure way to store a spare key.

Great product. Be careful to order the one with bolts long enough for your receiver.

Purchased for a 2012 Jeep Wrangler. The fit into the hitch was flawless. It had 2 large and 2 small foam spacers to take out any gaps to sit perfectly flush and avoid any rattles. The round pins also had soft foam on them to eliminate any rattling. This allows it to fit just about any depth hitch. 4-digit code is smooth and works well. When you press the button, it springs open. There is a small spring on the inside that performs this. Great design. My only complaint is that the length of the internal storage is not long enough for my Jeep key. There was no way to fit it in. I drilled a large hole in the back of the storage chamber and through the back of the entire mechanism. This allowed the metal part of the key to go through, and it fits perfectly. My fault as I didn't measure the key length when ordering. Only suggestion I have is to make it a smidge longer for capacity for other similar-length keys. It will work fine for any fob style key.