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Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:51 pm
by Ted
I have a Nissan Cabstar flat bed truck and want to get a toolbox to go on it.
Van Vault (the big yellow boxes) seem popular. How secure are these? Has anyone had problems with people trying to break in to them? Have they succeeded? I want to keep a few tools in there that I would be gutted if they got nicked.
Are there any other makes of box that are better?
(I would have posted this in Tools but it doesn't work IME.
Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:10 pm
by lutonlagerlout
they are secure enough for the daytime when you are working nearby but nightime is a different matter ted
as someone who has had 3 vans stripped of tools i know.
there is not a padlock on the market that is grinder proof,and the little bastards use battery angle grinders now
my missus hates seeing stihl saws and breakers in the lobby every night but after losing so much (uninsured) i wont take any more chances,its a drag bringing all the power tools in every night,but while idiots buy stolen second hand gear there will always be a market
cheers LLL
Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:23 pm
by Ted
The Van Vault has holes on the sides - sort of handles which are only of use when you are lifting the box onto the truck to fit it - so a waste of time IMO.
I really want to keep a breaker and a kango in there - as the breaker is so heavy it is a pain bringing it in at night.
Alternatively, I was thinking of making a chest to mount on the chassis on the other side from the fuel tank beneath the flatbed, but if a thief has a portable angle grinder I am going to struggle to make it thief proof.
Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 11:41 pm
by lutonlagerlout
i had to secure a compressor one night and paid £50 for a padlock but the guy said although its bolt cropper proof its not grinder proof only resistent== waste of time then
i have my cordless house alarm connected to the van so if anyone gets in it goes off ,but they can be fast
LLL
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 6:07 pm
by bkdavies86
If you want something that bad they will pinch it now days so whatever option you go with its not going to be 100% safe
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:03 pm
by Ted
I guess it is difficult to make anything grinder proof.
They shouldn't make cordless grinders! They can't be that good anyway, can they?
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:14 pm
by dig dug dan
My mate has a cabstar and he has a van vault bolted on his chassis. He caught someone cutting his locks on the toolbox on the back of the van, and has now done something to make them inaccessable to a grinder/boltcutters.
I beleive tipmaster make special toolboxes for the cabstar, and i think you can buy through a nissan dealer also.
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:27 pm
by Ted
Thanks DDD
I will look into that box for Cabstars through dealers.
Unfortunately I can't see how a van vault would fit on the chassis, so I was going to make my own one. A van vault would fit on but wouldn't open very well is my thoughts.
Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:55 pm
by Stuarty
We run around in fully closed vans and trailers. Alot of kit got stolen over the years from the back of the open back vans. Trailers can take some weight too mind you, can stick 2.6 ton on the biggest one. Only issues regarding that is when the driver passed their test, parking, and how good you are at reversing :p
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:22 am
by Ted
I have considered trailers but they are a pain in London and big cities and thieves quite like a decent trailer too.
Cabstars are excellent trucks as they are so narrow and mine seems to carry two tonnes no problem.
Good trailers are quite pricey too. I actually considered an old horsebox trailer once. You can pick up an old Rice one for a few hundred quid and it should carry at least a tonne, but I decided against it as it would make me look like a real cowboy!
If I only worked in the countryside or small towns I would probably get one though (a trailer, not a horsebox trailer).
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:35 am
by dig dug dan
Cabstars are excellent trucks as they are so narrow and mine seems to carry two tonnes no problem.
I agree Ted. I have a cabstar double cab, and keep all my tools in the rear of the cab, having folded up the seats.
That way, I don't lose and of my cargo length to a tool box, I can tip without taking it off, and I can be insured if the tools are stolen!
Mine only has a legal payload of about 1.2tonnes, but I always carry about 2tonnes also! sometimes the tipper wont lift it though 
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:44 pm
by Ted
A Cabstar with double cab and tipper is what I want!
Hard to find on the second hand market though.
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:36 pm
by lutonlagerlout
and I can be insured if the tools are stolen!
i think you will find you have to insure power tools individually dan no matter where they are kept
i never got a penny for my makita breaker,stihl saw,and hilt drill last time
best to check
cheers tony
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:03 pm
by dig dug dan
A Cabstar with double cab and tipper is what I want!
Hard to find on the second hand market though.
I brought a new one last year, and I keep mine 4 years and then trade them in.
There is a new cabstar coming out in January which will mean cheaper old shape ones!
.i think you will find you have to insure power tools individually dan no matter where they are kept
Try the NFU for insurance. My tools are not covered on the van insurance, but under my business combines policy, which will cover them for theft