Hi Eugene,

I have one of these between the front seats:

http://www.tuffyproducts.com/consoles/center/typeII.html

I still need to bolt it to the van though.

I'm in Mtn View if you want to take a look sometime.

Joel

On 7/10/06, Eugene Chen <eugene@amanda.com> wrote:
>
> Hi all -
>
> We're planning to take a long trip (well moving for about a year) from San
> Francisco down to Oaxaca, Mexico, mostly down the Pacific route, but
> possibly cutting through Mexico city to save a little time.
>
> I'm very psyched for the trip, but my one paranoia is security in the car
> as
> we'll be moving lots of valuables. So I've been trying to think of ways to
> maximize the security of the Vanagon.
>
> So far, I have a Club and am planning to install an alarm system with a
> big
> obnoxious red light. I'm going to keep the curtains on most of the time,
> hoping that doesn't attract more attention and keep the van garaged
> whenver
> possible.
>
> The other idea I had was to install cabinet locks on the two side cabinets
> and a large hinge lock on the under-seat storage. The underseat storage
> seems the most secure, as the seat is a bit more durable and there is some
> chance that thieves wouldn't notice it (although the lock itself will draw
> some attention). I may put hinge locks in two positions: for when the seat
> is up and for when the seat is folded down.
>
> A few people have commented that cabinet locks are not much of a deterrent
> as anyone who wants to break in could get pry the particle board doors
> with
> a screwdriver; one person commented that I'd just end up with smashed up
> cabinets. My feeling though is that every little bit of deterrent helps.
>
> A buddy suggested having a lockbox welded somehow in the back, but it'd
> have
> to be rigged somehow to still allow engine access. He also suggested a
> locking bar to go across the front of the cabinet doors, but that just
> sounds like an ugly shame.
>
> Any other opinions, experiences, or mods?
>
> I'm in love with my new van and now I don't want anything to happen to
> her!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Eugene
> '85 Westfalia and goin' to Mexico
>