Has anyone used the keypod keysafe or similar, mate had his keys nicked from under his car recently.

Are they user friendly and well made ?

merry xmas

Yup. I have one. Works well and saves you having to worry about keeping your keys with you. Its very well made and surprisingly heavy. I wasn't quite expecting it to be as rebust as it is. It also has enough space for my Jeep key and keyring.

The alternative is one that goes inside you towbar but the downside with that is you have to remove your towbar and mine is locked onto the rear so it would be a mission to remove it just for the times I go kiting. At least this one can attach to the front recovery hooks (on most cars) or to one of the holes on the towbar.

I can take some pictures of the setup this evening if you want, but I think its well worth it.

I just got a beach key cut that doesnt start my car but opens the door.

That way I take it on the water and lock my keys in the car.

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bjw said...

I just got a beach key cut that doesnt start my car but opens the door.

That way I take it on the water and lock my keys in the car.

Does it turn on your alarm/imobiliser and then don't you risk leaving your key inside the car which someone could steal if they break the window?

Its one of the reasons I didn't go that way but I didn't research it much because the cost of the key and the risks were not worth the $70 it cost for the keypod.

i got one after i had my car g stolen when kitin - 1500 dollars later - when i got it back - 70 bucks is a deal
bruce

I've got a Surflock. Works fine. So far no one has stolen my car from the beach.

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KIT33R said...

I've got a Surflock. Works fine. So far no one has stolen my car from the beach.

Whats your combination Graeme??

Don't bother, Ive got nothing worth stealing. You can have my old budgies if you like

Okay I'll write to Santa (aka Laurie), here goes,

Dear Santa, I would really really like to get a Keypod for xmas, this year I've been a very good, good, fairly good, sometimes good boy, nuh, to tell you the truth I've been horrid, but can I still have one ?

Santa knows all! - no keypod for you!

Whether they are any good, you can read my story on the shop page - I thought they were a bit bogus, but after using one, I'm sold on the value.

Just down the beach the other day I saw a guy put the keys to his $40,000 black maloo ute under the front wheel arch, and then some other guy with a $20,000 station wagoon all full of work stuff .. same deal, immobiliser under the wheel arch.

Surprised car thieves don't go down to beach car parks more often, I reckon you could "drive away" over 5 cars every day, without fail.

This will sound tight fellas but ... got a piece of pipe. Flattened one end completely and flattened rest of pipe so that key can slide in. Drilled hole through open end. I put my key in and lock it to safety chain hole on tow bar with a $15 combination lock. Works fine. Would not stop a determined thieving mongrel - but then nothing will.

Writing this from airport in Vietnam. Everybody should be over here.

Why not just put your key in your wettie, boardies, whatever you wear with one of those elastic bands you loop them around so you don't loose them? (Leave the electrical bit in the car.) Am I missing something here?

I have used a plain key for locking the door and left the electronic key stashed in the car for the past 15 or years. No problems so far.

If you're worried about you car getting nicked then just hide the key a spot in the car. No thief is going to search through your entire car to find the electronic key. Think about how long it takes to find a key when you misplace it.

The other day I wore boardies (I knew that was a dumb idea) and left the remote key in the pocket. After a 2 hour session it started the car ok. I rinsed it in fresh water and dried it out overnight and it works fine.

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Jax said...

Why not just put your key in your wettie, boardies, whatever you wear with one of those elastic bands you loop them around so you don't loose them? (Leave the electrical bit in the car.) Am I missing something here?

Because some keys have an electronic component that can't be separated!

Some keys are also hard to cut into a standard key that will open but not start the car. Like Subaru keys:

Alas

If you lock it under the wheel arch to you suspension just make sure you get back to your car before sunset, I couldn't make out the code numbers in the dark and had to go looking for a mobile phone

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rloemker said...

Jax said...
Am I missing something here?

Because some keys have an electronic component that can't be separated!

Some keys are also hard to cut into a standard key that will open but not start the car. Like Subaru keys:

Thanks for clearing this up. Clearly I own a cheap(ish) car.

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Jax said...
Thanks for clearing this up. Clearly I own a cheap(ish) car.

No worries. Sometimes the cheaper options are more convenient...

I think 'remote' keys are the pain. You have to replace the batteries occasionally, you can't take em in the surf, and now some use laser technology which can't be copied by your local locksmith/key cutter.

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Some keys are also hard to cut into a standard key that will open but not start the car. Like Subaru keys:

You can get a blank for current model subaru's from subaru, I had one for my Liberty.

I tried to have a kay cut for a new iload without the sensor but they dont make them yet. i carry my tools in my van so its a little scary when you read some of these messages

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robbo1111 said...

Some keys are also hard to cut into a standard key that will open but not start the car. Like Subaru keys:

You can get a blank for current model subaru's from subaru, I had one for my Liberty.

Really. That's awesome. I'll have to look into it. Thanks.

i bought a locking wire mesh thingy to cover my soft panniers on the moto when i am parked.every good motorbike shop has them. least it will give you a bit of time to see them buggering around trying to cut through it, and you can quickly rush up and stab them in the neck

I got a surf lock and like safer said they are really tough, unless you got really big bolt cutters and a large sledge you're not getting my keys.

And if you do, i think those tools in the beach car park are going to set off alarm bells that your a dirty f***king thief and I hope some one gives you what you what you deserve.

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sleek1 said...

and you can quickly rush up and stab them in the neck

What!!

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rloemker said...

Jax said...

Why not just put your key in your wettie, boardies, whatever you wear with one of those elastic bands you loop them around so you don't loose them? (Leave the electrical bit in the car.) Am I missing something here?

Because some keys have an electronic component that can't be separated!

Some keys are also hard to cut into a standard key that will open but not start the car. Like Subaru keys:

who cares if the electric part breaks? you dont need it anyway. mine still works and ive been surfing with it for 3 years

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dutchy1985 said...

rloemker said...

Jax said...

Why not just put your key in your wettie, boardies, whatever you wear with one of those elastic bands you loop them around so you don't loose them? (Leave the electrical bit in the car.) Am I missing something here?

Because some keys have an electronic component that can't be separated!

Some keys are also hard to cut into a standard key that will open but not start the car. Like Subaru keys:

who cares if the electric part breaks? you dont need it anyway. mine still works and ive been surfing with it for 3 years

Depends on the car. Some don't turn on the immobiliser if you don't use the electronic part.

I have a surflock. They're excellent providing you hook them onto something hidden.
I heard about a guy further down the coast, who just hooked his onto to the driver side door handle! All he found after returning from his session was a smashed lock, and no car.
I reckon the casing can break with a sledge hammer. I normally hook it onto the suspension, as its pretty hard to swing a sledge hammer underneath a car.

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robbo1111 said...

Some keys are also hard to cut into a standard key that will open but not start the car. Like Subaru keys:

You can get a blank for current model subaru's from subaru, I had one for my Liberty.

i went to mr minute and got a key only part cut for my commode. (integrated key) for $30. Then put it in my shorts when I go kiting. Alarm still seems to work - have to lock the car with the key in the old fashioned way. certainly better than leaving the key in the wheel arch.

I would be worried about what insurance might say if the thief gets the key from the wheel arch?

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myusernam said...

i went to mr minute and got a key only part cut for my commode. (integrated key) for $30. Then put it in my shorts when I go kiting. Alarm still seems to work - have to lock the car with the key in the old fashioned way. certainly better than leaving the key in the wheel arch.

I would be worried about what insurance might say if the thief gets the key from the wheel arch?

Insurance relies on something called "Due care and precaution". If you can prove you took due care and precaution when leaving your vehicle, they would have difficulty repudiating a claim. They may try repudiate it anyway, but it is likely they would be forced to pay if it was taken to the ombudsman. For example, if you left your keys in your wheel arch with no lock, they could probably argue you did not exercise due care, but if you had them padlocked there, it would qualify as due care. Its the same as your custom key, if you took a custom key, you could argue that you took due care by having a key cut and ensuring your car was locked.