HitchSafe HS7000 Key Vault | Hidden Trailer Hitch Safe for Secure Key Storage | CarShare Turo | Weather Resistant and Durable with 4-Digit Combination Lock for Cars, Trucks, and SUVs

Why I tried the HitchSafe

I lock myself out of vehicles more often than I care to admit, and I spend a lot of time outdoors where carrying a wallet and a key fob isn’t always practical. Magnetic hide-a-keys never inspired confidence, and I don’t love leaving a box hanging off a door window. The HitchSafe offered a cleaner idea: turn the unused 2-inch hitch receiver into a small, hidden lockbox for keys, a bit of cash, and a couple of cards. After several months of real use—commuting, trailheads, beach days, and winter driving—here’s how it held up.

Setup and fit

Installation is fast and tool-free, but it’s not a toss-it-in-and-go affair. The kit includes the steel vault drawer with a 4-digit combination lock, two short retaining bolts, sliding interior bars, a removable rubber cover, and a set of foam gaskets in different thicknesses. The gaskets are important: they let you tune the fit in your specific receiver so the drawer clamps tightly against the hitch and doesn’t rattle.

My process:
- With the drawer open, slide the housing into the 2-inch receiver.
- Choose gasket thickness to take up slack; compressing them a bit is normal.
- Insert the two short bolts through the receiver walls into the vault body.
- Push the internal bars forward to lock those bolts in place.
- Set the combo (quick and intuitive) and snap on the rubber cover—pay attention to the “This side down” mark.

On my truck, using the thinner gaskets gave me a snug, rattle-free fit. If you own a Toyota pickup (2002–2021), plan on the alternate HS7021T hitch bolt set; the standard bolts don’t align correctly on those years. It’s an extra purchase, but once on hand, installation is just as straightforward.

One note on compatibility: this is for standard 2-inch receivers. It won’t fit 1.25-inch hitches, and if your receiver is deeply recessed under the bumper, confirm you’ve got finger clearance to open the rubber cover and rotate the dials comfortably.

Build quality and weather performance

The HitchSafe is a steel drawer with a rust-resistant finish, and the lock mechanism feels well-made—no spongy dial action or sloppy tolerances. The housing and internal rails haven’t loosened or squeaked with use. The rubber cover is the unsung hero: it hides the dials, shields the lock face from grit, and makes the whole setup visually disappear. It’s the difference between “that’s obviously a lockbox” and “just a hitch cover.”

Weather-wise, this is firmly in the “resistant” category, not waterproof. I treated the lock with a dab of silicone or graphite and periodically rinsed road salt off the cover in winter. Inside, I keep a small zip-top bag or desiccant packet around the contents. After heavy rain, slush, and dusty dirt roads, I haven’t found standing water inside, and the lock has stayed smooth. The cover’s rubber can scuff over time; keep an eye on it, and replace it if the rubber separates from the metal base.

Capacity and day-to-day use

The internal space is designed for:
- A key or key fob (a large fob fits, but check yours—some are chunky)
- A couple of cards
- Folded bills

For my routine, I keep a spare fob in a Faraday pouch, a driver’s license, and emergency cash. If your vehicle has keyless entry, using a Faraday bag is essential; otherwise, the fob may still communicate with the car. The vault itself doesn’t block signals, and it shouldn’t be expected to—it’s just steel, not a shielding enclosure.

Access is quick. The combination dials have good feel with gloved hands, and the drawer slides without binding. The unit is easy to remove when you need the hitch for towing; it takes about a minute to reverse the install steps. I usually stash the vault in the cab when towing and put it back afterward.

Security in the real world

No small, externally mounted storage is invincible. This is better thought of as a significant deterrent and a tidy hiding place rather than a high-security safe. That said, compared with underbody magnets or hanging lockboxes, the HitchSafe raises the bar:

• Hidden in plain sight: with the cover on, it looks like a standard hitch plug.
• No single shackle to cut: two internal retaining bars clamp the bolts from inside.
• Combination flexibility: four digits provide plenty of combinations and can be reset.

A dedicated thief with time, tools, and privacy can defeat almost anything. But opportunistic theft is the more realistic threat in parking lots and trailheads, and here the HitchSafe performs well. It doesn’t advertise itself, doesn’t rattle, and doesn’t rely on weak magnets or sheet metal. If you’re storing high-value jewelry or large sums of cash, this isn’t the right category of product; use an interior bolted safe. For keys and IDs, it’s appropriately robust.

Ergonomics and noise

Once fitted with the right gaskets, the vault sits tight. I didn’t experience rattles or squeaks, even on washboard dirt roads. The cover needs to be installed with the correct orientation; it feels a touch loose in hand but takes a deliberate pull to remove. After some months, a tiny smear of silicone on the rubber tabs helped it seat consistently.

Maintenance and longevity

To keep it working smoothly:
- Lube the dials lightly with silicone or graphite.
- Rinse salt and grit off the cover during winter.
- Inspect gaskets and cover periodically; replace the cover if rubber separates.
- Keep contents in a small bag or add a desiccant if you live in a wet climate.

So far, the finish on the drawer has held up well. The only wear item I expect to replace eventually is the rubber cover, which takes the brunt of UV and road grime.

Quirks and limitations

• It’s not waterproof. Treat it like a weather-resistant glovebox. Pack sensitive items accordingly.
• Faraday bag required for keyless fobs. Without one, your car could still be unlocked by relay attacks.
• Toyota pickups (2002–2021) require an alternate bolt set. Plan ahead to avoid a stalled install.
• Towing means removing the vault. Not a big deal, but factor it into your workflow.
• Only for 2-inch receivers. If you have a smaller hitch, this isn’t compatible.

How it compares to alternatives

• Magnetic underbody boxes: quick and cheap, but easy to find and dislodge, and magnets don’t inspire trust on bumpy roads. HitchSafe is a clear upgrade in security and durability.
• Window-hanging lock boxes: solid for temporary use, but very visible and can rattle or scratch. HitchSafe is more discreet and weather-sheltered.
• Interior bolted safes: higher security but more invasive to install and not ideal for quick handoffs or beach days. HitchSafe is about convenience and concealment for small essentials.

What I’d improve

• Offer the Faraday pouch in the box sized to the cavity. It’s a practical necessity for modern fobs.
• Improve the cover’s long-term durability. A more UV-stable rubber or a better bonded interface would go a long way.
• Publish a clear internal dimension guide and a quick compatibility lookup tool for common vehicles and hitches.

Bottom line

The HitchSafe hits a smart balance: discreet, sturdy, and easy to live with. It’s not a bank vault, but it is a meaningful step up from the typical hide-a-key solutions and a tidy way to keep a backup fob and essentials with the vehicle without advertising their presence. Installation is genuinely simple, fit can be tuned with the included gaskets, and day-to-day use is frictionless. If you rely on keyless entry, add a Faraday bag and you’re set.

Recommendation: I recommend the HitchSafe for anyone with a 2-inch hitch who wants a low-profile, weather-resistant place to stash a key, ID, and some cash. It’s particularly useful for outdoor activities, car-sharing handoffs, and peace of mind against lockouts. Just go in knowing it’s weather resistant rather than waterproof, budget for a Faraday pouch, and check whether your truck needs the alternate bolt set.