For You Velcro-Obsessed, ARB Drawer, 5.11 Tactical Fans...

[Markuson]

PS. If anyone wonders... my interior is not all Velcro. Only the rear corners, hatch and rear sides below the window sills are Velcro.

Only rear cargo area...with the one exception of the small strip directly above the left, 2nd-row armrest.

Easier to see here...

 

[Markuson]

By the way, did I mention that 5.11 Tactical now has a convenient zipper pouch that fits on the face of the ARB drawers and can be attached by Velcro? (Just thought I would remind the readers of this thread about my OP.)

Ya, their stuff has made it much easier.

If not for 5.11 ‘s growing assortment of hook-based solutions...this whole goofy idea wouldn’t have worked. Items were too hard to find. Just in the last year or two, they’ve released a ton more hook options and they work extremely well. I frankly find molle items less practical because you can’t just pull them off and quickly reattach...so their new hex panels (that allow molle on fully hooked backing) helps that issue. @ethernectar works for 5.11, so maybe we’ll hear from him at LCDC.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Hehe... Except I’ve already taken full advantage of their support got hooked based stuff. It would be far easier for someone to do this stuff compared to a few years ago.

5.11 makes the small piece of hook-backed panel I find most useful on drawers an my little charge station. It’s their $5.99 piece has a slot, and two elastic loops that can also be converted into one bigger loop. But suddenly, 5.11’s has released quite an assortment that open up many options.

About photos—Before you laugh at the vacuum in the photo—Do a week in sandy, windy Baja. I wished I had it then...
I recharge it from an inverter & it uses a wasted spot in the window sill.

Paper towel thing might seem odd, but it’s amazing how handy it is when using the tailgate for food, tinkering etc.

View attachment 1921618

With no second row seats on most trips, this makes for a handy “shelf” for charging. The only Velcro is the strip just above the armrest.

View attachment 1921882

ARB drawer coverings are nearly perfect mates to hook-based stuff.

View attachment 1921621

These hook-based panels make my locked tailgate storage even more secure by making it look non-existent.

View attachment 1921006

Any time I’m standing under my hatch...a ton of quick-grab items are at my fingertips.

View attachment 1921613

With so much outside the drawers I'm most curious what you keep in the drawers?



Tidy setup!

 

[M1911]

Is there a solution to use a combination lock rather than a keyed lock for the ARB drawers? The last thing I want is yet another key to lose. A Simplex pushbutton lock would be perfect for me. Yes, I know Simplex locks aren't terribly secure, but neither are those cheap keyed locks.

 

[Markuson]

Is there a solution to use a combination lock rather than a keyed lock for the ARB drawers? The last thing I want is yet another key to lose. A Simplex pushbutton lock would be perfect for me. Yes, I know Simplex locks aren't terribly secure, but neither are those cheap keyed locks.

The ARB drawer locks are not really secure, and any ARB key opens any and all ARB drawers.

It’s only a mild hassle to defeat when roll-tips are on, as the roll tops only lock by a little lever inside that someone could flip with some needle-noses.

Beyond that...removing the floor top screws gets you in.

I think of ARB locks as “kid-proofing.”
Not theft prevention.

PS. Velcro ain’t “tactical” lol.
It’s a convenient way to attach quick-grab stuff and come in black. Haha (see other special ops goofy rant. Ain’t my fault Velcro looks tacticool! Ha!

 

[T4Runner]

The only ARB lock upgrade I’m aware of is this:

Medeco Lock Set for ARB Drawers

Medeco Lock Set for ARB Drawers (MLS-1)

absolute-wits-end.com

 

[M1911]

Yeah, I’ve seen that one.

 

[Markuson]

The only ARB lock upgrade I’m aware of is this:

Medeco Lock Set for ARB Drawers

Medeco Lock Set for ARB Drawers (MLS-1)

absolute-wits-end.com

Ultimately, ARB drawer contents are just 10 floor-top-screws-per-side away from full top-down access to whatever is in the drawers.

That is enough security to avoid smash and grab quickies...but if a thief has a bit of time, cover and determination...it’s not hard to get in.

 

[M1911]

Yeah, Medeco locks seem like overkill to me. Simplex push button locks would work for me. Not as secure as Medeco but as you pointed out the drawers themselves aren’t terribly secure.

 

[T4Runner]

Ultimately, ARB drawer contents are just 10 floor-top-screws-per-side away from full top-down access to whatever is in the drawers.

That is enough security to avoid smash and grab quickies...but if a thief has a bit of time, cover and determination...it’s not hard to get in.

I concur.