Tuffy "Tactical Gear Security Drawer" . . . carpet color opinions wanted

[StevenFromTexas]

Tuffy "Tactical Gear Security Drawer"

After spending waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time checking into Tahoe cargo storage solutions, I've settled on a Tuffy Security Products Chevy Tahoe Tactical Gear Security Drawer ( http://www.tuffyproducts.com/p-309-...-hummer-h1-tactical-gear-security-drawer.aspx ). I think I've read about every post on about every product out there on the Internet, and I've settled on the Tuffy brand. Expensive? Yes, but it appears to be a great product from what I've been able to determine, and it will fit my exact needs/wants/expectations. I already contacted Tuffy, and plan to place my order on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. (By the way, the company is planning a pretty good price hike around May 15, 2011, as those commodity price increases are taking a toll on manufacturers of all types of products.)

The only decision I have left is the carpet color. I keep going around in circles between getting the outside, inside, and dividers carpeted in black, light gray, or charcoal gray. My 2010 Tahoe LTZ has a light titanium/dark titanium interior, which basically comes down to different shades of gray. The exterior is taupe gray metallic. So, I think any of the three colors would be just fine.

I know black looks great anywhere inside or outside my Tahoe, but it would probably heat things up quicker in the interior of the vehicle.

Light gray would probably not match the carpet or seat colors exactly, but come pretty close to one of the colors, I expect. It would probably be the worst color to deal with as far as cleaning would be concerned. I like light gray, but not enough to be swayed toward that color at this time.

Charcoal gray would probably be the best to deal with as far as cleaning, but I've seen so many shades of charcoal gray that I don't have a clue what shade Tuffy uses. My next door neighbor thinks charcoal gray would be the best color for my Tahoe.

Anyway, feel free to toss out your color preference. I am lost on this last bit of detail.

 

[soulsea]

The charcoal grey sounds fine, but if you prefer black, which I also do, I wouldn't worry too much about heat ... our rear windows/liftgates are pretty well tinted from stock, I can't imagine heat being an issue, at least no more that a Tahoe with a stock black interior.

 

[11Burb]

Did you look at the Truck Vault (even more expensive I think)?

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Did you look at the Truck Vault (even more expensive I think)?

I did look at the TruckVault line ( http://www.truckvault.com/ ), and they seem to make fine units. Husky at one time appeared to make aluminum storage units, but that seems to be a discontinued line for that company.

 

[StevenFromTexas]

The charcoal grey sounds fine, but if you prefer black, which I also do, I wouldn't worry too much about heat ... our rear windows/liftgates are pretty well tinted from stock, I can't imagine heat being an issue, at least no more that a Tahoe with a stock black interior.

O.K., black it is! The outside, inside, and dividers will all be carpeted in black. A very nice lady at Tuffy Security Products said charcoal gray would look great with my Tahoe color scheme, but she said black is what most go with if they get the security drawer carpeted.

After doing an about-face on my initial light gray preference, black and charcoal gray were about split-even choices with anyone I asked that had seen my Tahoe.

Now I'll have a good place to store stuff that I want to keep out of sight, especially when I go fishing. We Texans can never have enough space to store all of our guns.

I'll post pictures after I get it delivered and installed in case some of you decide to spend money on something besides tires and wheels.

 

[2005yukonxl]

why dont ya just ask for a color sample of each one to see how far off? the gray would look good if it matched...but would look horrible if it didnt....the black will look decent as an alternative.

 

[StevenFromTexas]

why dont ya just ask for a color sample of each one to see how far off? the gray would look good if it matched...but would look horrible if it didnt....the black will look decent as an alternative.

I thought about that, but I already have a black open-to-the-view-of-thieves storage unit back where my third-row seats used to be (I removed those seats as soon as I purchased the Tahoe, and have since thrown the seats away ), and I really like the black contrast with the different shades of gray real well.

 

[11Burb]

Did you get the drawer installed? Any pics? How do you like it?

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Did you get the drawer installed? Any pics? How do you like it?

It may be another two to three weeks before it is delivered to me. I had to take my turn in the production line. I promise I'll post pictures so others who are interested in the product can see what it looks like in a Tahoe!

 

[StevenFromTexas]

I received the Tuffy Tactical Gear Security Drawer on Monday, June 6, 2011. Since I was at work, a retired neighbor signed for delivery and checked for any damage -- there was none, as the drawer was placed on a pallet, strapped down, covered with cardboard, plastic wrapped, and a nice foot high highly visible warning attached to the top of the drawer advising to stack NOTHING on top of the pallet -- before letting the driver leave.

I installed the drawer today, but I made two changes to the installation instructions. One, I purchased some 1" high lumber and cut it to fit the bottom of the frame and mounting brackets of the drawer. Two, this allowed me to pull the drawer, which is 12 inches high, about 3/4" farther toward the back of the vehicle so the drawer would not make contact with the backs of the second row bucket seats.

The installation took some time, but I'm done and I am truly impressed with the Tuffy Tactical Gear Security Drawer. I now have a highly functional Tahoe, and lots of space to keep stuff out of sight and locked up securely. Tuffy makes a first-class product, and I wish I had bitten the bullet earlier and made the purchase from them. Two thumbs up to Tuffy, cause that's all the thumbs I've got! And the product is made right here in the United States.

I'm too damned tired to take any pictures right now. Maybe tomorrow, but I'll post something.

 

[Brandon X]

How much did it cost you?

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Pictures and further comments from installation on 06-11-11

The first picture is a view of the drawer from the perspective of a kid.

The second picture is a view of the drawer from the perspective of an adult.

The third picture is a side view of the drawer fully extended.

The fourth picture is a view of the interior of the drawer, and yes, I know I still need to finish cleaning things up, so keep you mouths shut.

The fifth picture is a view looking down at a slight angle on the right side of the front of the drawer overhanging the bottom trim of the rear door frame. The 1" high lumber under the front of the drawer frame isn't flush with the drawer frame's front, and that allows the drawer to be pulled forward enough to keep from making slight contact with the backs of the second row bucket seats. If I had purchased a drawer with less than 12" height, I wouldn't have had to worry about the drawer contacting the backs of the second row bucket seats at all. I knew before I made my purchase that I was pushing my luck, so I was expecting trouble when I received the drawer. But I wanted the 12" to increase my storage space area.

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Pictures and further comments from installation on 06-11-11

The last picture from my installation has a Rola 59001 M.O.V.E. Rigid-Based Vehicle Interior Organizer sitting on top of the drawer that can be purchased from Amazon.com for a really good price. The Rola organizer can be placed as shown in the picture, or placed to run from the front of the drawer toward the rear of a second row seat. Two of the organizers could be used if needed, and they provide a spot to set grocery items, for instance. The organizers also fold flat.

Dang, I've got my Tahoe set up to be useful!

 

[Brandon X]

How much did it cost you?

...

 

[StevenFromTexas]

...

I sent a "Visitor Message" to you through this website. I don't want to be quoting prices on the website, but I'll be glad to give you further information on my specific purchase.

 

[Brandon X]

I can't leave you a visitor message or PM you but my email is: [email protected]

Thanks.

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Email sent your way, Brandon. If you want to delete your gmail address above, do so in an effort to keep the spammers away.

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Picture of drawer with added divider and stuff in drawer

I added one more long divider to the Tuffy drawer since I first installed it on 06-11-11. You can install the dividers however best suits your needs. This picture shows what I will normally carry in the Tahoe.

I rotated the Rola 59001 M.O.V.E. Rigid-Based Vehicle Interior Organizer sitting on top of the Tuffy drawer to show a different perspective, and if I wish, I could put in two more same-size Rola organizers to the right of the one in the picture. I did order a second one from Amazon.com, as it will come in handy when grocery shopping. I don't see where I would have much use for a third one.

The back two compartments are loaded up with a jack, 12-volt tire inflator, tire patch kit, battery cable kit, fire extinguisher, Pelican flashlight, and numerous different sizes of extremely sturdy Craftsman Permanex storage boxes (models 65117, 65119, and 65284) into which quite a few tools are stored. The rear compartment is larger than it looks, since the drawer can't be pulled all the way out.

I have nothing placed in the five smaller compartments nearest the handle, and nothing in the compartment just behind the five smaller compartments. I still have lots of room to secure other items when I go fishing, for instance.

I am 100% satisfied with the Tuffy "Tactical Gear Security Drawer" from a construction and security point of view, and the drawer makes my Tahoe an extremely useful vehicle. Heck, when I ordered the Tahoe last year, I never had any intention of having more than myself and one other person in it at any time anyway. If I need to, there's still those two second row seats that have never had anyone sit on them.

 

[StevenFromTexas]

Since I purchased a Tuffy drawer for my 2010 Chevy Tahoe LTZ, it appears that the dimensions of the drawer have changed. When I ordered mine, the dimensions were 47.25" wide by 40.75" long by 12" high. The dimensions appear now to be 47.00" wide by 41.00" long by 12" high. If Tuffy had changed the dimensions to 47.25" wide by 40.00" long by 12" high, there would be no need to lift the drawer as I described in an earlier post. Hum!

Anyway, the Tuffy drawer makes my Tahoe so much more useful to me that I just sometimes stare at it.

 

[AngieS]

Thanks for sharing. This is good info