Gotta admit, the hidden battery idea sounds clever at first glance, but honestly...I tried something similar once and ended up forgetting exactly which plant I hid it behind. Picture me at midnight, flashlight in hand, rummaging through bushes like some sketchy burglar—neighbors probably thought I'd lost my mind. Now I just keep a spare battery in the glovebox of my car instead. Less suspicious, fewer spider encounters, and way easier to remember.
Haha, that's totally relatable—I've been there myself. Ever tried hiding a spare key under a rock that looks exactly like every other rock in your yard? Yeah, not my brightest moment either. But keeping it in the glovebox sounds handy... though, do you ever worry about extreme temperatures affecting battery life? I've heard some batteries can degrade faster in hot or freezing conditions. Maybe it's minimal, but something to consider?
Personally, I ended up installing a little weatherproof lockbox discreetly near the garage door. It's not exactly hidden, but it's subtle enough that no one's ever noticed it (or at least I think they haven't...). Plus, it saves me from midnight spider encounters and suspicious flashlight searches—definitely a win-win in my book.
I've actually wondered about the battery issue myself, especially since I live in a place where summers get brutally hot. From what I've read, extreme temperatures can definitely shorten battery life, but the effect isn't usually drastic unless you're dealing with really prolonged exposure. Still, if your car sits outside all day baking in the sun or freezing in winter, it might be worth checking the battery more often or keeping a spare handy. I mean, batteries are relatively cheap compared to the hassle of getting locked out.
I like your lockbox idea though—sounds practical. I actually considered something similar at first, but being on a tight budget, I didn't want to spend extra if I didn't have to. Instead, I ended up going with a keyless entry system that runs on AA batteries. They're super easy and affordable to replace, and I just swap them out once a year regardless of whether they're drained or not. It's probably overkill, but it gives me peace of mind knowing I'm unlikely to get caught off guard.
Funny story though—when I first installed the keypad, I picked a code that was super easy for me to remember. Turns out it was also super easy for my neighbor's kid to guess when he was randomly messing around with it (lesson learned there...). Now I've got something a bit less obvious, but still memorable enough that I won't forget it at midnight after a long day.
Anyway, back to your lockbox—did you bolt it down or just mount it somewhere discreetly? I'd probably worry too much about someone noticing and trying to pry it open if it's too visible. But then again, maybe that's just me overthinking things...
"Anyway, back to your lockbox—did you bolt it down or just mount it somewhere discreetly?"
I was wondering the same thing. I've seen a few mounted discreetly behind porch railings or tucked under steps, but honestly, I'd probably bolt mine down just for peace of mind. Your keypad story made me laugh though... reminds me of when I first installed mine and accidentally locked myself out testing it. Lesson learned: always keep a backup handy, even with keyless entry.
I went with bolting mine down too. Initially, I thought just hiding it discreetly would be enough, but after catching someone snooping around our porch late one night, I figured better safe than sorry. It's surprising how quickly someone can spot even the most cleverly hidden lockboxes if they're determined enough.
Your keypad mishap made me chuckle because I've definitely been there. When I first installed ours, I was so excited to test it out that I didn't even think to have a backup handy. Of course, I punched in the wrong code three times and ended up locked out, standing awkwardly on my own doorstep. Luckily, the garage door was unlocked, or I would've had to call my neighbor for help—talk about embarrassing.
Anyway, lesson learned. Always good to have a backup plan, even with keyless entry setups.
