Idea for trailcam box

[razorsharptokill]

I just picked up a Moultrie I40 and like all the reviews say, the mounting system is weak. well I'm not going to give my stuff up to some thief w/o a fight so I got my wheels a turning.

I'm in munitions in the Air National Guard and have been in the military for almost 18 years. One thing I've seen a lot of is ammo cans. I saw one in my garage and "DING!" That's it! Moultrie makes one for $50.00 but I knew I could do better.

I'll take some pics throughout the process to show how it goes if anyone is interested. I plan on using the can that is 11" x 7". I plan on securing it by lag bolting through the sheet metal on the tree side into the tree as well as having a chain and padlock that keeps the can closed and wraps around the tree also.

[Guru]

definitely interested...dad has a bunch of ammo boxes....take lots of pix...I agree on the mounting system

[razorsharptokill]

The square is what will be cut out to allow the camera its full field of view. It will also allow me to drive the lag bolts into the tree with a ratchet and extension.
  This is how it fits inside. I plan on using some foam cut to fit under and behind the camera so that it is positioned upright inside the box.

[madness522]

outstanding idea!!

[razorsharptokill]

Been thinking about this. The problem is this... If there is an exposed chain and/or lock, these can be defeated with bolt cutters. Just cut the lock, open the can and get the camera. Anyone see a way of preventing this? As it stands now it may be bear resisitant but I think it is no where near theft proof. If there is such a thing.

[Tom Anderson]

They may not steal it, but they'll still poke the lens out with their knife.  Or shoot it...

[doeboy]

Anybody can steal it if they want it bad enough. We use cudde backs and buyt he bear box they sell and modify them. We weld all seems shut so less water gets in. We add large fender washers over the wholes inside where the mounting bolts go so they cant just rip the metal. We use 3/8" X 3" lag bolts into the tree so we make sure were throught the bark. We weld drip covers over the lens and lock areas to protect the lock and lens of the camera.i install the round "hockey puck" locks they use onthe back of work vans so it can not be cut off. Can you tell i'm from New Jersey? i had 2.....2-500$ cam tracker cameras stolen before i got smart and started with the cudde backs.

[DRR324]

I have the same camera, and know someone will steal it someday... no bears in my area so the box isn't really needed.  I did however have to modify my mount- after breaking off one of the strap tabs trying to tighten too much.
So- my new mounting system (no pics)..
I sharpened the adjustment knob to bite the tree better, took the strap and melted a small hole through it near the sewed (sp) end clasp, and put the adjustment knob through the hole.  Basically, my camera strap is now at the top of the camera.  Then I purchased a small eye lag bolt, put a small hex screw in the threaded hole in the bottom of the case- wrapped the end of the screw with black tape to fit snug in the eye of the lag.
SO- if your still with me,  I screw the lag into the tree until the bottom of the camera is snug, set the taped screw into the lag eye, then strap the top of camera to the tree....
I can still adjust alignment with the knob- but the bottom is now secured!
Whew- thats was something to describe- should just stop out and take a pic of the thing eh?

[BobW]

What the manufacturers need to do is the same thing they do with removable car strereos, radar detectors, and the like.  Need programming that requires input of a user determined code upon power up.  That way they are "useless" if taken.  Yeah, some tech junkie will break the software engineering and that too will eventually be defeated....

As to vandals, not sure what can be done.  The ammo can boxes are a deterrant.  Just like locks on your houses, it slows down the less determined.

Keep the ideas going guys!

[razorsharptokill]

Yeah that's a good idea. Most manufacturers probably don't because you'll have to come buy another one if yours is unrecoverable. It would be nice if we could track them down with a hidden GPS transmitter.

Oh well, even ATM's get stolen some times. Like mentioned above, it may keep the honest honest if it isn't just straped to the tree and they have to work for it.

[razorsharptokill]

Got this done today. Pad lock goes through lid and side of can when the lid is closed. The hole is visible at bottom left corner.

  What it looks like with camera in side. I'm going with a cable threaded through a chain coming out of the can, around the tree and back into the box. Bottom line though is if they cut the outer lock they can still twist and break the lame plastic parts on the back of the camera. This is more of deterent than anything I guess. It would work well for bears though I would think.

[razorsharptokill]

Well put my camera up this morning. It was a study in frustration. First my lag bolts both snapped off inside the tree before I got them snugged up. Luckily I had brought a tiedown strap so I secured the can with it and proceeded to secure my camera inside the can with the chain and cable. The threading the cable through the chain did NOT work. Chain bunched up and was a pain. I still used both of them around the tree and secured them together inside the can with a padlock. I then closed the lid and secured with the other padlock. Now we wait.....

[Gehrke145]

Had a buddy do the same thing! they aren't getting it without a chainsaw

[razorsharptokill]

BTW.. the chain and cable go around the tree too.

[Tree Killer]

A friend has been making me boxes for my Cuddebacks. The padlock is concealed inside a box on the left side of the door to keep it inaccessible with hacksaw and boltcutters.

The box itself is lag bolted to the tree.

They're not totally foolproof, but they keep honest people honest.

 

[1/4 away]

I have a shackle protected padlock like the one in this link that I use on my locking camera bracket for my Moultrie.
 http://www.1st-in-padlocks.com/187-titanium-series-shrouded-padlock-p-195.html?manufacturers_id=5  
Here's a similar looking bracket to the one I use, except mine fits tighter to the camera at the top & bottom and is painted brown. It's made out of 3/16 inch steel with a steel locking bar.
 

[razorsharptokill]

That looks much easier to get the camera into and out of than mine!

Once I get the can lag bolted into the tree it will be easier for me to check the camera, swap memory cards etc..