By Kent · Lock Depot Staff Writer

Where the key box hangs decides which one you buy

People shop for a key box by brand and price. I shop for one by asking a single question: what is it going to hang on? A doorknob, a fence, a hose bib and a trailer tongue are four different answers, and Supra makes a box for each. Pick the wrong shape and the box sits in the truck because nothing on the property will hold it.

Here are five Supra portable boxes we stock, sorted by where they mount. The specs below come from the catalog listings and nothing else.

Cable box: Supra 001948 Stor-A-Key

The Supra 001948 is a yellow cabled key case with a resettable lock. The cable is the point. The listing says the adjustable cable hooks almost anywhere and names the places: a hose bib, a chain link fence, pipes, a bag, a shed, a car or a bike rack.

That makes it the right box when the property has no good knob or shackle point. A vacant lot, a construction trailer, a fenced yard with a gate latch, a pool equipment pad. If you can loop a cable around it, the box goes there. It is also the lowest priced of the five.

Shackle box: Supra 001192

The Supra 001192 is the classic hang-it-on-the-door box. Per the listing it hangs on a doorknob, fence, railing or pipe: open the lid, lift the shackle, hang it up. No tools. It is built of metal with a protective rubber cover, and the catalog says it will never rust.

The listing pitches it for cleaning crews, pool service, household maintenance and vacation rentals, and it says you can change the combination easily and as often as needed. That last part matters more than the hardware. A box that holds one code for three years is a box whose code half the town knows. Reset it after each service provider rotates out.

Over-the-door boxes: Supra 000604 and 001017

These two hang over the top edge of the door instead of on the knob. The listing says they are secured when the door is closed, so the box cannot be lifted off while the door is shut. They share a construction: sturdy metal, protective rubber shield, guaranteed never to rust.

• Supra 000604: combination box. You set the combination using letters, A through Z, and the listing says it takes seconds.
• Supra 001017: pushbutton box, the J-5 style. Push the buttons to open, set the combination in seconds.

The difference is in the hand. Letters are easier to remember as a word, which is also what makes them easier to guess. Buttons are quick with a glove on and do not need light to read. I lean toward the pushbutton box for anything used by a crew working early or late, and the letter box for an owner who will hand the code out by phone.

An over-the-door box needs a door that has a gap at the top for it to hang over. Check the door, and check that the box will not stop the door from closing flat. If it does, use the shackle box on the knob instead.

Auto mount: Supra 001312

The Supra 001312 is the odd one, and it is a good one. The listing calls it a KeySafe Auto, made for motor homes, trailers, and car or truck owners who want to secure a spare key, a boat key, or a bike or ski rack key. It holds up to two conventional keys. It attaches permanently to the frame, a wheel weld, a tow hitch or a trailer tongue, and the package includes four self-tapping screws and a mounting plate.

Permanent is the word to take seriously. This is not a box you move from job to job. Pick the spot first. Somewhere out of sight, on a solid piece of metal, where a screw has something to bite. Then fasten it once.

Side by side

• Cable (001948): hangs on fences, pipes, hose bibs and racks. Resettable lock.
• Shackle (001192): hangs on a knob, fence, railing or pipe. Combination changes easily.
• Over-the-door letter (000604): locked in place when the door is shut. A to Z combination.
• Over-the-door pushbutton (001017): same mount, buttons instead of letters.
• Auto mount (001312): screws on for good. Two conventional keys.

What a key box is not

A key box stores a key. It does not make a door secure. Anyone who learns the code owns the door, and a box on an outside knob tells a passerby that a key is close. Use it for convenience on properties where convenience is the problem: rentals, service access, a spare for a shop truck. Do not put the only key to a high-value space in a box on the front door and call it a security plan.

Three habits keep a key box honest:

1. Change the combination every time a person who knew it leaves the job.
2. Keep a second key somewhere else. A box is one more thing that can jam or freeze.
3. Hang it where it is not the first thing you see from the street.

Before you order

1. The mount point. Knob, fence, pipe, door top or vehicle frame. This picks the model.
2. How many keys. The auto mount holds up to two conventional keys. Check the others against your key size.
3. Who uses it. One owner or a rotating crew. A rotating crew means resetting often, so choose the box that is easiest to reset in the field.
4. Weather. The catalog says the metal boxes are rust-proof. Still, mount the cable box where water drains away from the lock.

Common questions

Can I change the combination myself?

Yes. The listings for the 001192, 000604 and 001017 describe setting the combination in the field, in seconds. The 001948 has a resettable lock.

Which box works on a fence?

The cable box, 001948, and the shackle box, 001192, are both listed for fences.

Can the over-the-door box be lifted off while the door is shut?

The listing says it is secured when the door is closed.

Can I move the auto mount box between vehicles?

It is described as a permanent mount, so plan on fastening it once.

More boxes and cabinets are on our Supra page. Tell us where the box will hang and how many people will use it, and we will point you to the right one. For a wall-mounted option, read our wall key box comparison.