I haven’t found the perfect place to keep my pistol in my truck. Normally I carry at 4 o’clock IWB on my right side, but I have to unbuckle the seatbelt to draw. I’ve kept it in the center console and the door pocket, but it shifts around and can be difficult to locate in a hurry. I considered mounting it under the steering column, but my Ford truck has a fuse panel located there and I don’t think the cover will properly support my pistol. I don’t want the pistol and cover to fall off when I go over a bump.
A shoulder holster would work, but I don’t want to have to wear a jacket here in the Florida heat. I considered mounting a holster between the seat and the center console, but there’s not much room there and the center console is plastic. I think it would crack and break if I hung any kind of weight on it.
For vehicle carry, I have found a single-strap shoulder holster, like that shown here in post 15
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3462495/posts?page=15#15
to be both secure and easy to reach from the driver’s seat. Depending behind the back of the passenger seat, it can be covered by pulling an interior-matching T-shirt over the seatback ‘to protect it from dirt & fading.’ Worried about the strap or holster printing thru the thin fabric? You can hang a light jacket over it instead. You want to be prepared for the occasional weather change anyway, right? My friends in FL were shivering one spring when it dropped into the 40s, LOL.
Notice that the one pictured can be easily detached from the strap for portability or temporary storage elsewhere, while leaving the strap & camouflaging attire in place.
It’s one more step while entering/exiting the vehicle, moving your weapon between the truck holster & the one you’re wearing, but it’s an option. I’ve become inured to driving with a belt-mounted multitool at the 6-7 o’clock position, & years ago wore a small Sat-nite special at small-of-back even behind the wheel.
Actually there are two reliable ways to do this (carry and draw strong-side hip while belted into your vehicle)and we were taught these methods at my Sig Academy Course.
#1 You can first off, drape your cover garment over the top of the seat belt leaving the gun unencumbered to draw. Next, slowly lean forward against the chest belt which will create some space to reach back and lift the gun clear of the holster. The problem here is if you move too fast, the sensor may pick it up as an accident in progress and lock up the mechanism, preventing any further forward movement. Just as it's designed to do!
#2 This is the better solution, but it will feel more awkward. Once again, leave the cover garment draped over the outside of the seatbelt. Now, slide your butt forward on the seat. This will have the effect of lowering your drivers position behind the wheel and it will bring your shoulders lower in the seat. It will also open a gap at your waist and hip, leaving you room to draw. Most folks do this all the time, subconsciously when they go to see a movie and they want to get comfortable to eat popcorn and so they slouch in the theater chair. The person sitting behind you silently thanks you for clearing their field of view as you do when the person in front of YOU does the same!