How to Use

Learn to set up your DormVAULT safely and easily.

Where should I locate my Cube Safe or Laptop Safe by DormVault in my dorm room or apartment? dots

The Dorm and Apartment Safes by DormVault are designed to fit on a loft-bed post or other furniture with a post less than 4 inches wide. The width is the side of the post that will be against the DormVault. The length of the post is the side that will be touching the bolts in the Owner Control Bracket™ assembly. You should measure your furniture to be sure it is the size you expect; for example, a 2x4 board is actually 3.5 inches in width and 1.75 inches in length.

Laptop Safe Bracket The location for your dorm safe by DormVault is always a compromise between easy access for you and minimal or difficult access for the potential thief. Here are some suggestions for placing your DormVault:

Where you can easily access it
Where it is not immediately obvious to a new visitor
In a corner, is best, adjacent to a wall is second best!
Between horizontal posts or slats!
Higher up is better than lower down
Avoid placement on the very bottom or top of your bed where a thief might be able to force the bracket off the post!
Consider a location where you can cover the DormVault with a coat, or blanket

It is Important to Use a Bolt that is the Correct Length to install your Cube Safe or Laptop Safe in your Dorm Room or Apartment. dots

Cube Safe Bracket The Owner Control Bracket™ assembly works with 3/8" carriage bolts of different lengths. For example if your bed post is 2 inches long, the DormVault needs a 3" bolt. If your bed post is 3 1/2 inches long, you need a 4 1/2" bolt. The minimum recommended bolt length is 3/4" inch longer than the loft-bed or furniture post. For example, the loft-bed post is 3 " long. Add 3/4" inch and the minimum recommended bolt length is 3 3/4". Bolts are sold in 1/2" increments. A 3 1/2" bolt is too short so choose a 4" or 4 1/2" bolt.

Your DormVault ships with the most common bolt sizes. You receive 2 each of 2 1/2", 3 1/2" and 4 1/2" carriage bolts with the DV450 Cube Safe. You also receive 2", 3" and 4" carriage bolts with the laptop safe. If your furniture dimension is less than 1" or greater than 3 1/2" you will need to go to the hardware store to buy the appropriate bolt for your application.

Dorm Safe Recommendations, Advice, Do's and Especially Dont's. dots

It is easier if you have a friend help you install your DormVault safe in your dorm room or apartment. One person to hold the DormVault and one person to install the bracket and fasten the nuts on the inside of the DormVault.

If you are going to install the DormVault by yourself, consider some way to brace the DormVault while you install the bracket and fasten the nuts. Rest the DormVault on boxes, or the back of a chair, or a stack of books. Just remember to be careful. If the brace falls and then the safe falls you could get hurt.

The DormVault is designed so that its weight wants to lean on your bed-post or furniture. You want to fasten it tight enough that it won't move. This will happen before you can stop turning the nut. Stop fastening the nut when you lean on the DormVault and it won't move.

In the literature, we refer to the fact that when the DormVault is properly installed it attaches easily and harmlessly to your loft-bed post or furniture. We would like to review how you might improperly install the DormVault:

If you use a bolt that is too long, the DormVault will be loose and it can move or fall on your furniture.
The Owner Control Bracket™ assembly uses steel bolts and steel nuts and you can continue to tighten the nuts after the DormVault is secured which will compress (mark) the furniture. The DormVault is secure when it won’t move when you lean on it ( not stand or jump on it).
If you tighten one bolt to a far greater degree than the other bolt the bracket bar will not sit flat against the bed post or furniture, which may encourage you to overtighten the bracket assembly.

You Need a Padlock to Lock Your Dorm or Laptop Safe by DormVault! dots

Every DormVAULT comes with a high security combination padlock. If you with to replace it, choose a padlock with a shackle that is less than 1/4" diameter. Padlocks range in price and security features.

dots Installation Instructions. dots

Place 2 Carriage Bolts that are at least 3/4" to 1" longer than your post through the Bracket Bar with the square holes. If you do not have a bolt that is the desired length just go to any hardware or home center store and buy the 3/8" carriage bolt you need.
Place the DormVault against the bed-post or furniture. Remember, having a friend help you is best! If you are doing it yourself consider carefully bracing the DormVault.
Place the Bracket Bar on the opposite side of the bed post or furniture and insert the Carriage Bolts through the holes in the DormVault. The laptop model has an optional bracket bar with round holes that can be placed next to the safe when you are mounting the DV700 Laptop DormVault.
Place 2 Washers (Cube Safe Model Only - This is not needed for the laptop model.) over the 2 Carriage Bolts on the inside of the DormVault.
Place and fasten the 2 wing nuts on the 2 Carriage Bolts on the inside of the DormVault. It is important that each nut be fastened to the same depth on each bolt. For instance, one bolt should not have ½" showing beyond the nut while the other bolt has no dimension showing beyond the nut.
If necessary, place the Bolt Caps over the remaining visible threads of the bolt on the inside of the DormVault. This will avoid the threads scratching your possessions.
Enjoy the use and added protection of your DormVault!