Diamondback Tonneau Cover

Any info on installing a Diamondback HD or 270 tonneau cover on a 2013 Tacoma dbl cab? Various websites advise to remove the bad caps and rails, others state either cover can be installed w' the bed as is. Diamondback website offers an install manual w/o specifics for a 2013. Really like the looks of the cover, not thrilled w' the lack of available info. Thanks

 

Did you every get info on this?

Im looking at either the SE or LT. The guy at diamondback and the installation manual say holes need to be drilled. is there away around that?

I have seen some places that the rails need to be taken off and other places don't mention it.

 

I too been reading into this finding very little, I been looking at the SE model. For my 2014 Tacoma ORDC short bed

What I have found is they sell the tonneau covers with hardware for the rail system. Here is a link to there website download the owners manual for install it shows different hardware for use with Tacoma it also mentions how to install the cover. You do have to drill in order to get the cover to lock correctly or is recommended. I would say the bed caps should come off as they will eventually crack with X amount of weight. Not to mention the back and front dip down from the bed cap. Might not be an issue, with the trim could fit just fine, maybe others can chime in what they had to do for proper install.
Link to owners manual:
http://www.diamondbackcovers.com/ownersguides.php

I'm looking to order in two weeks, they are currently running sales for these seems like this is the only time of year I see it on sale!

 

Ordered a SE ill do a review on it once i get it, should be here end of january.

 

Have you installed the tonneau cover yet? I'm debating whether to get one or go with solid fold.

 

Yeah got it will post review here shortly sorry been a crazy month at work!

Attached a teaser pic will mention you do have to drill two wholes for the lock by the tail gate But its not bad comes with grommets.

 

Have had my diamondback truck cover for about a month now happy I got it. I needed something that was tough and secure when transporting gear, but something that could be taken off when I needed. I bought the SE can hold 400lb on top with tie downs I don’t have an ATV so it was pointless to by the HD in my situation. I did have it line-x since it matches better to my truck I think.

Will warn you cover comes on a huge extra-long pallet, its 140.00 to the closest hub or business they or you can find. Just before my cover shipped they offered to residential for 150.00 might check and see if this rate still applies when you order. For me ten bucks was a no brainier.



Over all I love the cover for the things I plan to do with it. Since I can transport the gear I need knowing I can lock it. This was my way of getting a truck vault without spending 4,000+ or as close as I can get at 1/4th the price. It’s nice to know it’s locked and there are no windows or ability to see what’s inside. You will need to add a Pop-n-lock or some other tail gate lock in order to have everything secure.

Some notes on install!
Have two people to install, doing this by yourself for the first time is a PITA since everything is new there is a little bit of fitting and adjustment that 4 hands make easy compared to two. Cover mounts right to your bed rails just bolts right on. I will mention since the 2014 rails have slots cut every inch or two makes sliding the clamps forward to back difficult also it may clamp on at an angle so you might have to adjust the clamp to make it square and or even pressure.

note i cut the weather tubing at an angle to try and get as much sealed between the cover and the bed rails.

you use the rails for the back of the bed bar lock by the cab.




used paint to figure out where to drill the other two locking points.






I decided to keep my bed rails on due to the clamp mount, can’t be torqued down that fare it bottoms out and is currently bottomed out or close to it. when it gets warmer ill post some pictures! say’s torque to 25 foot lb but just starting at 10ftlb I am bottomed out or out of thread on the bolt and the plastic rail is bending slightly I may upgrade rails or remove depending on how it looks here in a couple months or when its warmer. Currently I have the topper torqued to 10 ft lb I have gone back and check it after 100 miles just to be sure. But any more and I would be breaking the bolts or the rails cracking.

All in all very happy with the outcome, I like how the topper sits a little higher, giving me what I was wanting.

coop, will go through and edit this as i go!

 

Thanks a lot! Answers a lot of questions.

Is your truck Spruce Mica as well? I definitely will be getting the LineX option.

 

Nope Magnetic Gray, hard to tell since I did this in the garage.

Side note I noticed the lip between the tail get and the cover could use a little thicker weather stripping I was considering reinforcing the tailgate with this http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/group-buys/253751-05-tacoma-tail-gate-reinforcement-group-buy.html and adding weather stripping to seal it better!

 

Thanks Coop68! I had a lot of the same questions and will probably be ordering this cover soon.

 

I had just posted in another thread for pics of one installed. Glad I finally found this thread. I had one on an older truck and loved it but was unsure how it would look and fit on my shortbed. After using your cover @Coop68 for the past few months any concerns? I looked at the instructions and they do not mention removing the bedcaps which is what I would rather not do.

 

I did not remove them, however they do bow a little once you install the center cap. It says to tourqe down to 25ft pounds not possable with those plastic caps not to mention there isent enough thread on the clamp to do it you will most likely max out the clamp i only put 10ft pounds and it has no more travel. The clamps. Note this is not water proof you will have to get some silicone to fill in the gaps where needed. One thing is the rear cap doesnt come down far enough to contact the tailgate bed rails. needs to be about 1/2 longer or larger weather stripping tube. I did replace my tailgate with the reinforcement from relentless. This will increase you gap between the cover i added a larger weather strip.

 

Coop,
Is your bed plastic? I have a 2016 tacoma and the bed is mostly plastic. I'm weary of drilling holes for the locking rods near the tailgate. What do you think?

 

I'm in the same boat. I'm looking to buy a diamondback off craigslist. It's on a 2014 tacoma. The manufacturer says that it won't fit my 2016 Tacoma as it's .02 inches longer in bed length. I find that a bit hard to be true.... any thoughts?
Kevin

 

I could see why it wouldent. as the cap has a 2inch drop in order to seal the cap to the tailgate. the new 2016 does not have that. The bed shape or caps are different between the two years.

 

Hi Coop,
I'm looking at replacing my fold a cover with the diamond back. Wanted to see how yours has held up over the last few years.

 

Well i sold mine last year around june. It held up well loved the look of it. Just wasent enough storage and the set up dident work once i got my self a truck vault. Ended up getting a camper shell so i could put a tent on top and more gear in back. It did its job when i had it. Only issue is the plastic bed rails they will bow in the center if you over tighen which will happen since its plastic. I ended up buying relentless fabs metal rails fixed the problem but where 180 bucks if he still makes them had to email him. The third gens fit better from What i can see.

Note you will have to drill a 1” hole on the side by the tailgate for it to lock. For 2005-15!

 

Thanks for the info. Any leak issues or problems with freezing in the winter? Nothing is leakproof, I get that, small leaks around the tailgate are not a problem . mine leaks like a rainshower all over the bed right now, comes in from every hinge.

 

yeah the corners leaked and any spot that isn't sealed main issue is the tailgate. they might have fixed it since but I had a 1/4" gap I could not get down due to how the cover sat on the plastic rails at the end by the tail gate. I didn't get a great seal till I upgraded to the metal side rails from relentless.

 

How tough are the open/close levers on the outside? Are they capable of having heavy load on top of them, as well?