DiamondBack Covers | Modifications

I've seen a few people have the front runner load bars on top of the Diamondback cover that fit into their universal tracks. I don't see this option on their website. Can someone post a link to them if you have them installed? Again I'm only looking for the load bars and not the track that will fit into the universal track.

 

Is this what you're looking for: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...coma-bed-load-bars-2005-oem-bed-rail-kit.html
They're basically a set of "bed legs" bolted onto "slats" (the crossbars). The legs can be ordered as short or tall. Here is one: https://frontrunner.thirdlight.com/file/42480616747
Various lengths of their slats: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/roof-racks/rack-components.html
These leg mounts are also needed (unless you can build your own system), if you want to fasten/bolt them on in a downward fashion onto some tracks or directly onto the tonneau cover. https://frontrunner.thirdlight.com/file/43454569957

Check out the specs tab under the pictures to get the part numbers for the components that go into the assembly. Open the installation instructions to get a better idea for how they're designed to go onto the bed. The closest thing they have on their website for mounting onto a tonneau cover is their bed rack advertised for the Colorado. You can see it here: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...olorado-roll-top-2015-curr-slii-load-bed.html

Since the pieces for the bed rack assembly incorporate parts of the load bars, you can just order the load bar peices on their own. The way I mounted their rack onto the DiamondBack cover is considered a custom application to them, so they will not advertise their products to be mounted the way I did it. Please call Front Runner Outfitters customer service and ask for Bryan or an Elisa. Hopefully, they can refer to my order or Mike's from LLOD (he did load bars) so that you can order the specific parts. Some of them can be ordered in the roof rack or load bars components section on their site, but the leg mounts are not shown on their site as being sold separately. They're only found as part of the assemblies they're used on.

 

Thank you for all that information.

I would like the same set up as Mike from LLOD. I've called and spoken to Tyler but he doesn't seem to think that that load bars are a good idea on the diamondback cover since the doors of the diamond back aren't mounted to anything .

 

I have long since traded for Tundras.com.....but in my search for options found this post. Love the set-ups and I was also inspired by LLOD. I recently got an HD cover for my Tundra and have been looking at building g a custom rack out of 80/20 materials (www.8020.net) Just trying to find a good option to physically mount the bars to the diamondback. I think 3 load bars would be good and am looking at finding a mount that uses the existing holes for the tie downs to avoid drilling.

Anyways some good ideas in here! Anyone with any experience using 80/20?

 

@lowtaco
You're welcome!

Well, the center panel is clamped onto the bed sides. The front & back panels are attached to that at the hinges and the locking arms/rods should help secure those two panels onto the bed sides well, if installed properly. I haven't checked, but you can probably add more clamps on the front & back panels for added fastening of the covers onto the bed, but then you wouldn't be able to open neither one of them. So far, the bedrack w/ rtt setup is holding up fine on the DiamondBack cover on the back of the Tacoma I drive. I haven't heard, felt or seen anything weird with it since last July (Thanks to God). I haven't done any crazy flexing or baja racing jumps/speeds while off roading with it, but the truck's had its fair shakes, rattles and bumps with the off roading I've done with it. ....just gotta check things over before and after off roading as a good habit, like with any riding like that. Build wisely, enjoy at your own risk and pray no one gets hurt while you're out in the wild.

 

Can someone that has a HD post what is different? I’ve heard the only difference is that the cover has two additional crossbeams for support. If that’s the case, you could always convert a SE or 270 couldn’t you later down the road? I don’t think I will need more load capacity but I’m asking for a friend that is interested

 

I don't know how hot Aluminum welds at...might disfigure the Line-X on the other side. I was thinking the same thing, but would have to research or get info from someone that's done Aluminum welding.


EDIT: I got curious and googled. 300-400F for aluminum welding. 250F max from what I could tell for Line-X. So yeah, might melt the Line-X.

 

I bet you could bolt extra supports in. You would just need to make sure that they make it the whole way out to the edges so that the load can balance out onto the bed. This would be the easiest and cheapest way to do it and you would have no risk of messing up the Line-x.

 

I watched a video with the CEO stating that the HD is slightly thicker aluminum than the SE. Trying to find the video.

Edit: Found it......At around the 1:15 he states that the HD cover is .1 inch thick and the SE is .08
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSMSiArXwh4

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-424-question-dback-cover.22568/page-2
Check out post #43. I like what this person did to attach a bike rack/load bars to the DB cleats. It might be able to hold the weight of the bikes and kayak, but not sure about a rtt.

 

Cool idea. What about creating a steel base plate that bolts onto the same location as the cleats? Make it follow the angled edge countour of the DiamondBack cover, then up to rest on the top surface. ...build a set of load bars or bed rack upward from there.

 

Originally I liked LLOD’s idea too but then after looking at it more I was concerned for the lateral movement that happens, which was why his first set up broke. He’s a cool guy but I’m not a fan of his Overland set up. But the beauty with these trucks is we each set up our rigs according to our goals and purposes. For me I didn’t want bed bars permanently attached to the cover because I use my truck as my DD. I think the DB can handle the weight but consider lateral movement if you actually off road with obstacles because the trucks swings laterally a lot as you probably know going over rocks and such. The lateral weight of the tent on some bars is too much, that’s why I opted for KB Voodoo Rack which transfers the weight first to the DB cover at the edges then the bed sides. Btw I’ve noticed when you have a rigid rack on the bed the sides don’t flex much at all. The whole bed moves together.

 

My thoughts on why Mike's load bar legs broke from the lateral movement were because the legs were way too thin and because of the design of the crossbars being fastened onto the top portion of the legs in a perpendicular manner (if I remember correctly). I think KB Voodoo's load bars are similar in design on how the crossbars mount, but the legs are thicker metal. The FRO legs are way thicker (perhaps tubular/hollow) and the design may allow for more forgiveness with lateral movement since their slats/crossbars bolt on top of a flat surface of their legs in a parallel fashion. I'd like to see Mike do his review on the FRO load bars already, but he's doing jackets... lol... Next time I go off roading with some friends, I'll ask them to try and catch a video of the bed rack on the DB cover to see how they sit on the bed while the truck navigates over some bumpy terrain. I would like to see if they move together as a whole or not.

 

Suction mount a gopro on top of your cab facing the bed. Easiest way to see the flex. Have it off to the side a bit to look along the side of your truck as well. Good shot.

 

@orion808 We gotta write to Toyota to add more of those gopro mounting locations around the truck. lol... Thanks for the ideas.

 

I want to add my opinion on this matter as well.

Mike from LLOD shared links to where you could buy his old set up on Amazon. They were never intended to do what he asked of then which was to support a RTT while going off road. The amount of flex they encountered for that thin material broke them . It's like taking a metal rod and bending it back and forth over and over . It'll crack and break.

I've called Diamond back and spoke to their customer support and they do not see an issue with the idea of load bars on top of their cover . They will also replace it if anything does happen .

With that idea in hand I'm going down the same path and putting the load bar on top of my cover . Aestically I think it'll look better abs easier to take on and off with the proper tools. I also didn't like the idea of spending 1600 on a cover that's made to support the weight and then not use it.

 

@lowtaco

Ditto... when I saw those atvs and side-by-sides on the back of the trucks w/ their covers, I was sold. I wanted to see if I could haul an MR2 on that thing. hahaha... (although, it'd be easier, probably, on a long bed or a Tundra) Canadian Prepper's review got it started and LLOD's review sparked ideas for the bedrack.

 

With a propper pulley setup, one can remove 1) just the rtt, 2) the rtt while still attached to the load bars or bedrack (edit: assuming the load bars or bedrack are bolted onto the DB cover & not welded on), 3) the rtt while still attached to the load bars or bedrack that are still attached to the DiamondBack cover. (Another thing I'd like Mike to show/review on his channel. However, he's mentioned that he's moving and trying to sell his old house, so this pulley system review may take a while for him to do.)

 

That’s essentially what I do

 

@Papadave418 Yes! I think it was mentioned in the Overlanbound video of your truck. Did you or someone else do a video on how the pully system was was set up and operated?