DiamondBack Covers | Modifications

No problem. Base plates and risers are 1/4 steel. Cross bars are .120 wall round tube. Very sturdy and far exceed weight limit of cover and side rails. Struts will hold lids open with cross bars but you have to get them going up where as before they raised on their own.

 

Changed up my previous rail mod to some bull ring mounts. As on a semi regular basis I seem to be loading the bed and removed back seat area up with travel gear/side project material. Found I had need to take advantage of DB weight bearing ability. I often carry a Yeti roadie on top, locked and secured along with other material. May add one or two more. Love the versatility now.

The next best purchase I've made in a while is the Gladiator cargo net .

**** A few members have asked for a little more detail. The bull rings are designed for GMC/Sierra/Canyon bed side, not top rail use. (Pic attached). They are simply remove the center top screw and place in the side pocket and tighten. With the DB it obviously took some additional work, uh..like cutting out an opening at each spot! After using a different set of Bull Rings for placement on top of the cover (where I often place my Yeti as noted previously), it was obvious that pair was to large or at least would look awkward and more difficult to install. I contacted the vendor and after scratching their head, yet really liking the idea, told me of the smallest set that has the angle I wanted.

Using first a jigsaw and then a Dremel (much better) I cut the minimum hole needed to replicate the standard application in a bed side. I used sealant before tightning them down and as double insurance that the area would not flex or dimple when straps are tightened, I used same material the DB is formed with and cut a rectangular piece that fits in the angled section and functions as a metal reinforcement section that strengthens a larger area than just where the standard metal on a bull ring rests on the inside. I used some JB weld on the underside of each ring to make them less likely to move even a little and also is another water barrier. So far really happy with results and have hauled ladders to furniture on the cover and things stay tight.

Next project is possibly a very low pro front stop in event of emergency breaking with a ladder or other items that could possibly enter the cab if impact is hard enough. I sorta like the available DB produced stop but at three hundred bucks and possibly a little higher than I would like, I may make something else. Their price not really outrageous and its more the design, but hell I may spring for it at some point anyway.

 

Howdy, new guy here to soak up info and knowledge, have a Raptor with a DimondBack cover, we’re looking at building it out for a trip to Alaska & will be putting a RTT on her.

 

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Please read this before jumping to conclusions, nobody knows the Diamondback cover like the people here so & I'm trying to learn, have really be learning from the posts not only in this thread, but in other threads, you have a excellent source of information and knowledge here.

I'm not hiding who or what I am, not here to stir shit or cause problems, but to learn & am up front with that.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hello.623461/#post-21280712

 

@BlueVelociraptor Welcome to Tacoma World! Sounds like you guys have a great adventure to plan ahead.

If you haven't already, check out this thread on rtts. It looks like someone else with a DB SE cover posted recently about the rtt setup on their cover. From the looks of it, it looks like they even used the DB cover-mount bed racks to mount their tent onto. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-rtt-owners-thread-with-bs.312269/page-974#post-21281700

With regard to how you want the racks mounted, I'm familiar with two methods: 1) on the bed rails (that go out and around the cover's edges) or 2)on the DB cover (requires some drilling)

 

Kinda curious. Saw this on the diamondback website, and it’s exactly the setup I want for carrying kayaks. Anyone have any idea which tracks and mounts those are?

 

Probably something like these:

https://www.yakima.com/42-tracks-w-plusnuts

https://www.yakima.com/core-bar

https://www.yakima.com/jayhook

 

Yea, I emailed the front runner guys because I’d like tracks that can pull double duty for kayaks or an RTT, but they weren’t sure which brands of bars would work with their tracks.

 

It might be better to keep those particular components to one brand instead of mixing and matching. Check out Thule, Yakima, Front Runner Outfitters, and others, to see what they have available for tracks and crossbars systems. The various brands' respective kayak and rtt mounts should be more universal and could possibly be mixed & match.

 

My Diamondback cover with DB rack. Slightly modified for RTT. I cut the top of posts on one side so the RTT could open without touching top of post. It was close tolerance but it werks. Could add a shim but doesn't seem necessary. Also, got some slightly longer bolts for brackets but originals worked, barely. Probably end up with some locking mechanism for RTT at some point. I left the rack a bit higher than some I see and so far I can see no problem and have more area underneath for storage, etc. and can also see to the rear with a view of towing my boat. The front and rear hatches work fine when tent not mounted. I have it a bit to the rear so I can step around between the cab and the tent just for ease of replacing the cover. Not sure that is necessary but did discover it helped with the opening of the window's support arm. Qwershions?

 

My crossbars on the HD cover. Used existing cleat holes. They raise with the lids. Wanted low rise bars to keep center of gravity low and reduce drag. 1/4 steel brackets and risers. .120 wall round tube.

 

I like my Hennessee Hammock with bug net. I have found a Klymit Static V-Lux air mattress works good over the foil/air bubble thingy Hennessee sells. A bit tricky to get all in with a down mummy bag but it is comfortable once all situated. Be sure to pee before you get in!

 

This is exactly what I'm looking for. Did you custom fab this yourself or did you have a shop do it?

 

My buddy and I made them in his shop and mine out of necessity. Most premade crossbars I found required removing them to open the lids, had weak 400 pound load ratings, and/or were lumber or ladder racks. And let’s not even start talking about what those cost!!

 

Awesome set up, wish someone made something similar to these at a reasonable price.

 

Thanks man! I spent quite a few weeks looking before I just decided to make my own. Saw offerings from Voodoo and Mobtown but couldn’t get over the fact you had to remove the bars to open the lids. Just seemed like a pain in the ass to me. Install them once and be done. I honestly have no idea what the load rating is but I would imagine it’s way more than you would ever want to put in your bed or on top on your Diamondback.

 

Here is one with both lids open with the crossbars on.

 

This shows the bars better