DiamondBack Covers | Modifications

Yeah the rod bend works great in any position given that it’s just rods sliding in and out to lock the covers. The center section is really the lowest part of the cover as it has extra support there

 

My Diamondback is finally being shipped and I wanted to get the truck prepped beforehand. I remember reading someplace about water proofing the bed before you install it, but I can’t find the info now. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I think someone recommended laying a bead of silicone under the bed caps? What have you guys done?

 

ESI Ultimate Tailgate Seal with Taper Seal 10ft for use with Truck Caps and Tonneau Covers

$28 ESI Ultimate Tailgate Seal with Taper Seal 10ft for use with Truck Caps and Tonneau Covers

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IPQWXZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ttOVEbEMQ6Y5D

Something like this? There’s others by the same brand if you scroll around..

 

You don't need to do anything other than fill in the little gaps near the cab. They'll be material with the cover to do so. Some folks add a small amount of silicone caulk there as well but I didn't and mine doesn't leak.

 

Must be nice; I filled those gaps, put butyl caulk under the rail caps and also ran a foam seal along the top of the bed rails just inside of where the DB seals meet it and I still get plenty of water in my bed. Have yet to crawl inside and take a hose to it to see where it's getting in.

 

Such a good system.

 

Have any more pics of it in the daylight?

 

My @KB Voodoo rack goes on and off when I’m not off roading. 4 bolts and I leave the tonneau brackets on all the time and the gasket seals around them just find. In a heavy rain on the highway I might get a little bit in under the cover up front, but with a bed mat it all goes under and drains out. I used the included weatherstrip to help block the grooves on the top of our bed rails, those things like to channel water around. I love my rack for the modularity and you can just see the rear wheel tray for my bike rack.

 

Thanks man; I have been eyeing this setup for the better part of a year and will probably give in and go with it soon. Looks great!

 

How are you able to fit the fridge in there without it hitting the metal latching rods of the DB cover?

 

I built my own anchored slide that’s low profile to keep the fridge height low. Then I simply bent the locking arms up and out of the way. It’s a simple locking mechanism and it worked great

 

Anyone have a tip for the 8 inch bin to stop slipping inwards?

 

Put bed cleats in the handholds. There's a pic in this thread somewhere I believe.

 

Do you have any pics or write up of your locking arm mod?

 

I can see why your having trouble, there are some pretty massive gaps. Plus the front is higher than the bed sides. It’s gonna take a lot of silicon to fill. Anyone have any pictures Of how they go it sealed?

 

I didn't do a write up about bending my locking rods but here’s some photos of the end result. They are difficult to bend, I took them out of the cover to do it. But as they are so rigid they work exactly the same as stock and gave me back a couple of inches.

I sealed up those gaps with weatherstripping. In fact I did my whole tailgate as well to keep dust out on the trail.


Extra tidbit, I tucked up an axe under the cover

 

Nice! Thanks for sharing, Dave. I was wondering what you did exactly with the rod the first time you mentioned it, like over a year ago. Good to see that it does, in fact, still lock with that bent/modified rod. Gotta ask Diamondback Covers, if this can be done and sold from the factory.

 

Yeah you could, makes sense they would modify the design. This is why we buy these covers because they are heavy duty BA covers. And mine is just the SE because I don’t have ATV’s to haul on top. It still holds 500-600LBS AS THE LIGHTER DUTY OPTION. You can screw into them, throw lumbar on top of them, stand on them, put a lawn chair at the drive-in’s on top of them, beat the crap out of them and they work great. Buy once cry once. My buddy regrets his roll up cover as it takes bed space and he can’t load anything on top.

Just my opinion of course, but I LOVE MY DB. I called and purchased mine while standing in the dealership lobby area as I was filling out paperwork for my truck

 

Man that’s a great idea, thanks for sharing. Don’t see why they don’t do that from the factory.