Dometic/Diamondback question

Greetings!

I would like to purchase a

$761 Dometic CFX3 35 Portable Refrigerator and Freezer - 36L - Powered by AC/DC or Solar Portable Refrigerator, Smokey Gray

Dometic CFX3 35 cooler. When road tripping, it will live in the truck bed under my closed Diamondback HD cover, which is on order.

Because I will have a RTT mounted on racks while camping, it won't be possible to open the rear tonneau panel for bed access. Things will need to slide out while clearing the underside of the cover.

My question is: can anyone confirm the cooler (or an object of this size) will be able to slide out onto the tailgate, and clear the cover gasket, with the cover closed.

The cooler is 16" high, and 15.7" wide, so I'd need a chute of at least 16" W which was at least 17" high for this to be reasonable.

For reference, the bed height from top of my rubber bed liner to top of the bed sides/bulkhead/tailgate is 18.25". So...it's really a matter of how far down below the top of the bed do the underpinnings of the Diamondback cover go? I know the locking rods stick down on the sides to the level of the bed track, but presumably they have higher clearance in the middle?

If anyone could provide actual measurements of net clearance height at the tailgate, with an HD cover closed, I would be grateful. Alternatively, if anyone can confirm this combination works that would be helpful as well. Not to be a jerk, but I'm not much interested in speculation or philosophical musings...just the actual measurements.

Warm regards, Mike

 

Hey Mike,

Looks like we have the same question. Did you get an answer?

Thank you,

Nathan

 

Hi Nathan,

I'm confident it will work, enough so that I ordered the cooler when they were on sale last month. I have the cooler, receive the tonneau tomorrow, and will put it on this w/e to confirm. I talked with the Diamondback rep. and saw footage on a LLOD Youtube video, both of which seem to confirm there will be clearance, provided the tonneau locking bars are installed with the bent side up. The cooler might not be able to sit all the way against the side of the bed however, since the bars drop down to the level of the bed track near the outside. I'm actually anticipating having enough clearance to install a simple 3/4" plywood bed-slide to increase access to the front of the bed. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Cheers, Mike

 

Hi Mike,

Thanks so much for your reply! I just watched an LLOD video the other day where he installed a Dometic in the bed of a Tremor. During the install he mentioned something about wishing he could fit the same setup in the Tacoma. He must have been referring to his bed slide setup. If it will otherwise fit under the Diamondback that is great news! Once you get everything together would you mind snapping a photo or two? I’m not the handiest guy on the block but I’m trying to be more patient and ambitious with my truck projects. Thank you again!

Have a good night!

Nathan

 

Hi Nathan,
If you watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLGOpdgCMvA&list=WL&index=30&t=1093s. paying particular attention at around 7:50, he shows a detail of the lock bar setup, then sweeps to the middle latch. At one point the camera angle rises to briefly come flush with the bottom of the tonneau cover. In this (very brief) moment, it appears that both the latch arms and bar attachment points, as well as the bars themselves, sit above the level of the aluminum support beams of the cover, which in turn sit bottom-flush with the top rim of the truck bed. Watching this video gave me the confidence to make my order. Adding the 4" vertical ht. of a commercial bed-slide would definitely not work for my intended setup, so I think your hunch is correct. I will indeed post dimensions once I have the install complete.

Best, Mike

 

It's right at 8:10, best viewed at the 25% speed setting. Look also at 9:34. Then, starting at ~ 10:00 he gives a view of the general underside condition of the HD cover, showing that the crossmembers sit at the level of the truck bed top when closed. Where would we be without YouTube?

 

Im putting my DB cover back on tomorrow hopefully. I can get you some measurements if you need it. Shoot me a PM if you still need help.

 

Mike - Can’t thank you enough for this! That little detail is exactly where I was stuck. Looking forward to seeing this put together on your rig! Good luck on the assembly and thanks again!

Nathan

 

OK, I can confirm this setup will work! Subject to final dial-in (I won't be able to complete the Diamondback install until Saturday), here's how it's looking:

The height from rubber bed mat to bottom most point of the tonneau lock linkage is 18.5", with the cover just set on the bedrails, not yet compressed by clamp installation. The dropped portion of the locking bars is limited to within 8" of the bedside, angling down from just above flush with the tonneau bottom to concentric with the Tacoma accessory bed track where it engages to lock. Safe to assume, at least within the area between the inside of the wheel wells, that you will have 2 inches of top clearance between the cooler lid and the bottom of the tonneau cover. In my case, this will comfortably allow the installation of a plywood bed slide, using o/d carpet or teflon strips to reduce friction between the composite factory bed liner and the bottom of the plywood. Note: this assumes use of the

$761 Dometic CFX3 35 Portable Refrigerator and Freezer - 36L - Powered by AC/DC or Solar Portable Refrigerator, Smokey Gray

Dometic CFX3 35 cooler @ 16" high.

Hope this helps!

 

Well that is something! Even more good news , that’s the fridge I’m trying to fit. Can’t thank you enough, Mike! Really excited to give this a go now. Looking forward to seeing this thing all together. Have a good evening!

 

Just a quick note with some exact specs on the CFX3 35...

This cooler is 16.02" tall. If you end up going with a CFX3 slider it will add 1.14 inches to the height. Total height with the slider would be 17.16".

Hope this helps!

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