Diamondback prototype (cross posted)

Attended the Great American Outdoorshow in which Diamondback had two new prototype covers that were not available yet but first time being visible to public eye. The first one was for a 5th wheel hitch (doesn’t really fit this forum) but the 2nd one was a one piece unit kinda of like the undercover/leers. Instead of opening from the tailgate it opened up from the drivers side bed rail and the hinge was on the passenger side bed rail. Salesman stated that this would allow one to open the cover if something was on the top of the cover like a RTT for instance. Stated they were still working on it but should be available by the end of the year or early next year.

 

Thanks for sharing that. I have a DB and I like that idea. However, they have to think carefully about people putting different weights on the opening lid, and how easy or not it will be with opening and closing the lid.

Reason I say this is that I have a small off-road trailer with an opening lid, that I later put a small (95#) roof top tent on. I had to upgrade the lifts from what I first had to help open the lid and hold the lid open. And it comes down a bit hard when it's almost down, so I have to be careful that no fingers are in the way! Some of those bigger roof top tents can be 150-200#s.

The two lifts I have now for my trailer's lid are rated 150# and 100#, for that 95# tent.

 

He stated that it did need some work and that was the first one they made up. The struts they were using were bigger than the ones on se/hd, but did not look at the ratings on them. As per the weight he stated he believed it was going to be the thicker aluminum (same as hd) and per the price he was not sure at the moment, but possibly in between the se and hd.

 

Just being a guy on his couch, I think the struts/lifts would need to be more on the opening side, but then they'd eat into more bed space. The one's on my trailer's lid, as you see, they're in the center, but like I said, that lid comes down kind of hard once the lid gets close to closing. I can imagine the weight of a DB with a large roof top tent on it, and other junk? With my trailer, I typically open the tent up before I open the lid, so less weight is on the lid. (Tent opens to the right in my photo.)

I did recently buy the Frontrunner cross bars for my DB to mount my roof top tent on my Tacoma, just a bummer that I then can't open the lids once the roof top tent is mounted. So, this idea does have merit!

 

Can confirm, Diamondback Outlet is the way to go. I saved something like 30% on my SE just because it had a minor paint run on the side that you can't even see.

 

Those struts are at a really bad angle for holding much weight.

If you’re wondering about ideal geometry for something like that look at the main lift cylinder of a dump truck. Maximum effort is applied when it’s pushing straight up. Next best would be like on the small trailer posted by grogie, the negative geometry setup is the worst possible way to apply force, it’s ok for like holding your hood or bed cover up on their own but not for supporting additional loads like thats designed for.