DiamondBack Covers | Modifications

That looks amazing. Very clean. When it's open, about how much space is there between the two inner bars?

Edit: I would like to know how high a set of bars I can get before they begin to touch each other.

 

Ive always wondered about putting a dirtbike up there. Id have to have an extension also but then also a longer ramp or deal with it being steep since the height would be an additional 18inches higher. Dont have a diamondback but it would be cool i think, extra loading height seems like itd be annoying though

 

With both lids open there is about 5.5 inches between them. Bars sit 1.5 inches off tonneau cover. From cover to top of bars is 3 inches.

 

Man this looks great dude!

 

Does this count..........1993 Diamondback, has stood the test of time and trails and ready for more. It has many mods. ......sorry, bed cover has no pattern.

 

A. You could sell this product. My only concern is the DB is only truly anchored in the middle. I’d like a latching system to snatch the end pieces just for piece of mind when loaded. Hence why I’m looking at KBVoodoo. Price point is high.

B. Have you mounted and centered a tent on this? I’d be interested in center and an offset photo to mount a tough box possibly.

C. Again, super clean work. Good job.

 

I posted that with the intention of brainstorming a latch. Not to be a critic. It’s a perfect crossbar design.

 

Thanks for the compliment! No interest in building my crossbars for others. I just couldn’t find anyone making what I needed so I had to.

 

When I plan to put a substantial load on the bars I usually will mount my flat safari rack first. It really ties everything together and spreads the load across all four bars. I don’t own an RTT, or I’d snap a pic. Sorry!

 

Who has parked a dirtbike on their short bed diamond back?

 

The closest I've done something like that was hauling one mountain bike, two at the most, with a Thule gatemate cover on the tailgate. Obviously, this was before I had the bed rack setup on the DiamondBack cover. The back panel of the HD cover was flipped forward 180*. The front wheel(s) of the mt. bike hung over the outside of the tailgate and the frame(s)/rearwheel(s) of the bikes rested inside the bed between the tailgate and DB cover. They were at an angle and where a tight fit in that space. The weight and size of a dirt bike may or may not allow for that type of hauling.

With the DB cover closed, you'd need at least one ramp, probably with an extension at the back. I'd imagine having some kind of wheel rack would come in handy with the use of some good tie down straps.

 

On our way back to our home area, we saw this Cement Taco on the freeway. Wifey took some pictures of the Tacoma rocking the HD cover with Front Runner racks similar to my and Mike's of LLOD's setup.

 

This is what we were going with, but my broke body can't climb a ladder very good and at night a head call would end up being very bad.

Changed gears and are going with a OzTent and are now looking at doing the Front Runner rack system and putting a slimeline low profile roof rack on it so we can tie the tent down & have room for a couple Jerry Cans and other boxes.

Would it be possible for you to post a side shot or two and a picture from the tail end so we have a better idea on how to emulate your setup. Also looking at putting backup/brake and yellow dust lights on as well.

 

I'll try to get some updated/current pictures posted later today. For now, feel free to reference the pictures I posted on the first page of this thread; please see link here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diamondback-modification-thread.553966/#post-18181511

 

Ok, I'm brain damaged and forgot about those, color me stupid, but now I know how to proceed, thanks for the help

 

I mounted Front runner load bars on top of my Diamondback HD.
I’m now looking for good options for a third brake light on the rear load bar, as the roof brake light is completely obstructed. Any suggestions?

 

You could always mount up some KC cyclones or some Baja Designs rock lights. Tap into the existing 3rd brake light and run some wires out.

 

@BattlecryTaco, using your post as inspiration I managed to create the same set up too. Some pics to show some of the work.

 

Rigid Industries might have a wireless light that might be able to piggyback on the third brake light. Ask them if that's possible at all.

Edit: It's actually KC Hilites I'm thinking of with the wireless control. I'm not sure if that's necessary for brake lights; probably, not.
https://www.kchilites.com/kc-c-series-rgb-led-rock-light-kit-6-pc-339.html

Anyway, I'm not knowledgeable w/ electrical, but I was looking into that possibility of having a brake light (fourth, or fourth & fifth with two pods?) mounted at the back of the Front Runner bed rack somehow. However, I'm wondering if some brighter bulbs at the third brake light might be good enough for my setup. The rtt isn't right up on there by the third brake light, so I'm guessing the light may still be seen during the night, at least , via reflections on the DiamondBack cover, faintly above the rtt, and from the sides next to the bed.

 

That would be an idea. Or you could also have MESO make a custom housing or something.