Diamondback

So; a story, and shout out to Diamondback here, along with a couple of pics of the new furniture. My original order was shipped the day before the lockdown; and delivered a couple of days after it started. Something was up with it, for which I was disappointed; but I called Diamondback and they said they'd ship a new one asap. Meaning immediately after they were allowed to go back to work. ('Allowed' to do business, don't get me started on this silly shinola). The replacement arrived today, and is now on my truck.

When I first emailed Diamondback support, I sent pics of the trouble. It wasn't a nonce, but it wasn't a big deal, but I still wanted to be perfectly satisfied (I mean, the thing isn't cheap...). That's what I currently am - - perfectly satisfied.

@Diamondback (if anyone can clue them in to this forum, please do...); great job cleaning up an imperfect start and creating a perfect finish.

Also, since you've read this far; this forum was critical to me as I was hunting the perfect cover, and I feel the people who post here benefited me and my wallet greatly with advice that kept me from making mistakes, and posting pics.

She's got some more modifications coming - - a Platinum grille to replace the 1794 grille, and a level; but things are coming along...

 

Looks good. Can’t wait to get one.

 

I am dying to have one of these but I also just need more bed space!

Almost want to get another truck just to try one too!

 

Took me about 90 minutes to get it installed. I was alone, and half that time was making adjustments to fitment. If you have another set of hands and it's already adjusted properly, you could probably cut that down to 10 getting it off and 20 getting it back on. Not optimal if you use your full bed often; but I'm not in that group.

Best;

 

how heavy is this?

 

I'm ordering mine very soon. Been waiting on them to get rolling again.

 

i know these are popular and expensive, so they must have some qualities that i'm not seeing... I'm not bashing them, but unless you need to haul a quad on top of your tonneau, or have serious security concerns, they seem a little overkill/bulky looking to me. Besides that, it seems that you only have access to the rear half of the bed? How can you even access the half closest to the cab? Does the front half also lift up towards the tailgate and you have to lean over the side of the bed to reach in?

Again - to each their own on looks - i'm just genuinely curious about the benefits of the diamondback (at the risk of setting myself up to want one)

 

Diamondback says ~114lbs. for the HD (the one pictured); but they have lighter models.
https://diamondbackcovers.com/

 

Wretched Excess and overkill for its own sake,who wouldn't want that?!?

I agree though about the bed rail height and practical aspect for sure and I have some long Monkey arms and I can't really reach over that easily.

 

Totally get that the looks aren't for everyone. I like it better than just about anything else, but you're right that it looks a little bulky (I like that about it). As you say, to each their own.

I go camping, and for gear I don't want stolen, there is no better security available. You can pop the Toyota part up with a coat hanger, and you can pry or cut open almost any other tonneau with a 4" knife blade. It's not perfect by any means, but the perfect tonneau will probably be mounted on a flying truck...

I will probably not haul anything on top that I couldn't haul in an open bed; but there are platform legs you can add, and I likely will, that would accommodate a tent or box for gear.

The front and back both open hinged on a center plate, and I have a tool box under the front plate for storage. The whole thing comes off and on fairly easily if you need your full bed; but obviously it's not optimal for people who use their whole beds often (unless, like me, that means stuff stored in bins slid under the tonneau).

When I was doing research, I found a few I really, really liked that were flush mounted. They're pretty sexy on a Tundra, and pretty safe, especially pitted against a soft tonneau. Lots of advice in this forum on those as well.

thanks,

 

The hatch closest to the cab does lift up towards the tailgate allowing access, and you can buy a box from them that sits inside the rails if you like. If installed correctly they are basically "leak proof" instead of just water resistant. Not submarine water tight for sure but definitely drier compared to most other types. It rains hard here in SW Florida during the summer months. Also, very secure. I know Florida Highway Patrol uses them on their duty pickups in my area to secure their tactical gear in the back. You can get the SE edition that supports 400 pounds on top instead of the HD version and it only costs a couple of hundred bucks more than your better quality standard type tonneau covers. I have several friends that have them on their trucks and swear by them and after seeing how theirs have held up it was the one that I wanted for my new Tundra.

 

Im pretty sure that I am agreeing with you.

 

Great choice. Just ordered my DiamondBack SE last week once they re-opened. I have a 2019 Crewmax, purchased early last fall. Since that time, many months, I have used this forum many times to review all covers and various caps and appreciated all the pictures. I was unsure of covers. I started with Bakflip and Extang, and gradually reviewed almost every available cover and type. I had never heard of DiamondBack, but DiamondBack became without question the king of the hill, the most secure was the DiamondBack. The extra cost of a DiamondBack is minimal if even once your precious cargo or gear is knifed or opened with a clothes hanger, and stolen from a cheaper cover. Then I struggled if a cap was a better option, I reviewed A.R.E., Leer, Century, and Snugtop, and again appreciated this forum and all the comments and pictures. Decided the A.R.E. Z would be my choice, if I decided on a cap. But in the end the choice was the DiamondBack SE. So I give a big thank you to all who contributed on the various threads on this topic on this forum. Still have to wait a few weeks to get my SE.

 

Does anyone have photos of the diamondback cover in the new matte black finish? Looked online and cant find photos anywhere

 

I ordered a diamondback cover about 4-5 weeks ago from Autoanything and I have another 3 weeks to wait for it. I'm sure part of it is because of the Corona virus but Autoanything didnt place my order when I ordered it. I couldn't get a status from Autoanything (frustrating), but when I called Diamondback they gave me the straight truth. Bottom line, I wish I purchased directly from Diamondback and NOT from Autoanything.

Looking forward to my diamondback cover coming.

 

I literally just finished installing the SE on this 4th of July. Have Not installed the tie down brackets yet. I ordered it May 27 straight from Diamondback, it arrived on June 28.
I am 70, In very bad health, and was able to install it by myself. Very slowly. I love it.





















L

 

I really wish I did not need the space only offered with a Cap as I want to get the Diamondback so badly that it hurts!

 

Having had a DB for a while, I think a cap better uses the space, but I do like:

The vault security of locking/leaving stuff in the bed no matter if in a sketchy area or camping.

Not a lot have them where I am, truckers often ask and admire the rugged look.

Have used it various ways and recently moving 2inch 16’ boards, which wouldn’t be possible without the roll down rear window too.

 

Well it turns out that my Cap has no windows on the sides and the ones on the rear are too small to steal through I think but I will likely install some security screen in them anyway and this cap locks down pretty tight as well.

And a ladder rack will handle long lumber easily too!

But I still want a DB!!!!

 

Maybe a few boards on a ladder rack but I got 2x10”x16’ boards, 19 of them there, the load compressed on my Timbrens. YOLO, get a DB if you really want it!

 

Another plug for DB. And here’s a pic of the front access, with DB’s crossbin installed:

 

Still waiting on mine, it's supposed to ship July 17th.

 

I HATED waiting. But so awesome to come home and find it delivered.

 

Shipping notification from Diamondback came yesterday that my HD has shipped and will arrive Monday or Tuesday. That's shipping eight days earlier than their original estimate. Good job Diamondback! I installed the Toyota OEM electronic tailgate lock yesterday in preparation for installing the new bed cover. Should work great securing my bed in conjunction with the Diamondback HD.

 

Awesome news... good for you!! I'm also waiting for a shipping date..fingers crossed I get lucky like you did. Now as for the tailgate lock... I told myself I was not doing the lock/release (pop-n-lock) on this like I did my Tacoma because the tailgate release was a PIA and never was perfect, but i might have do to the OEM tailgate lock like you did.

 

Thanks! Yeah, IMHO it was $135 well spent. The OEM tailgate lock was simple to install and is very quiet compared to the aftermarket pop-n-lock. My friend has a p-n-l on his truck and it is very loud when actuated. The OEM version requires no cutting or splicing and I installed it in about an hour at home in my garage and didn't even have to jack up the truck to run the wiring harness (thanks to the 35's" and CB Pro lift kit). It works perfectly (so far) with my factory remote key fob. I just ordered a Crossbin 13 from Diamondback this morning as I was on the fence about getting the 8 or 13 model for my truck. I wish now I had ordered it at the same time as the HD, but alas I procrastinated. I'm just glad to have the cover on its way so I'll be able to secure my camping gear and other stuff in the bed very soon..

 

I've had my Diamondback HD for about a year and a half, and couldn't be happier with it. I was anxious to get mine, so I paid the expedited fee ($150) and got it in about a week. I installed the pop and lock, and although it is loader than some, I know when it locks.

I've hauled many thing on top of the cover without any issues.

 

Me too. I lined the tailgate and panel around the actuator with sound deadener.

it’s a little clunky sounding, but not bad. And I DO like knowing it locked.

 

Thanks f0r the info!
Yep another ~ $150 gone ..lol. I also just ordered the tailgate lock from Toyota. Good news is I received notice on Friday that my Diamondback cover was shipping (5 days sooner then projected). As I am on the West Coast, I don't expect it for 7+ days but I am excited to finally get it.