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Diamondback HD Bed Cover installation tips wanted

Discussion in 'Tonneau Covers, Caps and Shells' started by DES, Feb 13, 2022.

  1. Feb 13, 2022 at 4:29 PM
    #1
    DES

    DES [OP] New Member

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    Hey guys I just joined today. Looking for tips or lessons learned on securely installing Diamondback bed cover. 2020 tundra trd sport with the bed rails. From what I see online the whole cover is secured by the 4 clamps on center section. Does it hold well. Has anyone used extra clamps ? I like the idea of being able to load the top. These things look excellent but just wondered if 4 clamps is secure enough when driving at speed…..
     
    Patch999 likes this.
  2. Feb 13, 2022 at 5:03 PM
    #2
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    No first hand experience with these but hoping to get one some day. I have never seen or heard anything negative about these besides the price. Seems pretty well engineered.
     
    Patch999 likes this.
  3. Feb 13, 2022 at 5:04 PM
    #3
    Patch999

    Patch999 SSEM #17 You are what you do when it counts

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    I put some weights on the corners when I installed mine. About 60lbs. Takes a bit to get it adjusted just right but when you do it’s solid.
    I ended up locking my keys in the bed and it took a while to drill out the lock and break into it. I didn’t put the weights on when I installed the new lock and saw a very small leak on the drives back corner. Nothing major but I do need to adjust it since it wasn’t an issue before.
     
  4. Feb 13, 2022 at 6:36 PM
    #4
    eick

    eick New Member

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    The clamps aren’t the only thing holding it in because you have locking bars in the front and back. It ain’t going anywhere

    Install advice - use the shims they give you under the bed rails and put some weight on the corners when you set it. I used a 35lb weight on each corner and it hasn’t leaked a drop.

    The most weight I have had on top is a big husky toolbox I helped a friend take home from Home Depot. Think it weighed about 5-600 pounds
     
  5. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:30 PM
    #5
    DES

    DES [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the tips and info… I ordered the HD model should get here in couple weeks. I like the idea of using weights to push down the cover while u adjust the locking bars to tighten the fit up some. Shims under the bed rail I can experiment with…
     
  6. Feb 15, 2022 at 7:54 PM
    #6
    eick

    eick New Member

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    No experimenting necessary they give you the shims and instructions
     
  7. Feb 16, 2022 at 8:58 AM
    #7
    DES

    DES [OP] New Member

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    I may have missed it in the videos I saw for Tundra installation the 4 clamps appear to be installed on the center section without shims ...?

    Shims under the clamps would take up slack and require less bolt turning to tighten clamps...are the shims area size the same as the clamp or maybe wider along the bedrail to get more grip ?
    Just wondering
    thanks!
     
  8. Feb 16, 2022 at 9:11 AM
    #8
    Willard

    Willard New Member

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    The shims go under the plastic bed rail caps. Not the clamps.
     
  9. Feb 16, 2022 at 4:20 PM
    #9
    JackwagonJim

    JackwagonJim New Member

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    The shims are a dozen rubber pieces that stick to the underside of the rail.

    Adding weight to the top is helpful. Have a friend help mount stuff. Itd be hard to do solo, but not unpossible.

    Just installed a SE last weekend.
     
  10. Feb 16, 2022 at 4:33 PM
    #10
    DES

    DES [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the info on these shims... I did not know about them and they are not in any of the youtube videos I had seen installing Diamondback on Tundras.

    I asked Diamondback they said the tundra and tacomas have a hollow area between the bed caps and the metal underneath (bed rail) so that when the 4 clamps are installed on the center section there have been reports of crushed / deformed bed rails/caps. The shims are the solution they came up with...i didnt ask when they started shipping them in the kits.

    How long did you set them aside to dry before putting the caps back on the rails ? My kit is supposed to be here in a week or so :)
    thanks again for this info !
     
  11. Feb 16, 2022 at 4:39 PM
    #11
    Willard

    Willard New Member

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    They have 3m adhesive on the shims. Stick them on, put the caps back on the bed sides. No waiting.

    I highly recommend running a bead of silicone at the front of the caps near the cab. This is the main point of water entry with the tundra and diamondback cover.
     
  12. Feb 17, 2022 at 11:57 AM
    #12
    eick

    eick New Member

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    When I got my HD it included a strip of weatherproofing to go on the front. No silicone anywhere on mine and it’s as dry as my bank account after browsing this forum.
     
    Adam likes this.
  13. Feb 17, 2022 at 12:20 PM
    #13
    DES

    DES [OP] New Member

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    LOL I just joined and man my account is already drying up fast !
     
  14. Feb 17, 2022 at 3:20 PM
    #14
    Willard

    Willard New Member

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    The strip goes on the front of the bed, yes. However the instructions say to also use silicone sealant under the front of the plastic bed caps.

    It’s nice that yours doesn’t leak in that area, but mine did until I sealed the caps near the cab.
     
  15. Feb 17, 2022 at 3:55 PM
    #15
    DES

    DES [OP] New Member

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    I pulled the bed caps off and got some gray silicone sealer…awaiting the kit ! thanks Willard…
     
  16. Feb 19, 2022 at 11:15 AM
    #16
    DanTundra

    DanTundra Danny

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    TRD sway bar, airbag kit, Diamondback HD, LED headlights, Pedal Commander, Bilsteins 6112's up front with shims (2.5 inch lift), 5160s in the rear with CB +2 shackles (1.5 inch lift), Falken Wildpeak AT3W 285/75/18, TRD Pro Grill insert, MattGecko under hood and bed light kit,

    I will have to contact Diamondback about these shims. I've had my HD cover installed for 2-3 years, and they never contacted me about these shims! I just went out and noticed some deformation on my bed rail cap where the clamps are!! They notified me about the new hardware/bolts awhile back, but not these shims....
     
  17. Feb 19, 2022 at 1:55 PM
    #17
    Adam

    Adam New Member

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    I bought a used HD a little over a month ago. I ordered the shims and gasket for 22 bucks from Diamond back a week before I got it. Still have yet to get them.
     
  18. Mar 20, 2022 at 6:35 PM
    #18
    Foster

    Foster New Member

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    If you used clamps on your bed rails before without using shims, expect to buy new bedrail caps. I had a different soft cover on before the diamondback and the clamps deformed the caps.

    As for installation I seem to remember the instructions saying to put the rear panel on after the center and then the front panel. I put the front panel on after the center so that I could reach easier than if I had already installed the rear. Also use the weights as recommended in this thread and just take your time. Not much to it really, just a little fiddling to get the right tension on the locking bars.

    You will love the cover.
     
  19. Mar 31, 2022 at 5:56 AM
    #19
    Abrown3912

    Abrown3912 New Member

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    Buy this trim and molding tool set from Harbor Freight. It makes taking the bed rails off a breeze.
     
  20. Mar 31, 2022 at 2:32 PM
    #20
    Willard

    Willard New Member

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    The reason they show putting on the rear panel before the cab side panel is so you position the center section correctly. If you do the cab side panel first, you may be too close and lower the panel into your rear window.
     
  21. Mar 31, 2022 at 2:36 PM
    #21
    MJoeP

    MJoeP New Member

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    2016 Tundra 1794 DiamondBack ATV Tonneau Cover 7" BDS Lift 20" Fuel Krank Wheels 37X13.50X20 Toyo Open Country M/T
    Small tip. When newly installed, check the clamps daily as they will loosen as the cover settles. It took mine about 3 months before I trusted the clamps to be tight each time I checked. I still check them and so far, after 2 years, all is good.
     
  22. Apr 4, 2022 at 7:58 AM
    #22
    DanTundra

    DanTundra Danny

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    TRD sway bar, airbag kit, Diamondback HD, LED headlights, Pedal Commander, Bilsteins 6112's up front with shims (2.5 inch lift), 5160s in the rear with CB +2 shackles (1.5 inch lift), Falken Wildpeak AT3W 285/75/18, TRD Pro Grill insert, MattGecko under hood and bed light kit,
    DiamondBack shipped me the bedrail shims free of charge, however, I'm debating if it is worth putting on.

    I've had my cover on/clamped without the shims for 4 years now. I'm sure my bed rail caps are warped already, and at least now I know my clamps are tight and everything is waterproof vs. if I remove the clamps/cover to install these shims I'd have to go through the process of checking the clamps/ensuring everything is waterproof again.
     
    MadMaxCanon likes this.
  23. Apr 4, 2022 at 8:01 AM
    #23
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    Seriously thinking about getting this soon, do they ship the shims automatically when you order a cover for a tundra or do you have to request it?
     
  24. Apr 4, 2022 at 9:48 AM
    #24
    Abrown3912

    Abrown3912 New Member

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    They come with the covers now. I am very happy with mine.
     
    MadMaxCanon likes this.
  25. Apr 4, 2022 at 11:41 AM
    #25
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    Anyone with Molle panels in the bed confirm that the clamps for the middle section would still fit? The clamps for my current gator cover work with the molle panels but the DB clamps look larger.
     
  26. Apr 4, 2022 at 2:10 PM
    #26
    Willard

    Willard New Member

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    I wouldn’t touch it if it’s not leaking and everything is working as you expect.

    The rail covers will warp a little even with the shims.
     
    DanTundra[QUOTED] likes this.
  27. Apr 4, 2022 at 2:16 PM
    #27
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    I am wondering if anyone would be kind enough to get some measurements for me of the installed clamps so I know if they will work with my Molle panels. how far clamps stick out and down from the bed rails.
     
  28. Apr 20, 2022 at 6:46 AM
    #28
    MadMaxCanon

    MadMaxCanon New Member

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    Too many, but not enough....
    So i took the plunge and ordered the HD cover. It showed up in record time for me, I had it in 6 business days. I just wanted to confirm that it did come with the shim kit. Also, I will be installing some 1/4" thick weather stripping on the underside of the rail caps just for extra weatherproofing and a bead of silicone near the bulkhead area under the caps.

    I also did a dry fit of the center section and can confirm that the clamps do not get in the way of the Cali Raised Molle panels. Not sure about victory 4x4 panels but they look to be the same dimension wise.
     

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