Diamondback Bed Cover.... so far my best addition yet.

[Shortbed]

Mine was delivered about an hour and a half ago. Love it!

Looks great, sounds like the install went well. Hope you only torqued to 15 pounds!

 

[LastLight]

I have one- the HD black LineX version... on my Terrain 2013 SuperCrew. Looks great. High quality. Can't see it chipping. No leakage in nearly a year of use. I'm not very handy and had difficulty installing and removing. Most wouldn't have an issue. The last time I removed it, I had trouble separating the back flap from the center and when I went to put it on again, I noticed that the center had bent/warped from the torque I put on it trying to remove it. I'm not sure what happened. I haven't had a chance to call the factory yet.

The other problem I had was entirely my fault... went off road and didn't tighten down the claps enough and the whole unit gradually slipped backward. We were really bouncing around.

I'd still recommend the product. I doubt the problems I had would be typical.

Any pics of that on your Terrain? I haven't seen to many Terrains with bedcovers yet. Thanks,

 

[JohnGash]

sorry, no, I didn't take any before I warped / bent it taking it off. From my subjective opinion, the sheen, texture and color of the black goes very well with the integrated step on the 2013 super crew and the bumper, fender, wheel well trim and tires. From my perspective, the only appearance hit was around the fact that it elevates the top of the bed an inch or two and makes the height differential between the cab and the bed lower in a way that's a bit less attractive than a "flush" cover. But the cover itself- I think looks better than the quality roll / flip units. You have functional tradeoffs- I never used the "on top" functionality, but I was hampered somewhat by what I could fit inside when the lid was on. No problem getting stuff inside, just can't drive with it partially open... or at least I wasn't comfortable doing so. Seems kind of floppy and obstructive when the back lid is open at a 45 upward angle... plus the wind would push it down when going and it would flip back up when slowing down. Overall, I really like the cover and have no comparison point that I've personally used.

 

[Shortbed]

sorry, no, I didn't take any before I warped / bent it taking it off. From my subjective opinion, the sheen, texture and color of the black goes very well with the integrated step on the 2013 super crew and the bumper, fender, wheel well trim and tires. From my perspective, the only appearance hit was around the fact that it elevates the top of the bed an inch or two and makes the height differential between the cab and the bed lower in a way that's a bit less attractive than a "flush" cover. But the cover itself- I think looks better than the quality roll / flip units. You have functional tradeoffs- I never used the "on top" functionality, but I was hampered somewhat by what I could fit inside when the lid was on. No problem getting stuff inside, just can't drive with it partially open... or at least I wasn't comfortable doing so. Seems kind of floppy and obstructive when the back lid is open at a 45 upward angle... plus the wind would push it down when going and it would flip back up when slowing down. Overall, I really like the cover and have no comparison point that I've personally used.

Really? You drove around with the lid open without releasing the gas springs, folding the cover back, and lashing it down to the other panel using the integrated cleats?

Just curious, but how do you go about tightening the screws on the C clamps that hold the cover to the bed rails. Please tell me you don't tighten until the bolts make a creaky and cracking sound. Get yourself a torque wrench and tighten per your instruction manual.

Mine came with grade two bolts and since I use the 9/16 socket head the bolts are 3/8-16 coarse. These have a torque range of 20-23 so when I tightened per my defective owners manual to the suggested 50 pounds, the bolts and c-clamps sheared off. Diamondback corrected the manual after I called them.

But now I note that the manuals all say torque to 30 pounds. Which must mean they have upgraded the bolts to grade 5 (and therefore beefier C-clamps as well).

Can one of you look at the bolts on you C-clamps? Are they smooth (grade 2) have three dashes (grade 5) or six dashed (grade 8). Will call the factory tomorrow and ask them, cause I want the better clamps and bolts to replace my grade two bolts and hardware.

Google "general torque specification table" to see what the three or six dash patterns look like. I am hoping Diamondback is not directing owners to torque their grade 2 bolts to 30 pounds when the recommended range is only 20-23 pounds. It's all fun and games untill your weakened grade two bolts shear off and your 80 pound cover breaks free from the bed at 90 MPH and kills the biker behind you.

 

[Yukon Joe]

sorry, no, I didn't take any before I warped / bent it taking it off. From my subjective opinion, the sheen, texture and color of the black goes very well with the integrated step on the 2013 super crew and the bumper, fender, wheel well trim and tires. From my perspective, the only appearance hit was around the fact that it elevates the top of the bed an inch or two and makes the height differential between the cab and the bed lower in a way that's a bit less attractive than a "flush" cover. But the cover itself- I think looks better than the quality roll / flip units. You have functional tradeoffs- I never used the "on top" functionality, but I was hampered somewhat by what I could fit inside when the lid was on. No problem getting stuff inside, just can't drive with it partially open... or at least I wasn't comfortable doing so. Seems kind of floppy and obstructive when the back lid is open at a 45 upward angle... plus the wind would push it down when going and it would flip back up when slowing down. Overall, I really like the cover and have no comparison point that I've personally used.

Are you getting rid of the cover?

Do you have an accurate measurement of the hight? I'm curious if I can make this work with my custom WSI light bar.

Yukon Joe
www.RUNRAPTORRUN.com

 

[JohnGash]

In reference to both posts immediately above- I like the cover and will keep it. The HD version of the cover looks to be exactly 2" high / thick. The rubber tube / strip that sits between the cover and the truck is 5/8" when not installed but probably compresses to around 1/4" when installed.

I agree with the advice to remove the gas springs, fold back and secure when driving with one 'flap' open to the sky. I live on a private road and drive kid bikes over to a neighbor's house, and learned quickly that the low hassle leave it flapped up at a 45 degree angle isn't the way to go.

Tightening the clamps by hand has been a pain. The bolts I have are smooth with NY and 307A on the head. I don't own a torque wrench but will look into buying one.

 

[Shortbed]

.
I agree with the advice to remove the gas springs, fold back and secure when driving with one 'flap' open to the sky. I live on a private road and drive kid bikes over to a neighbor's house, and learned quickly that the low hassle leave it flapped up at a 45 degree angle isn't the way to go.

Tightening the clamps by hand has been a pain. The bolts I have are smooth with NY and 307A on the head. I don't own a torque wrench but will look into buying one.

John,

Your 307A bolts are slightly weaker than the Grade 2 bolts:

http://selfdrillers.com/brochures/TDS005-Grade 2 and ASTM A307 Bolting.pdf

Here is the Torque specification table, note that 3/8th inch grade 2 bolts should be torqued between 20-23 foot poundsm

GENERAL TORQUE SPECIFICATION TABLE

The Diamondback instruction manual still shows the 9/16th wrench to tighten, which means the bolt diameter = 3/8th inch. Per the chart above, grade 2 bolts should only be tightened to 20-23 pounds, yet the manual suggests 30 foot pounds.

US Bolts - Head and Wrench Sizes

Edit to add: I called Diamondback. They were getting some complaints about the bolts loosening when torqued to 20 Pounds. Their manuals used to say 20 pounds, but the factory did some testing at 30 and found the covers did not budge at that torque, so they changed from 20 to 30 pounds. They have recently decided to split the difference, so their instruction manuals will say tighten to 25 pounds going forward

They did note that many of their complaints came from people who had ignored the instruction manual and not rechecked the torque after 100 miles of driving. This should be done each time the cover is removed BTW. Tighten to 20-25 pounds. Drive 100 miles. Then recheck and re tighten as nesc.

A small price to pay for what I think is the best cover you can get

 

[HectorR]

Installed my SE a couple of weeks ago.. Install was easy with one person

Very happy with it so far.

To add to the Torque info I'd seen on here about the 50 ft/lbs typo, my instructions said 30.
Tried putting first bolt to 30 and you can just tell way too much from creaking!
23 feels right and hasn't budged after 1000 mile trip.

 

[boarder1995]

I just installed my DiamondBack cover last night. Looks great to me!

 

[Jay9722]

Are you guys getting it with the Linex option?