DiamondBack Covers | General Thread

[Pookie]

Nah, I'm not on the payroll. In fact I sold my Diamondback as I took my build a different direction. That doesn't change what I wrote and it isn't even specific to Diamondback's customer service. Honestly, there's just too much BS on these forums. It's easy to sit behind your keyboard and fire away whether it's deserved or not.

If you want to go outside of a product spec (i.e. use an imperial drill bit vs a metric drill bit) then don't expect to get your hand held along the way. Regardless of the issue shit posting online isn't very helpful at all.

It's your Jeep. Figure it out.

Hey Timmy. You can take it for what its worth. I guess it's easy to sit behind your keyboard and fire away at someone's post you don't even know. That's a form of shit posting too. I'm not looking for my hand to get held. I'm just relaying my experiences.

Watch your manners Timmy. It might come back to bite you in the ass.

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[Tim]

Watch your manners Timmy. It might come back to bite you in the ass.

Yeah, so not sure what that is supposed to mean but I'm not scared.

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So let's actually be productive and recap a few things.

It's an old question at this point and I'm sure you figured it out but you don't need new bed rail caps. Just work through removing them carefully and everything should be fine.

As far as drill bits go, let's think this through. The cover and/or rack don't magically know that you used an imperial bit and then for some reason fail. It's a hole and a bolt fits through it with a washer and a nut on the other side. If the holes are grossly oversized you will have a problem. Do a little math and figure out the closest sized bit and go with it. You can't be way off on hole sizing but you could definitely use a 1/4" bit in place of a 6mm, for example. 7/32 could be subbed in for a 5mm and 5/32 could be used in place of 4mm.

 

[Pookie]

Yeah, so not sure what that is supposed to mean but I'm not scared.

---------

So let's actually be productive and recap a few things.

It's an old question at this point and I'm sure you figured it out but you don't need new bed rail caps. Just work through removing them carefully and everything should be fine.

As far as drill bits go, let's think this through. The cover and/or rack don't magically know that you used an imperial bit and then for some reason fail. It's a hole and a bolt fits through it with a washer and a nut on the other side. If the holes are grossly oversized you will have a problem. Do a little math and figure out the closest sized bit and go with it. You can't be way off on hole sizing but you could definitely use a 1/4" bit in place of a 6mm, for example. 7/32 could be subbed in for a 5mm and 5/32 could be used in place of 4mm.

Thanks Tim! That was helpful.

Pookie

 

[eaglerugby04]

what surprises me is that they make these to order, why doesn't the frontrunner system come installed? Or do they at least offer the install? I feel like if done at the time of purchase they should be able to

 

[Pookie]

what surprises me is that they make these to order, why doesn't the frontrunner system come installed? Or do they at least offer the install? I feel like if done at the time of purchase they should be able to

I wondered the same thing myself. I wish it did. Based on the few conversations I've had they don't even offer any real support for the Front Runner system because it is not made by DB. From what I understand it was actually a product combo that LLOD put together and DB and FR collaborated to put out an offering. You cannot buy that particular rack system directly from FR. Only from DB. If you ask DB for support they point you to FR.

 

[Sarge502]

I finally pulled the trigger on a Diamondback SE and the Front Runner Rack System. It arrived last week and I just finished installing the cover. I was about to install the Front Runner Rack but it looks you will need three metric drill bits to do this and those are difficult to source at your local Lowes or Home Depot. Not sure if others have done this with regular imperial drill bits. If so, please share your experiences. I emailed DB for guidance about the drill bits and the customer support guy gave me a copy of the installation guide (which I already had). Definitely some lack luster customer service. Just sayin.

You’ll probably be unhappy you bought the SE later anyways. Especially if your mounting things on it which sounds like it. That won’t be DB’s fault either just FYI.

 

[Pookie]

You’ll probably be unhappy you bought the SE later anyways. Especially if your mounting things on it which sounds like it. That won’t be DB’s fault either just FYI.

I don't think so Sarge. I'm mounting a mountain bike on it. Last time I checked my bike was less than 400lbs. LLOD and others have actually mounted RTTS on the SE with success but I don't think DB wants you to know that.

 

[Sarge502]

I don't think so Sarge. I'm mounting a mountain bike on it. Last time I checked my bike was less than 400lbs. LLOD and others have actually mounted RTTS on the SE with success but I don't think DB wants you to know that.

I got you. No offense to those with SE’s. And I know realistically you could probably mount a lot more up there than even recommended I’m sure. I just feel like it’s one of those things where you take the lesser option and regret it later(at least for most). Can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to researching experiences from DB, say they wish they went with the HD. Hopefully you are satisfied with your even later. I’m opting for the HD. I keep breaking away and knocking out smaller cheaper mods, otherwise I’d already have pulled the trigger. I need to stay the course lol (considering it’ll probably take 2-3 weeks to get it anyways and I’d like to get it on before it starts getting cold)

 

[Pookie]

I got you. No offense to those with SE’s. And I know realistically you could probably mount a lot more up there than even recommended I’m sure. I just feel like it’s one of those things where you take the lesser option and regret it later(at least for most). Can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to researching experiences from DB, say they wish they went with the HD. Hopefully you are satisfied with your even later. I’m opting for the HD. I keep breaking away and knocking out smaller cheaper mods, otherwise I’d already have pulled the trigger. I need to stay the course lol (considering it’ll probably take 2-3 weeks to get it anyways and I’d like to get it on before it starts getting cold)

If my JT was being used as a work truck or I was frequently carrying heavy loads reaching upward towards 1600lbs I would have definitely bought an HD. I use my JT mostly as a fun, adventure truck to go to outdoor workout spots with my paddleboards, kayaks and bikes (which are mostly carbon fiber). I like to back country camp but I'm a minimalist and I don't carry heavy gear, generators or mini fridges. I also don't really do any hardcore 4 wheeling or carry motorized vehicles. The HD would have been overkill for me. Based on my self assessment, the SE suits me fine. It actually gives me plenty of margin too.

 

[Tim]

I wondered the same thing myself. I wish it did. Based on the few conversations I've had they don't even offer any real support for the Front Runner system because it is not made by DB. From what I understand it was actually a product combo that LLOD put together and DB and FR collaborated to put out an offering. You cannot buy that particular rack system directly from FR. Only from DB. If you ask DB for support they point you to FR.

When I set mine up I bought it through Front Runner. It was a “custom” parts list, though. Front Runner won’t sell individual parts. They are very particular as to what gets specced for a particular use case. My guess is LLOD started enough demand that after others and I ordered these they just decided to make it an official kit available though Diamondback. I’m sure DB is making a few bucks on the deal.

If my JT was being used as a work truck or I was frequently carrying heavy loads reaching upward towards 1600lbs I would have definitely bought an HD. I use my JT mostly as a fun, adventure truck to go to outdoor workout spots with my paddleboards, kayaks and bikes (which are mostly carbon fiber). I like to back country camp but I'm a minimalist and I don't carry heavy gear, generators or mini fridges. I also don't really do any hardcore 4 wheeling or carry motorized vehicles. The HD would have been overkill for me. Based on my self assessment, the SE suits me fine. It actually gives me plenty of margin too.

Those were my thoughts exactly. Hell, the truck can’t even carry 1,600 pounds of total payload. The bed rails are only rated for something like 400 or 500 pounds if I remember correctly. I get that overbuilding is a luxury most people will spend the money on but for me it wasn’t needed and was out of my price range. I walked around on mine regularly and never had a problem. I weight 200 lbs but that weight is all concentrated in one spot when walking. Your use case is exactly what I used mine for. Bikes, skis, etc. It’s a great cover. I really struggled with the idea of selling it but I wanted better access to my bed.

 

[kd1yt]

What I am about to post is not intended as disrespect to Diamondback, or to anyone who has chosen or might in the future choose an SE [or an HD for that matter] this is just "for whatever it's worth."

I recently bought a set of 5 Mojave wheel/tire takeoffs, a substantial distance from my home. The seller kindly helped me swap the Mojave wheels onto my truck so that I only needed to carry home the Sport S alloy wheels/tires, which are more compact and lighter than the Mojave wheels (plus I was glad to start enjoying the Mojave wheels and tires right away).

I fit three of the five Sport S tire/wheels in the bed and then went to strap the remaining two Sport S tire/wheels onto the top of my Diamondback HD with ratchet straps. I had a 'formative experience' of sorts in my teens with an insufficiently secured load (no one was hurt, but long story short, a 4x8 sheet of plywood essentially turned into a kite as it ripped the roofrack fully out of the roof of a beater station wagon), so I'm pretty 'thorough' about securing loads. As I began to tighten the ratchet straps, to only what I would consider moderate amounts of tension, the seller of the Mojave tires observed and mentioned to me that the corners of the DB HD were slightly starting to lift in response to the tension of the ratchet straps. I immediately stopped cranking on the ratchet straps and just used more ratchet straps looped through the Sport S wheels, and secured at other tiedowns on the DB HD, for overall securing of the tires but with no focused high tension on any single point. It all worked fine.

I'm glad that the seller of the Mojave tires happened to notice, because left to my own devices, I would have applied more tension to the ratchet straps, and I might not have noticed until something more dramatic and irreversible happened (I was a bit over-focused on getting on the road for the long drive home and not wanting the tires to get loose). The general sturdiness of the DB HD and its many tiedowns (and seeing photos of ATVs tied down on DB HDs, etc.) sort of gave me an unfounded sense of how much pull could be exerted on the tie downs, in a diagonal direction. As soon as I realized what was going on, it occurred to me that even with all of the reinforcement in the DB HD (and there is a lot of reinforcement), there still isn't an ability to resist a very substantial point-focused upward pull, out at corners. Not a product flaw, just something to make sure you don't fail to consider.

Again, this is NOT to trash the product. I continue to be entirely pleased with the DB HD. Just some observed experience that even though it is a a really good product, don't get overconfident in its rigidity and go wild with ratchet strapped tie offs and accidentally turn your nice lids into something deformed.

PS, for me, this makes me glad that I'd gone with the HD, but my general inclination is "when given a choice, go as sturdy as reasonably possible" - each person needs to balance their own use and trade-offs.

 

[Pookie]

When I set mine up I bought it through Front Runner. It was a “custom” parts list, though. Front Runner won’t sell individual parts. They are very particular as to what gets specced for a particular use case. My guess is LLOD started enough demand that after others and I ordered these they just decided to make it an official kit available though Diamondback. I’m sure DB is making a few bucks on the deal.



Those were my thoughts exactly. Hell, the truck can’t even carry 1,600 pounds of total payload. The bed rails are only rated for something like 400 or 500 pounds if I remember correctly. I get that overbuilding is a luxury most people will spend the money on but for me it wasn’t needed and was out of my price range. I walked around on mine regularly and never had a problem. I weight 200 lbs but that weight is all concentrated in one spot when walking. Your use case is exactly what I used mine for. Bikes, skis, etc. It’s a great cover. I really struggled with the idea of selling it but I wanted better access to my bed.

I'm glad I'm not the only one out there with my use case. The money I saved buying the SD over the HD paid for my Front Runner accessory. Based on my initial observations with the SE, it looks beefy as hell. I also weigh close to 200 lbs and I can walk all over the cover. It can definitely hold up my 26lb mountain bike and my 22lb surfski, LOL!

I'm glad there is an option for folks who have the need for work truck loads and farmer types who have to move stuff around. That's just not me.

I DO agree with you Tim, those JT plastic bedrails don't look like they can hold up 1600 lbs but I'm sure there are folks on this forum who may have tested it.

I'm guessing Sarge has some work truck needs with that JT Overland.

 

[eaglerugby04]

Really what sold me on the HD was the extra tire downs. I have used them, and they were expensive to add on myself, plus the time and fear. Once I added a few of those the cost was a no brainer.

 

[Pookie]

Really what sold me on the HD was the extra tire downs. I have used them, and they were expensive to add on myself, plus the time and fear. Once I added a few of those the cost was a no brainer.

I ordered mine black smooth finish, clean with no cleats installed. Looks cool to me. I figured if I ever needed to strap anything down to the top of the truck bed I could selectively attach the cleats or FR tie down loops onto the T-slots from the Front Runner. To be honest, I haven't had to strap anything to a truck since I was in my 20s in college trying to move from one place to another.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I ordered mine black smooth finish, clean with no cleats installed. Looks cool to me. I figured if I ever needed to strap anything down to the top of the truck bed I could selectively attach the cleats or FR tie down loops onto the T-slots from the Front Runner. To be honest, I haven't had to strap anything to a truck since I was in my 20s in college trying to move from one place to another.

That has got to look really nice, 12 cleats doesn't look the best, lol. I have had to strap down a few times on it and it has been really useful. cant imagine having to had taken it off to haul

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