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The DiamondBack HD can carry up to 1,600 lbs. of evenly distributed weight on its deck, or about what two full-size quads weigh. DiamondBack offers ATV Solutions to make loading quads easy. If your requirements aren’t quite as extreme, DiamondBack also offers the lighter weight SE model, which can still carry 400 lbs. Photo courtesy DiamondBack Truck Covers.
Trick Your Truck Bed
It seems that ever since the pickup truck was invented, owners and aftermarket companies have been trying to come up with effective ways to secure items stored in the bed. Today there are a number of solutions, from soft and hard tonneaus that fold, lift or retract to a multitude of truck canopies in almost every shape and size. The problem is, almost all of these products require some level of compromise, especially for the outdoor enthusiast. If you’ve got a tonneau, you’re limited to what you can put in the bed, and you usually can’t put anything on top of it save for bicycles or other light gear. If you’ve got a truck cap, you’ve got more room, but still not enough to throw a quad or two in the back—and removing and storing a canopy can be a challenge.
DiamondBack Truck Covers has an interesting solution to this problem, and one that should be particularly appealing to outdoorsmen—The DiamondBack HD. Made from 0.100-inch thick bright aluminum tread plate reinforced by seven aluminum box channel supports, the DiamondBack HD consists of three panels: a middle panel, which attaches to the bed rails using four extruded aluminum clamps, and front/rear panels which attach to the middle panel using open-ended hinges. This design, along with gas struts on the front and rear panels, makes it easy to access your gear. It also makes for quick removal. Simply unclip the gas struts, slide the front and rear panels out of their hinges and unclamp the center panel.
The DiamondBack HD uses a full compression seal to keep your gear dry and clean, and the front and rear panels feature a latching system that utilizes 3/8-inch thick steel rods that locate underneath the bed rails. When you close a panel, you rotate the handle to draw the rods in; once it is closed, you let go of the handle and the rods extend underneath the bed rails. You can then lock the two panels separately with the same key, and the keyholes are covered with a sliding cover that keeps dirt and moisture out. The DiamondBack HD’s exterior hardware is stainless steel, and the interior hardware is zinc-plated steel to resist corrosion.
All important details, for sure, but the DiamondBack HD’s biggest benefit is its ability to carry up to 1,600 lbs. (evenly distributed) on its deck. That means you can park two full-size quads on it and still put all your gear in the bed. In fact, DiamondBack offers a variety of “ATV Solutions” that let you to do just that. These are kits that come with low-incline, folding ramps that allow you to load your quad(s) from either the side (to load two ATVs side-by-side) or the back. The ramps lock into specially designed adapter bars that attach to the deck, and stops are provided so you don’t go too far. On the side-load systems, you get detachable side rails; on rear load, you get either a low- or high-profile cab guard—your choice. Twelve high-strength nylon boating cleats mounted to the cover with 5/16-inch stainless steel bolts provide plenty of tie-down points.
The DiamondBack HD is one of the best cargo solutions we’ve seen for the outdoorsman. For more information, visit their website—it answers all the questions you could possibly ask.
—Corey Hodges