Diamondback bed covers?

[jorosz0309]

Has anyone installed a diamondback cover? I’m attracted to them for their security and ability to load on top of them like a rack, roof top tent, skis etc. I’m curious to hear if anyone has had any experience with them on a Ranger. Water tightness? Do we need the j-braces installed? Other thoughts?

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[GManGeno]

Has anyone installed a diamondback cover? I’m attracted to them for their security and ability to load on top of them like a rack, roof top tent, skis etc. I’m curious to hear if anyone has had any experience with them on a Ranger. Water tightness? Do we need the j-braces installed? Other thoughts?

Like you I really like the design of the diamond back and was actually considering the 270. You can get all sorts of accessories for above and below the cover.

I have checked with Diamond back at the end of April and again last week. This was their latest response:

Thanks for following up. Our team is still working on these covers as the Ranger's new design has added complexities for mounting and properly sealing a bed as well as an advisory not to mount anything directly to the rails. Currently, there is only one company who offers a cover for this truck as their design ignores Ford's advisory and mounts directly to the rails. Our engineers have some plans for the cover to be fitted, mounted and sealed properly, but unfortunately will still require some time until a DiamondBack is ready for order.

So, the solution to the Ford advisory it to install the J-Braces, which I am having my dealer do for me this week. In April they said they were putting the finishing touches on the cover, but the response above tells me otherwise.

Instead, I am considering an EGR cover, it can handle a lot of weight, not as much as the DiamondBack but the 'EGR Rolltrac Manual Retractable Bed Cover' is available now for about the same price. It is the only cover I have seen that does not use c-clamps to mount to the bed rail but instead it is bolted. That makes it very secure, and their design allows for really excellent water drainage. I like the electric one as well because it is the only electric cover I have found that integrates with your key fob to open/close and lock/unlock, very cool. But it too is not ready and with one more electric thing to fail, maybe is not worth the wait either.

For me the question is how you will use your truck bed, I will never use it to haul gravel or move furniture in it, I have a utility trailer for that, so it will be more for hauling gear to enjoy the outdoors. More of a trunk, I guess. Both covers are very secure, and both have good water drainage designs.

Still thinking it through, ... wait for the DiamondBack or the electric EGR, or just get the manual EGR now.

Oh, and my local Linex dealer said that if I buy the manual EGR from them, they will install it for free. And since I am getting a Linex spray-in bedliner, I can let them do the EGR install. It is a way more complicated install then most others because of how it mounts and drains water away.

 

[TheDo114]

I have a diamondback cover, albeit on a 5G ranger and not the new one, but I can give you my opinion.

Pros:

1. Very secure
2. Virtually waterproof, water gets in the bed but not via the bed cover.
3. I like being able to put stuff on top of the cover
4. I like being able to open the cover without opening the tailgate.
5. Let's you double stack cargo. Put your valuable belongings under the cover and stuff that can be exposed onto the cover.
6. Let's you maximize the amount of bed space.

Cons:

1. Pain in the ass to remove and re-install if you carry things that cannot be strap down on the cover.
2. Pricey
3. Clamps holding the cover get loose on gravel road/off-roading.
4. Cannot have a separate headache rack and the diamondback cover.You can have one bolted onto the cover, but when you remove the panel, you loose the rack at the same time.
5. Real pain in the ass the remove and install. Sorry I got to drive the point home.

Overall, I like the cover, but I will probably go back to my old setup. I did not realize the amount of time I put tall stuff in my bed and removing and re-installing it all the time gets old quick. I also loose my headache rack at the same time.

If you are looking for secure and dry storage and do not carry tall items often, I say it's worth the money. Best quality cover out there and it's standing up to abuse well.

 

[jorosz0309]

Like you I really like the design of the diamond back and was actually considering the 270. You can get all sorts of accessories for above and below the cover.

I have checked with Diamond back at the end of April and again last week. This was their latest response:

Thanks for following up. Our team is still working on these covers as the Ranger's new design has added complexities for mounting and properly sealing a bed as well as an advisory not to mount anything directly to the rails. Currently, there is only one company who offers a cover for this truck as their design ignores Ford's advisory and mounts directly to the rails. Our engineers have some plans for the cover to be fitted, mounted and sealed properly, but unfortunately will still require some time until a DiamondBack is ready for order.

So, the solution to the Ford advisory it to install the J-Braces, which I am having my dealer do for me this week. In April they said they were putting the finishing touches on the cover, but the response above tells me otherwise.

Instead, I am considering an EGR cover, it can handle a lot of weight, not as much as the DiamondBack but the 'EGR Rolltrac Manual Retractable Bed Cover' is available now for about the same price. It is the only cover I have seen that does not use c-clamps to mount to the bed rail but instead it is bolted. That makes it very secure, and their design allows for really excellent water drainage. I like the electric one as well because it is the only electric cover I have found that integrates with your key fob to open/close and lock/unlock, very cool. But it too is not ready and with one more electric thing to fail, maybe is not worth the wait either.

For me the question is how you will use your truck bed, I will never use it to haul gravel or move furniture in it, I have a utility trailer for that, so it will be more for hauling gear to enjoy the outdoors. More of a trunk, I guess. Both covers are very secure, and both have good water drainage designs.

Still thinking it through, ... wait for the DiamondBack or the electric EGR, or just get the manual EGR now.

Oh, and my local Linex dealer said that if I buy the manual EGR from them, they will install it for free. And since I am getting a Linex spray-in bedliner, I can let them do the EGR install. It is a way more complicated install then most others because of how it mounts and drains water away.

Interesting… I’m going to put the j braces in for peace of mind. I was on the Diamondback website and put in “2024 Ford Ranger” and both the HD and Switchback looked like available options.

 

[jorosz0309]

I have a diamondback cover, albeit on a 5G ranger and not the new one, but I can give you my opinion.

Pros:

1. Very secure
2. Virtually waterproof, water gets in the bed but not via the bed cover.
3. I like being able to put stuff on top of the cover
4. I like being able to open the cover without opening the tailgate.
5. Let's you double stack cargo. Put your valuable belongings under the cover and stuff that can be exposed onto the cover.
6. Let's you maximize the amount of bed space.

Cons:

1. Pain in the ass to remove and re-install if you carry things that cannot be strap down on the cover.
2. Pricey
3. Clamps holding the cover get loose on gravel road/off-roading.
4. Cannot have a separate headache rack and the diamondback cover.You can have one bolted onto the cover, but when you remove the panel, you loose the rack at the same time.
5. Real pain in the ass the remove and install. Sorry I got to drive the point home.

Overall, I like the cover, but I will probably go back to my old setup. I did not realize the amount of time I put tall stuff in my bed and removing and re-installing it all the time gets old quick. I also loose my headache rack at the same time.

If you are looking for secure and dry storage and do not carry tall items often, I say it's worth the money. Best quality cover out there and it's standing up to abuse well.

Looks like you have the “HD”? With the HD, if you have something a bit taller like bags of leaves, can you just remove the back panel for a quick trip and then put it back on? Or is that not an option?

I am taking your feedback seriously because I do often have some things that are a bit taller and now it’s convinced me to maybe look at the Diamondback “Switchback”. Looks like a more traditional folding hard cover, but can be secured while folded allowing better bed use. But the primary reason I was looking at the HD was the ability to add a rack for hauling kayaks, rooftop tents, etc. which it looks like can’t be done with the switchback. I’m so torn.

 

[GManGeno]

Interesting… I’m going to put the j braces in for peace of mind. I was on the Diamondback website and put in “2024 Ford Ranger” and both the HD and Switchback looked like available options.

If you select a cover and hit continue, it will switch to 'Notify Me'.

 

[TheDo114]

Looks like you have the “HD”? With the HD, if you have something a bit taller like bags of leaves, can you just remove the back panel for a quick trip and then put it back on? Or is that not an option?

I am taking your feedback seriously because I do often have some things that are a bit taller and now it’s convinced me to maybe look at the Diamondback “Switchback”. Looks like a more traditional folding hard cover, but can be secured while folded allowing better bed use. But the primary reason I was looking at the HD was the ability to add a rack for hauling kayaks, rooftop tents, etc. which it looks like can’t be done with the switchback. I’m so torn.

I have the SE, but added the headache rack and the extra cleats myself.

For thin items, yes that works. I've done it a couple of times, but anything bigger than 2 feet in depth and you will have to remove the whole cover.

Keep in mind that if you place something on your cover like a tent, you will loose the ability to open the panels and then you will have to remove the tent and the cover for bigger items.

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