Great review, just what I was looking for. Time to order one.

Just ordered the same cover, thanks for your amazing reviews!

Love the t-shirt. Thanks for the review.

Thank you. Mine's being delivered today. Very excited. Was pondering getting a campershell for my gear, but this is better and less money.

Great review. I like how you had an elevated perspective as well while describing the cover. Looks good on that ride. Thanks!

Great review, thanks. Just the sort of info I was looking for.

Thank you for a honest review, Devil Dog!

Oooh Rah . Like that MRE Tee ! Good review of the Diamondback HD Cover . Like that military discount too !!

Best cover ever....looks outstanding and incredibly well built. There is nothing better on the market !!!

Buy one's cry one's 😢. Thank you brother, great review and all good points

When stacking sheet goods on the cover lay 2x4s flat on the cover first then lay the sheets on top. That’ll prevent the locks from interfering.

Great review

Had mine for 7 years. Still going strong. The biggest complaint I have about it, as someone who lives in PA in the "snow belt", it is a bear in the winter. Ice will freeze it fast to the tailgate. Forcing it up will actually bend the hinge pins if you're not careful. If you keep the panel raised in the winter and there's snow on it, it'll melt in the sun and go down into the track and freeze solid (preventing the closure of the panel unless you get up there and chip it out). I haven't taken the center piece off the bed in four years because it's such a pain to get centered (and having to crawl around to get the c clamps on and tightened). Overall, it's the strongest and most durable tonneau available on the market. If someone wants in my bed, they're better off getting a jig saw and cutting a hole in the side of the bed lol. But, I personally wouldn't buy it again if I got a different sized bed. Simply due to the minor annoyances that have gotten to me over the years lol. The only wear I'm noticing after seven years are surface rust on the locking mechanisms and the one "letter" on the back of the cover where it says "diamond back" is actually starting to lift up. I guess they aren't metal, they seem like something that must be glued to the cover and then line-x'd over.

Getting my HD put on tomorrow w/Frontrunner rack system, can't wait!

Great review thank you. Would not the silver cover be much cooler?

Great video Marine!! Made my decision solid after watching this!

I'm on my 2nd diamondback HD, on my 2nd truck with a combined 7+ years of usage. Overall i will say probably the single best bedcover you can buy. The first cover i had even after 6 years looked like the day i installed it, minus the locks being smashed up from lumber, pallets, and ATVs. I will say i wish they could do a lower profile or relocate the locks to somewhere more protected. As far as the seals go, definitely make sure to have enough weight on them when setting the lock rods. I had a friend (240lbs) stand on each panel to compress the seal and set the rods tight. After 3-4 days the seals conformed to the tightness and they are sealed TIGHT. You'd also be amazed by the amount of road splash/misting gets into the bed from underneath.

Had mine 3 years. Love it

Good review! Thanks. Ordered mine right before Christmas and can't wait for it to show up! I'm glad you pointed out the lock issue though. That's something I've been worried about. What about just carrying a pair of 6' 2x4s to put down first? Would that raise sheet goods high enough the locks wouldn't be in the way?

I just ordered mine yesterday.

Thank you sir

Fantastic review 10 outta 10.

Appreciate they info on the DiamondBack! Oorah and S/F!,

Nice video, bro. I bought the smooth also, plus the grid background and kayak supporting rails. So far, no issues. I even had to reorder a heftier lift rods at no charge. Diamondback will take care of ya! I stored a foldable ebike back there. If the thief can't see it, it can't get stolen! Cover looks nice on my black 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Custom.

Use 2X4 or 2X3 as dunnage, since i have a forklift I use a 8' skid. Thank you for your service...

Thanks. Iv’e had my Diamondback for about 5 months now. The cover is great. I added gaskets around the tailgate and some silicone sealant on the front edge of the rail caps and the bed it is very watertight now. The only downside to the cover is the price. Buy once, cry once. If you are keeping your truck over 5 years then get the Diamondback HD, no doubt it is going to last. If you need security get any model Diamondback. If you only plan on keeping your truck for a few years it’s probably not cost effective to buy the top end HD black Diamondback, look at the standard silver Diamondbacks for about $700 less which is closer to the price of a lot of other covers and still very secure.

About the locks getting in the way of sheet goods, if you take a 1” plywood sheet and a 1/4” sheet and laminate them together and cut them the size of the 2 large sizes of the cover 4’ x length and cut out the locations of the locks . You can just lay them down before you load sheets. I keep mine in the bed of the truck always

Good review man. I do think the locks are in strange spots (for a cover designed to carry things on the top). Also don’t love exposed locks facing up (because of snow/freezing). It would make sense to put the locks on the side, like the cleats. Also have covers for them. I also wonder how hard they are to pick. But that’s a whole different thing.

Thank you sir for an excellent review from a real person. I really appreciate your perspective ! I wonder about folding back the rear cover by disconnecting the gas strut. You are unable to do that without an assistant? If you can't, a sure as heck won't be able to! Great video! I think you sold me on one.

Great review! Would you buy this again?

I wonder if adding the 2 inch foam insulation with single side aluminum face to the underside of the cover would reduce some of the radiant heat. Same reason folks have put it on their garage doors. Wouldn't be expensive nor weigh very much. Bigger challenge is finding the right high temp adhesive. BTW, Semper Fi.

Good review.

I just found a used HD one for $975 for my diesel gladiator. It’s black with the diamond finish I’d rather have smooth like yours but hard to argue with $900 savings

Semper Fi bro

I'm planning on getting the Diamondback HD when I get my new F150 in 2024. One thing you said I hadn't thought about. How hot it gets. Makes sense given it's all black in the hot sun. Sorry about your little girl getting burned on the inside aluminum. Does the outside surface get very hot, uncomfortably hot to the touch, in the hot sun? What about the air temp inside when it is closed for extended periods in the hot sun, how hot is it then, and is so hot inside that items stored inside might be at risk? And when you open it after it's been closed in the hot sun for a long time does a woosh of very hot air hit you? Thanks. I'd welcome some addition input on this heat issue.

I'm on my 4th truck in the past 5 years, a 2017 Raptor, a 2018 Platinum, a 2019 Raptor and now my 2020 Raptor. (Anyone who doubts that just look up my name in the Raptor forum and see the proof. Yeah, I'm just a wacko. I trade vehicles like people change their BVDs. ) I've had 4 different covers. On my current Raptor I finally decided to get the Diamondback cover. As the Raptor doesn't have a high payload, I didn't at first get the HD. (BTW, Diamondback has an outlet portion of their site and sometimes you can score a cover that fits your truck at considerable savings. May be missing a weld, scratched, etc.) When mine arrived and after install, I noted by one hinge it wasn't straight and you could shine a light through from one end to the next by the middle panel. I emailed them, sent pics, and they said it should not have passed QC and that they'd replace it. I decided to go with the HD at that point. I also have the smooth finish. I believe you are incorrect about being able to get less than the 12 cleats installed. I wanted fewer. It's all or nothing, or you can install how ever many you want yourself, they told me. I rarely put anything on top. Mine never leaks. By the rear window I purchased better rubber gasket from Amazon and installed it in addition to what they supply. I use a pressure washer and no water gets in. Only cover I've had that is waterproof. What I don't like is when you need to put tall things in the bed it is a PIA to take one cover off. Every time I unlock the small latch on the black riser and pull it back I smash the back of my hand on the cover. I also think it would have been a much better look (aside from the locks) if they had put the hinges on the underside. And yes, it is very expensive. Great review, Marine. Subbed.

Is that a thickness planer in the background? If so, would mind giving a quick review on it?

All you need is some blocks with reliefs for loading the top you could have them coated or wrapped with rubber great for things you dont want scratched

Just found you bother. Great video.

Thanks for a great review! I’m considering the same. Would you do anything different if you had to buy another? Thanks in advance!

I had a Diamond Back on my last truck.. pretty much bullet proof cover.. I was thinking about a Trifold on my new truck, but then was wondering how would I get under a tri fold if the tailgate latch failed like it did on my last truck.. To avoid issues with the locks being in the way on a Diamondback.. when carrying plywood just put a couple of 2x4 down and then the plywood.. not an issue.. Only issue I had with mine was the cargo rail and the slide bar. The slot for the slides that you tie cargo to was too narrow to easily remove the Center section that the Front and Rear Panels hook onto. Only could get an open end wrench in and then only 1/8th turn of the retaining bolts at a time.. very tedious. Otherwise the Diamond Back and the added front window guard looked awesome and stayed that way after 4 years of sitting outside in mother nature..

What made you go with the smooth cover vs the standard pattern?... Debating between the two for mine

Why don’t they use carriage bolts on the hinges so someone can’t take the hinges off to break in? Seems like an easy swap. Wondering why they didn’t design them that way.

Things that go bang. :-)

I don't understand why they don't move that rear locking handle to the underneath of the cover. All you would have to do is open the tailgate and reach underneath the cover and turn the handle. That would get the handle out of the center of the cover on top where it is in the way. I also don't get why you can't order how ever many cleats you want. Four doesn't seem like enough and 12 almost seems like too many. Nice looking product, wish I could afford one.

YUT 🖍🖍🖍

I have watched and researched this cover for a year. Recently switch to a GMC. I think it annoys me to see the aft corners appearing to overhang the edge of the trucks bed. I recently just noticed this. Several pictures and other videos also show this. OCD I suppose. Lol. Great review and I second the military discount with a Made in USA is an easy choice.

did water ever get inside?

Bro I absolutely love that shirt but dam I always got so sad when I got pork sausage worst MRE ever

I have been off and on the fence about these covers for some time. My truck is ordered so I still have time but running out. The cleats.. Ive talked to them directly a few times, on the light duty model its 4 cleats, on the HD model its 12. The only option is all or none. I want the HD model but only wanted the 4 side cleats like the SE model. They can't/wont do that. Thats a huge hold up for me. If I am spending $2000.00 I think it should be an option. I guess the machine that drills the holes is only set up to do all or none. I even asked them to run the HD one on the SE machine that only does the 4 cleats. Nope. That holds me back. Secondly, those locks. 2 things with them. 1. I hate how they are offset and on top. Put them on the front near the corner and rear center on the edges so they are not on the top. My other concern with them is I am in PA. We get snow. Those locks are going to get snow in them and freeze up and then I cant get in. Otherwise I love the set up. I have ran a hard painted to match fiberglass cover on all my trucks since 2004 and I am used to those and have been happy with those, But I also hated not ever being able to use my bed for a lot of things and also accessing things in the front of the bed. But they never leaked, always looked great and suited my needs 95% of the time. Nobody at this point is making one for the new Heavy Duty trucks so its either a tri-fold that leaks like a faucet or one of these.

Nice Audio compared to first one.

SF

Damn that lock just made the payload rating pointless. I think maybe the inventors shouldn’t have dropped out of college to start the company.