In the world of custom truck accessories, form often times overrules function, as we have to make sacrifices to look good. When we came across the new DiamondBack HD-X tonneau cover, we were skeptical of its long list of performance claims. Could a tonneau really keep the bed secure while also being load-bearing up to 1,600 pounds (that's two ATVs), open in the front and rear in a winged configuration, and add to that the .100-inch thick aluminum tread plate could be ordered coated in rugged Line-X for the ultimate in protection? Using our project Ford F-350 for towing, camping, and hauling, the idea of a tonneau cover never seemed practical, but with this new cover, it met all of our needs and we bit the bullet and placed our order. Arriving in a large box, the DiamondBack cover came in three panels and was ready to install with straightforward instructions. How did it work? Read along and find out.
Once we opened the large box...
Once we opened the large box that our DiamondBack HD-X arrived in, we noticed the three panels, necessary hardware, and mounting instructions.
Starting with the center section,...
Starting with the center section, we took a rough estimate and set the section in the middle of the bed.
Underneath, we grabbed the...
Underneath, we grabbed the deadbolt-style C-clamps and loosely tightened them. There was no drilling required to mount anything.
We then picked up the rear...
We then picked up the rear section and lined up the two large panel hinges and slid the panel in place.
As you can see, it needed...
As you can see, it needed to be slid back a little but adjusting both pieces was easy.
Using sliding rods that lock...
Using sliding rods that lock under the bedrail, the DiamondBack HD-X cover came with the proper-sized Allen wrench to adjust the sliders.