MAY 2017
DiamondBackCovers.com OCTOBER 2018
To get the weatherstrip compression necessary for its adhesive to
cure and for the cover to keep out the weather, have a second
person press down on the cover while you’re adjusting the lock rods.
If there isn’t enough travel in the forward rod guide bracket to
position the rod so that it presses against the striker, reshape
the striker’s V bend with pliers.
ATTACH THE GAS SPRINGS
To avoid premature failure of your gas springs, attach them barrel up, shaft down.
Attach the gas springs to the ball studs.
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Leave the cover closed and locked for 24 hours to allow the weatherstrip
adhesive, which is pressure-sensitive, to fully cure.
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Adhesive cure time
24 hours
Position the lock rods tight
against the underside of the
striker brackets (forward) and
T-panel gutter (rearward) so
that they draw the
panels down and
compress the
perimeter weather-
strip. Tighten the rod
guide brackets with a
7/16" socket.
1/8" hex key
Adjust the length of the lock rods & retighten the set screws so that:
A. with the lock handle in the open position, the rod tips clear the
striker brackets,
B. with the handle in the closed position, the rod tips do not strike
the bulkhead, and
C. the rods point downward.
7/16" socket
You can leave your rearward
lock rods alone. They come
pre-adjusted from the factory.
Operating the access panels is easiest when
you press down as you open or close them.
Use the 1/8" hex key to loosen
the set screws on the linkages
of the forward lock rods.
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Double-check both panels to ensure they open, close, lock & seal
correctly. If at any point the weatherstrip does not touch the bed
rails, readjust the lock rods and mounting brackets as needed.
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ADJUST THE LOCK RODS
Attach the front of the cover to
the clamp bracket using the
cap clamps.
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Repeat steps 5–8 to insert
rivet nuts into each hole.
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Repeat step 12.
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Drill the marks using a 3/8" bit.
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Remove the cover.
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To get the weatherstrip compression necessary for its adhesive
to cure and for the cover to keep out the weather, have a second
person press down on the rear of the cover while you’re attaching
the mounting brackets.
At rear, insert a hex bolt through a plain
washer, through each bracket slot, and into
each rivet nut. Tighten with a 7/16" socket.
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MOUNT THE COVER
Close the tailgate. Place the cover onto the cargo bed so that the
weatherstrip along the cover’s rear angle is firmly compressed
against the inside edge of the tailgate.
Center the cover side to side.
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Open the tailgate. At the rear of the bed, mark drill locations on
both bed walls using the mounting-bracket slots as a template.
14
Cheat these marks slightly
lower than the vertical center
of the slots.
