MOUNT THE COVER
Place the cab & T panels assembly on
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the front half of the bed so its
leading edge lines up with the
outside edge of the bulkhead.
Attach the tail panel by angling it 90° from the bed rails, sliding its
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driver-side, loop-shaped hinge knuckle fully onto the correspond-
ing center-panel hinge pin, then dropping its passenger-side,
C-shaped hinge knuckle fully onto its corresponding pin.
FIRST
ADJUST THE LOCK RODS
If plastic extends
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beyond the bottom of
the vertical face of the
metal bed rails, trim a
two-inch length of it, flush
with the bed rail's bottom
edge, at both points under
the tail panel where a
lock rod will pass
under the rails.
Peel the red adhesive backing from the
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edge trim pieces. Affix them to the bed rail at
both points where a rod will pass under-
neath, the curl of their j's touching the
bottom edge of the rail.
Affix the edge trim to the painted metal only,
behind the plastic bed liner or bed rail cap.
Using a tool to widen the curl of the 'j' can make this
step easier.
Loosen the set screws on the
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tailgate-panel lock-rod linkages.
Adjust the length of the lock rods & retighten the set screws so that
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with the lock handle open, the rod tips clear the bed rails, and with the
handle closed, the rod tips do not strike the bed walls.
ATTACH THE GAS SPRINGS
If you are also installing a Side Bin, do so now. Refer to the Side Bin
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Installation Guide for details.
Attach the 60-lb. gas springs to the cab-panel ball studs and the two
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stronger gas springs to the tailgate-panel ball studs.
You'll find the gas spring strength printed on the sides of the barrels.
To avoid premature failure of your gas springs, attach them
barrel up, shaft down.
Leave the cover closed and locked for 24 hours to allow the
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weatherstrip adhesive, which is pressure-sensitive, to fully cure.
DiamondBackCovers.com
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15
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SECOND
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1/8" hex key
Lower the tail panel into the closed position.
Center the cover side to side.
Place two cap clamps under each of the three ends of the T panel.
Tighten with a 9/16" socket.
Road vibration can loosen your clamps. Retighten them after
100 miles. Check them every time you haul on top.
With the lock handle in the closed
position, position the lock rods
tight against the underside of the
striker brackets so that they'll
draw the panels down and
compress the weather-
strip. Tighten the rod
guide brackets with a
7/16" socket.
For best weather protection, have a second person
press down on the cover while you adjust the lock rods.
Using the access panels is easiest when you press
down as you open or close them.
Repeat steps 19–21 for the forward cab-panel lock rods so that:
A. with the lock handles in the open position, the rod tips
clear the striker brackets,
B. with the handles in the closed position, the forward rod
tips do not strike the bulkhead, and
C. in the closed position, they are tight against the underside
of the striker brackets, drawing the panels down & com-
pressing the weatherstrip.
The rearward cab-panel lock rods come pre-adjusted tight to
the T-panel gutters. You need only adjust the forward lock rods.
If there isn't enough travel in the rod guide brackets to position
the rods so that they press against the strikers, reshape the
striker V bends with pliers.
Your panels should be difficult to operate at first. Leave them
closed as much as possible for 3–4 days to break in the weath-
erstrip. After that period, you should find that the panels open
and close without difficulty.
7/16" socket
MAY 2017
MARCH 2018
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