Vision Custom Wheels, Maxxis Mudbug, And More - Thrashed

DiamondBack HD Bed Cover With ATV Accessories - - I've never been a big fan of truck covers, until now, that is. I always had in my mind that a bed cover limited you as to what you could put in the back of your truck and if you wanted to take the cover off, you had to enlist the help of a friend. All in all, there was no good side other than security to owning one.

When I got the e-mail from DiamondBack Covers asking if we would test a unit, I was a bit hesitant. I looked at the company website and realized from the pictures that this isn't your average bed cover. Made from strong aluminum diamond plating and assembled in sections, this cover is simple to install and remove with only one person. In addition to this, you can carry up to two ATVs or one side-by-side on top of it.

Owners with multiple ATVs who have no other option than to load them on a trailer know that there are drawbacks. Many states limit you to lower speed limits and only allow you to use two lanes of the highway. This cover allows you to leave the trailer at home. By installing the adapter bar along the sides of the cover, you can secure the supplied 12-foot folding ramps and ride your quad onto the cover from the side of your truck. If you think it may seem like a steep ride, don't worry. The length of the ramps make it no different than if you were using a 6-foot ramp to go into the bed of your truck.

To keep you from going off of the other side, DiamondBack also supplies detachable side rails that are held in place from the adapter bar as well. This means that if you get a little too generous with the throttle while going up the ramps, there's something to catch you on the other side. Knock on wood, as I've not gone that far ... yet. Once your quads are on the cover, securing them is a breeze using the 12 high-strength cleats that are spaced all around the perimeter of the cover. Be sure to use four tiedowns per machine, though.

Now that you have eliminated your trailer, you also have an additional feature. If you were to load two quads into the bed of a truck, you would either have to stand one if not both on end for them to fit. The drawback is that you lose your storage in the bed. With the Diamond- Back HD Bed Cover, you're able to retain the use of your bed.

You can store all of your gear by lifting one or both sides of the bed cover before loading the ATVs on top. Or your other option is loading the ATVs and, if necessary, still have the ability to open the tailgate and store your items that way. The only problem I found with this method was that when there's a quad on the back of the cover, the extra weight on the tailgate made it little hard to get open.

To really put this cover to the test, I wanted to see how much weight it could hold. We put our Polaris Ranger RZR on top of the bed cover, secured it and took it for a drive. After a few days, we removed it and looked over the cover. There wasn't a flaw in it. There were no indentations from excessive weight, all of the tiedown cleats were still secure and no damage done to the vehicle.

One of the frequently asked questions I have gotten since installing this piece is, "How doesit tow when the ATVs are on it?" I can honestly say that there isn't a huge difference. There is somewind resistance and it is slightly top-heavy going around a corner, but even when getting hit by hard crosswinds, the truck felt completely stable.

All in all, I'm surprised with how much I enjoy sing this cover. With the ability to haul multiple ATVs without towing a trailer and still retaining your bed space for stowing your gear, this cover makes going out riding much less complicated. Although the price tag of $2100 is a little steep, it's still a great convenience. You don't have to worry about storing a trailer and you can keep other items secure in the bed even when you're not riding. This gets a thumbs-up in my book. -Eli Madero