bedliner types pros cons and best brands

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2


Im all for DIY, but IMO you should pay a pro who knows how to best do the prep and get the spraying right. Otherwise it could be a real mess. And any bubbles or inconsistencies will become rust spots.


This^^^

The surface MUST be properly prepped for the spray on liner to stick. If you don't get it degreased and roughened properly it won't stick. It will peel. You also need to deal with any really bad spots( rust )as well 1st and at least get them in primer. As long as the bed is in decent shape a Line-X installer can do it in about 2 hours start to finish. Another benefit to Line-X is it goes on hot and dries fast. Other brands takes as long as 24 hours to dry. You can go in at 8AM and be on the road by 10-10:30AM w/ Line-X.

 

[hattaresguy]

I have a plastic drop in, in my current truck and I'm sure its ruined the paint and is probably causing some rust. I don't care its a truck in a few years it will be replaced. It came with it, and I just never bothered to change it. At this point its coming up on 10 years old and I'll roll over 150k on it this year, its not worth putting a $500 spray in liner in.

But my next truck is getting Line X from day one, I think the spray ins have made the plastic bed liner obsolete. Cargo doesn't slide, they don't trap dirt, and they seem durable as can be.

If you don't really work the truck, a rubber mat is really all you need and works perfectly. My dad has used them in his trucks for 20 years and the beds never get to beat up.

 

[DBMaster]

Remember when beds were lined with wood? You just replaced it when necessary.

 

[CT Rob]

Line X

 

[supton]

A beater in Arkansas? I'd do a rubber mat. Might be fun to DIY but I'd probably just do a mat.

 

[ram_man]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
IMO there is no contest between the plastic drop in style and the spray on liners like Line-X( best IMO ). The spray on kind win hands down. At least for a decent truck. You are going to buy a real beater as I recall( $1500 )so a drop in may make more sense financially.

Drop in liners let dirt, water, debris, etc... under them where it gets trapped and they vibrate which eats away at the paint and leads to rust. They are very slippery as well. Just don't like them. Used to run them before spray on became available then swapped to Line-X and it is a million times better. I always ran a rubber bed mat on top though as the spray on liner is rough and can scratch stuff( I used to make cabinets and do finish carpentry and it was [censored] on the wood - brutal on duck decoys as well ).

Again though, for you, a drop in probably makes the most sense as you talked of buying a real turd on wheels that you won't care anything about.

Now, if this was even a halfway decent truck and you would have a cap or tonneau I might suggest a BedRug. That is what I ran on my last 3 trucks and I love them. Not only do they look good, are easy on cargo, but they are tough as heck( you can haul construction material, wood, dirt, stone, etc... and it even holds up to chemical spills ). They clean up very easy too. If I ever get a truck again I will run a BR.






wouldnt a bed rug get pretty nasty out in the elements.
Also I may spend a little more than 1500 just depends I have 2500 I can spend with no issue.

 

[Lyman]

My Ranger has a drop in that was in it when I bought it. I had to pull it out as I was pulling the bed off for a fuel pump. I was shocked to see the bed looked brand new underneath. The only thing I don't like is how things slide around in it. It has the slots for 2x4s and I use them all the time to keep things in place.

 

[TiredTrucker]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Remember when beds were lined with wood? You just replaced it when necessary.


I have missed the older wood floored pickup beds since they were discontinued. I wish it were an option.

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: ram_man
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
IMO there is no contest between the plastic drop in style and the spray on liners like Line-X( best IMO ). The spray on kind win hands down. At least for a decent truck. You are going to buy a real beater as I recall( $1500 )so a drop in may make more sense financially.

Drop in liners let dirt, water, debris, etc... under them where it gets trapped and they vibrate which eats away at the paint and leads to rust. They are very slippery as well. Just don't like them. Used to run them before spray on became available then swapped to Line-X and it is a million times better. I always ran a rubber bed mat on top though as the spray on liner is rough and can scratch stuff( I used to make cabinets and do finish carpentry and it was [censored] on the wood - brutal on duck decoys as well ).

Again though, for you, a drop in probably makes the most sense as you talked of buying a real turd on wheels that you won't care anything about.

Now, if this was even a halfway decent truck and you would have a cap or tonneau I might suggest a BedRug. That is what I ran on my last 3 trucks and I love them. Not only do they look good, are easy on cargo, but they are tough as heck( you can haul construction material, wood, dirt, stone, etc... and it even holds up to chemical spills ). They clean up very easy too. If I ever get a truck again I will run a BR.


wouldn't a bed rug get pretty nasty out in the elements.
Also I may spend a little more than 1500 just depends I have 2500 I can spend with no issue.


According to the mfg they are not ruined by the elements. Probably true as they are made using closed-cell polymer construction. It will not absorb water or chemicals. It is not even damaged by battery acid according to the mfg. Not sure I would want to put that to the test but it is what they Claim. FWIW I have spilled gas on mine and it didn't hurt it. Not even with 2-stroke oil in it. Looked stained until I washed it with soap and a hose. Then good as new. They come out easy( well sort of )for clean up too.

Probably not the best option for you but was basically adding the info in case others, with newer trucks, looked. The BedRug is ( or was last time I bought one )less than having the bed sprayed and not much more than a drop in. The one in the Chevy above ran me $348. The one in the Ram( MOPAR version but still made by BR )was only $250 even though it was bought after the one for the Chevy. I got a deal on E-Bay for it which is why. I believe they are running in the $375-$400 range now.

However, IMO, they are best used where a cap or tonneau is used( I mentioned that in the reply - see bold section in quote above ).

 

[ddrumman2004]

I bought a 97 F-150 in 2001 with a plastic drop in liner, drove it until May of 2011, and removed the liner for peace of mind before I sold the truck.

Bed looked fine and a little wax made it look great.

On a truck to be used as a work truck, drop in liner with a bed mat.....cheaper than a pro liner job. Plus...if you decide to get rid of the truck for a newer model with same bed style....just swap it out. My opinion anyway.

 

[kkreit01]

I got a killer deal on a Mopar Bedrug for $109 from my local dealer. It was a closeout/clearance, and for a Quad Cab. At that price, I snapped it up, and cut it down to fit the Crew Cab (shorter box). The original MSRP was ~$425. I love it. I have a Truxedo LoProQt over the top. BedRug or LineX would be my only consideration for complete protection on a decent truck. LineX typically runs around $500ish. I also run rubber bed mats -- which is like having velcro on your floor.

 

[FL-400S]

From someone with an 11 year old pickup with OEM over the rail plastic liner almost from day one...get line x. Unless you find a plastic one for next to nothing...get line x.

My truck doesnt see too many miles (51k in 11 years). I may still get it sprayed one day. Might put the plastic liner back in on top

It's currently got a camper shell so not too much trouble with water under the liner.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: TiredTrucker
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
Remember when beds were lined with wood? You just replaced it when necessary.


I have missed the older wood floored pickup beds since they were discontinued. I wish it were an option.

It is an option. Buy a restored old truck with a wood floor.

 

[ram_man]

Any opinions on herculiner roll on bedliners?
I can get it for 100 from my local napa.