Bed Protection

What Are You Running?

Posted April 5 2011 01:49 PM by Mike McGlothlin
Filed under: Diesel Truck Accessories, Diesel Trucks

Your truck’s bed is probably the most underappreciated piece bolted to its frame…

Think about it, when you’re washing and detailing your pride and joy, how often do you pay the box any attention whatsoever? All it takes is one bare metal spot to start the rusting process.

So how do you protect it? Spray-in or drop-in? Rhino Lining, Line-X, or something else? Rubber or plastic drop-in?

Have any of you had problems with your spray-in liner, and if so what kind of issues have you experienced?

My ’97 Ford is an old-school example, and only has a rubber liner covering the bed floor. No rust is present yet, but there are definitely some bare metal spots, along with a few dents. I wonder how many truck owners ever take a peep under their plastic drop-in liners to see if any trapped water has caused them some cancerous damage…

Reader Comments:

1. Both my Dodge and Ford came with drop in (under the rails) plastic bedliners. They've done fine so far.

My friend just had the rockers on his '98 12-valve Line-X'd and it looks amazing!!

He did a lot of research prior and the general consensus is that Line-X is the best spray in/on option out there. Rhino-lining breaks down rather quickly (1-2 years).

I'm probably gonna have the rockers on my Dodge Line-X'd at some point and I'll most likely Line-X the bed then too. It's not cheap though to have it professionally done. My friend paid $1,700 just for the rockers.

SmokenGun - Posted April 5 2011 04:19 PM

2. Wow...I should have check my first post for grammatical errors...haha.

SmokenGun - Posted April 5 2011 04:20 PM

3. No problem, took care of it for ya ;)

Glad to see you back! The comments section is a little quiet when you're MIA.

LOL

Mike McGlothlin - Posted April 5 2011 05:09 PM

4. By the way, is your friend's '98 12-valve a 'rare' Quad Cab with opening rear doors?!...

Mike McGlothlin - Posted April 5 2011 05:11 PM

5. My bed in my 89 is already all junked up, so I have the I-Don't-Care-a-Liner =D

Jason Sands - Posted April 5 2011 05:59 PM

6. Haha, thanks Mike! Im glad my random and often offensive comments are entertaining :)

@ your 2nd comment Mike- Yep sure is!

@ Jason- Im starting to think thats the way to good with the entire vehicle. Im tired of worrying about idiots parking next to my truck (The Dodge- Ford is beat-upish already) and scratching, denting, dinging it, etc. I kinda want a beater so I dont have to worry where I put it. Ya know, a mechanically sound truck with a beat-up body/scratched up paint job. Its freeing in a weird kinda way I think.

SmokenGun - Posted April 5 2011 07:57 PM

7. I have Rhino Lining, it was in there when I bought the pickup. Dad has Rhino Lining in his 02 and 09 and Grandpa has Rhino Lining in his pickup too. Dad's 02 was Rhino Lined the day he bought it, the liner is still in great shape like the day it was new! Same story for Grandpa's rig. I don't know how long before I bought my pickup the lining was done, but it's in really good shape too. So what's this business about the liner breaking down in two years?

White_Lightning - Posted April 5 2011 07:59 PM

8. Smokengun, thats pretty steep to have the rockers sprayed with line-x. I had mine done on my 97 crew cab, and it cost me $400 at my local line-x shop, and that was with the high gloss stuff that wasn't supposed to stain (it did anyway). You might want to check around for a better price, if you find an owner, operator, you will get a lot better price, and if you can leave the truck for a few days, where they can get to it like a side job during times when they have a few hours in between jobs. cash always helps to lower the price too. or, you can just tell them that you invented diesels! lol

linmup - Posted April 5 2011 08:08 PM

9. @ linmup- I didnt have my trucks rockers Line-X'ed, my friend did. I thought that was a lot of $$$ too!

@ White- I dunno, I know a few people that had there Rhino liner "break down" after a few years of abuse. That could be because they did a crap job of putting it on or something like that. I dont have any experience with Rhino Liner, just what ive heard.

SmokenGun - Posted April 6 2011 11:35 AM

10. Seems like the spray-ins are up to the technician... a good installer will give you something that lasts longer I guess...

I've read that the application process is different between the two as well.

A lot of it's in the prep work too I'm sure. Most time-consuming part, anyway.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted April 6 2011 11:50 AM

11. I have the line-X and it is the best I LOVE it much better then the plastic stuff.

444getsitdone - Posted April 10 2011 11:23 PM

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