Okay-so my old 2000 F-150 was up to about 390,000 miles & my wife had been fussing at me to buy another truck for a while. I wound up getting a new F-150 & have been looking around at different bedliner options. The DIY kits seem a lot more economical than having someone else do it. Has anyone else here done this? Any tips or tricks I should know? Any products you would like to endorse or warn me about?
DIY Bedliner Question
- Thread starter Mike J
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2012
- Messages
- 10,875
None of the do it yourself kits work as well as a real spray in bed liner. Plus the fumes are so toxic and the product so messy. Well worth paying to have it done.
With that said the beds don't rot out like they used to, the rockers, cab corners, fender lips are going to be gone long before the bed rots out.
With that said the beds don't rot out like they used to, the rockers, cab corners, fender lips are going to be gone long before the bed rots out.
"The DIY kits seem a lot more economical than having someone else do it. Has anyone else here done this? Any tips or tricks I should know?"
I guess they might be OK for someone whose major use is hauling a couple of bags of mulch and/or groceries. Otherwise pretty worthless. The "home made" stuff doesn't stick well nor does it hold up to abrasion.
Tom tried patching his Line-X with "Herculiner" but it lasted less than a year before sloughing off. I used "Herculiner" to coat a new winch bumper I was putting on my Jeep. Within 1.5 years, the stuff was getting chalky and we had to overcoat it with spray paint to prevent further deterioration.
I guess they might be OK for someone whose major use is hauling a couple of bags of mulch and/or groceries. Otherwise pretty worthless. The "home made" stuff doesn't stick well nor does it hold up to abrasion.
Tom tried patching his Line-X with "Herculiner" but it lasted less than a year before sloughing off. I used "Herculiner" to coat a new winch bumper I was putting on my Jeep. Within 1.5 years, the stuff was getting chalky and we had to overcoat it with spray paint to prevent further deterioration.
revhigh said:
Nah, The truck was only $29,000 with the incentives they are offering now. There is about $330.00 difference in price between what a pro charges & the kit. I would probably spend more on masking tape, solvent etc. though so you may be right. My mind isn't made up yet but I am investigating. I was looking at a Line-X kit.
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Captain America
Hunter
Mike J said:
If you're concerned with looks then a professional job is the way to go, it holds up much better than the do it yourself kits, plus it comes with a warranty and can be tinted to match the color of your truck.
So you have a $29000 truck and now you want to cut corners to save a few hundred dollars on what will help retain the bed of the truck? :roll:
I can't speak of the DIY ones as far as applying but can speak about seeing the results of them down the road. We spray liners at work, done a bunch of them myself, and there's a BIG difference between the good stayed on liners and the DIY methods. Other than the durability of the spray-on, the adhesion is also much better (so long as the prep is done properly). Have had the DOY ones come in to us for a re-do and it den;t take much to peel them off. They were always thin and not very durable. I've also seen the spray on ones done rather cheaply but even those were better than the DOY ones.
If you go for the spray-on...ask questions! The "thickness" they talk of is often shown at the edges yet away from the edges, it's thinner. Some, I'm sure do an even coat. If they're good, they'll do an even coat with a bit added pass on the wheel well rears where material would hit sliding in. We normally will do 4 passes with an additional pass on the areas that would get more contact/impact and then an additional pass along the edge. Yes it does give that thicker look but also allows a better cut. Have it wrap under the tailgate and the edge of the bed so there's no edges to snag when sliding material in.
Now...for a an under-rail application (leave the plastic factory bed rail covers on - there's holes underneath that aren't easily covered durably) I believe we get $500. Takes about 4 hours prep and then 10-15 minutes spray time. Easy to unmask minutes after.
Those I've seen...the Rhinoliner gives a very hard and somewhat abrasive finish. Vortex give as more pebbly finish with more of a rubbery feeling result. Go with what suits you.
I can't speak of the DIY ones as far as applying but can speak about seeing the results of them down the road. We spray liners at work, done a bunch of them myself, and there's a BIG difference between the good stayed on liners and the DIY methods. Other than the durability of the spray-on, the adhesion is also much better (so long as the prep is done properly). Have had the DOY ones come in to us for a re-do and it den;t take much to peel them off. They were always thin and not very durable. I've also seen the spray on ones done rather cheaply but even those were better than the DOY ones.
If you go for the spray-on...ask questions! The "thickness" they talk of is often shown at the edges yet away from the edges, it's thinner. Some, I'm sure do an even coat. If they're good, they'll do an even coat with a bit added pass on the wheel well rears where material would hit sliding in. We normally will do 4 passes with an additional pass on the areas that would get more contact/impact and then an additional pass along the edge. Yes it does give that thicker look but also allows a better cut. Have it wrap under the tailgate and the edge of the bed so there's no edges to snag when sliding material in.
Now...for a an under-rail application (leave the plastic factory bed rail covers on - there's holes underneath that aren't easily covered durably) I believe we get $500. Takes about 4 hours prep and then 10-15 minutes spray time. Easy to unmask minutes after.
Those I've seen...the Rhinoliner gives a very hard and somewhat abrasive finish. Vortex give as more pebbly finish with more of a rubbery feeling result. Go with what suits you.
mohavesam
Hawkeye
Recommend a pro application. Get a warranty. The beauty of a spray-in liner is that once you find yourself ready to sell, a (cheaper) touch-up by the same outfit will have your bed like new and wear-free!
If you haul dogs, by all means get the liner sprayed in. Don't make then stand on a metal frying pan all summer!
If you haul dogs, by all means get the liner sprayed in. Don't make then stand on a metal frying pan all summer!
I will check around. I could go the slide in route. I had that on the last truck but I would prefer sprayed in. I might even just get one of the bed rug set ups for now & maybe do the spray in later on. I just don't want to beat it up. The reason I posted this is I was a little concerned. I have a compressor & I'm pretty sure I could do the spraying but I think proper prep is key to having this turn out well.
I don't usually haul dogs but have been known to bring home loads of firewood, gravel, and the occasional moving around of furniture, appliances, lumber, etc.
I think I have messed up in a way. I bought a truck that is pretty enough to make me worry about the idea of getting it scratched up driving it into the woods.
I don't usually haul dogs but have been known to bring home loads of firewood, gravel, and the occasional moving around of furniture, appliances, lumber, etc.
I think I have messed up in a way. I bought a truck that is pretty enough to make me worry about the idea of getting it scratched up driving it into the woods.
I have one of the slide in units in my truck, was in there when I bought the truck. I wouldn't waste my money on one of them. Nothing stays put in the bed, slides all over the place. Liner is wearing the paint off of the bed where it wraps over the top. May just tear it out, chop it up and throw it in recycle. Was thinking about maybe doing spray on liner on rocker panels if I do the bed. I live on a gravel road, not sure how it would hold up with stone chips ect..
exavid
Hunter
I had a professional bed liner in two trucks. Well worth the price. A couple of times I got a bit close to the wheel well when loading a camper and made a wee gunch in the stuff. Also had a few holes in the bed where I'd had a 5th wheel hitch. The outfit that sprayed the bed patched up the mark on the wheel well for nada, part of the life time warranty. They got rid of the holes in the bed by sticking some tape underneath the holes and spraying right over them. I couldn't even find them afterward and they never broke through.
To me the warranty made the professional spray job worth the money. I know Line-X can spray the traditional black or just about any color you might want including one which matches the truck.
To me the warranty made the professional spray job worth the money. I know Line-X can spray the traditional black or just about any color you might want including one which matches the truck.
In Jan. 2005 I bought a new Toyota Pre-runner SR5 p/Up
The very first thing I did was drive it right to the Pro bedliner place (Inyati)
11 1/2 years later (and just under 200,000 miles) I stopped in to show them a couple small cracks on the back of the tailgate
At my option & at NO COST I could have a touch up bottle or leave the tailgate for a day and they would do the work
I took the touch up can as that is no big deal
Point is, a professional spray done right will last FAR longer than any DYI kit & done by a good company they will take care of you
The very first thing I did was drive it right to the Pro bedliner place (Inyati)
11 1/2 years later (and just under 200,000 miles) I stopped in to show them a couple small cracks on the back of the tailgate
At my option & at NO COST I could have a touch up bottle or leave the tailgate for a day and they would do the work
I took the touch up can as that is no big deal
Point is, a professional spray done right will last FAR longer than any DYI kit & done by a good company they will take care of you
powder smoke
Hawkeye
I have had one of those rubber bed mats since the late 90's.
Transferred it to my 03 duramax still going strong. The best feature
is nothing moves everything stay put cooler whatever.
The one I got is about 1/4 inch thick and heavy guess about 75 lbs. ps
https://www.realtruck.com/truck-bed-mats/rubber/R204594.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw-YO7BRDwi6Stp7T296ABEiQAD6iWMVh9WkGr397XZwrXPy0NwCHttvAMTBE14kTWcQ25-zcaAg4o8P8HAQ
Transferred it to my 03 duramax still going strong. The best feature
is nothing moves everything stay put cooler whatever.
The one I got is about 1/4 inch thick and heavy guess about 75 lbs. ps
https://www.realtruck.com/truck-bed-mats/rubber/R204594.html?gclid=Cj0KEQjw-YO7BRDwi6Stp7T296ABEiQAD6iWMVh9WkGr397XZwrXPy0NwCHttvAMTBE14kTWcQ25-zcaAg4o8P8HAQ
The black rubber-like surface of spray-on bed liners is just as hot and holds heat longer.mohavesam said:
mohavesam
Hawkeye
No way. I have had a couple of Rhino-liners and "Line-X" coatings and the material is not rubber, it is polyurethane compound . It is also textured, and i could stand on it barefoot when the steel hood was hot enough to burn your hand. The good spray-ins are no hotter than an Igloo cooler (same material) out in the sun. Besides the best liners come in colors other than black (have for 15 years now, I had a lime-green coating in one truck) and some colors reflect heat better than others. The cheapo DIY kits can come with inferior materials, but I have no experience with the cheap stuff.
I just get incensed when I see people abusing their dogs by leaving them in the bed, while driving or parked. Dogs cool their body temp through thier paws primarily, and standing on hot steel is abuse on a dog, ignorance or worse on the owner. I call 'em in often.
I just get incensed when I see people abusing their dogs by leaving them in the bed, while driving or parked. Dogs cool their body temp through thier paws primarily, and standing on hot steel is abuse on a dog, ignorance or worse on the owner. I call 'em in often.
This reminds me of about 34 years ago when I had a real job and one of the guys I worked with was going to borrow another guy's pickup and he promised he was not going to scratch up the bed.... that really threw me... i grew up on a farm and the last thing we worried about was whether we were going to scratch the bed or any other part of one of those trucks.... some you had to be careful how to put stuff in the back or it might fall through the holes in the bed... I was driving my father's pickup here through town back in the 80's and heard this weird noise ... pulled over and looked back and the tow chain he had in the back had fed it self through a hole in the bed and was stretched out in the road.
PriseDeFer
Single-Sixer
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2014
- Messages
- 450
Is everybody now too uptown for a sheet of plywood?
mohavesam
Hawkeye
Plywood was good in high school, but this is the 21st century. :wink:PriseDeFer said:
I have used Herculiner. Look for discounted pricing at your local automparts store It is much cheaper and works very well. Just follow the directions. Make sure you sand the paint. I hand sanded my bed. Took me about two hours on my gmc Sierra 1500.
powder smoke said:
I had the same thing. Worked great, until I pulled the topper off to haul something tall. On the return trip, empty, the mat lifted up and blew out in the middle of I-75. It was real interesting there for a couple minutes. :shock: :mrgreen: :shock:
If I get another truck I'll likely get the professional spray-on stuff so I can run with or without a topper. Yeah, I could have bolted the mat down, but didn't want to hole the bed floor.
SAJohn
Hunter
Cream white is the coolest color possible for direct sun exposure. I know this from work related experiments.
Rubber mats are ok if heavy duty. Light ones tend to blow up and out. But no protection for the sides of your bed.
Plastic bed liners just suck. Things slide in them and they trap grit and water under them which constantly scrapes your bed and rusts steel beds.
I haven't tried a DIY spray liner but have had two Rhino and 4 Line-X jobs. Line-X much better in my opinion. I can throw (literally) my deer stands etc in the bed and they stay put. I don't leave home without it.
Plastic bed liners just suck. Things slide in them and they trap grit and water under them which constantly scrapes your bed and rusts steel beds.
I haven't tried a DIY spray liner but have had two Rhino and 4 Line-X jobs. Line-X much better in my opinion. I can throw (literally) my deer stands etc in the bed and they stay put. I don't leave home without it.
prairieviper
Single-Sixer
A lot depends on what you intend to haul in your truck. I would not go the DIY kit route. I have a drop-in Pendaliner (not one of their Extreme Skid Resistance liners) in my Silverado. I work my truck pretty hard hauling a wide variety of different things and yes, some things will slide unless you take proper precautions. I have to say that I have never had any problems with anything I've hauled rolling around or slamming into the back of the truck. Some things I want to slide some (like when I'm unloading mulch or dirt with a shovel). A little common sense and proper securing of certain loads goes a long way in how well your liner holds up to use and how happy you are with it. My old liner is still holding up pretty good for being 17 years old. 
Blackmore
Blackhawk
Mike J said:
When I started reading your post I figured it would look like the above edit - how can I fix up my old truck?
For a new truck, go with a pro job.
I woke up early this morning so I rode down to the Huddle House. I drank coffee & hung out with the regulars for a while. I asked around & found out who folks use around here for the spray in liners. I will ride by in the next day or two & see about getting it done.
While gassing my wife car today a young lady pulled up in a new Rubicon. As it turned out her second Jeep. I noticed the fender flare were coated. It turned out she had the flares on her new Jeep coated with Line X. Seems the flares on her last jeep faded and looked bad.
Now I'm about to put the third or fourth set of flares on my old CJ-8. As you can imagine, mine will be treated with either Line X or Rhino lining.
This goes to show that there are some smart young folks out there, and that no matter how old you are they young (a girl no less) can teach you something.
Now I'm about to put the third or fourth set of flares on my old CJ-8. As you can imagine, mine will be treated with either Line X or Rhino lining.
This goes to show that there are some smart young folks out there, and that no matter how old you are they young (a girl no less) can teach you something.
