Truck Bed Liners

Truck cargo beds are subject to the elements every time you're on the road. Unless they're enclosed by a cap or tonneau cover, truck beds can be scraped and bumped by cargo, or filled with rain, snow, or dirt. Truck bed liners prevent this type of damage. Bed liners can enhance the appearance of your truck and add to its resale value by keeping the bed in mint condition.

Drop-In vs. Spray-On

Although there are many variations, there are two basic groups of bed liners: drop-in and spray-on. While there are advantages and disadvantages to each, spray-on liners have increased in popularity over the last 10 years. Spray-on liners are also the more expensive option.

Drop-in bed liners provide more protection from large and heavy objects than spray-on lines can. They are often relatively easy to install, and inexpensive rubber mats are available if the floor is your only concern. However, they may shift around inside the bed of your truck, which can scratch the underlying paint. Small objects such as dirt, rocks (and according to at least one truck owner, deer blood) can get up under the liner and wreak havoc on the paint (or possibly leave an pungeant olfactory reminder of past hunting trips). Many folks report problems with warping and cracking, which can increase the risk of rust. Some truck owners like the fact that it is easy to slide large objects on a hard-plastic drop-in liner.

Spray-on liners have a smoother look, and are typically available in more colors. The material adheres right to the walls and floor of the truck, so there's no shifting or scratching. For this reason, spray-ons often offer better rust protection. However, if you drop a heavy toolbox on a spray-on liner, it won't provide much protection against denting. Some truck owners like the fact that spray-on rubber liners keep objects from sliding around as much as on drop-in liners. Another issue to consider is that a spray-on liner can be repaired by reapplying the adhesive, while a drop-in liner will need to be replaced when it cracks or warps.

If you need to haul liquids such as fuels, pool chlorine or other chemicals, the experts suggest that you stay away from spray-on liners, as they rarely hold up well during spills.

Do-It-Yourself Bed Liners

If you prefer to do-it-yourself, you have several options with bed liners. Many drop-in bed liners can be installed by the truck owner with simple adhesives. (However, check with the manufacturer, some are attached with screws, and require that you drill into the bed of your truck.) Several manufacturers sell do-it-yourself paint-on bed liners. Before taking on a paint-on project, consider some of the following issues:

• The first step (after thoroughly cleaning out the bed of the truck) is to rough-up the existing paint in the cargo bed to allow the bed liner to adhere to the paint. If you aren't thorough with this initial preparation, the bed liner will wear away more quickly than advertised.
• Many people recommend adding three or even four coats of liner.