Truck Bed Protection

[GLyford]

I have a soft tonneau with the rails mounted to the inside lip, not on top. It suits my needs fine (mostly by serving as an "out of sight, out of mind" deterrent), but water does come through that small gap to reach the drop in liner. For the most part, the channels in the liner are enough to keep most of what is in the bed reasonably dry. I can't remember off the top of my head if there is a tailgate liner or not.

I had a previous truck that had a drop-in liner and matching tailgate cover. The tailgate cover was held on with plastic push-in fasteners, so no metal corrosion woes. Some of them did eventually break...20 years later...because I pulled the cover to fix the latch handle.

The truck after that had a cap and bed mat. Had no issues with that setup other than the cap limited my cargo options at times (bulk mulch, etc.) and enabled things at others. No tailgate cover, it was just starting to rust out along the bottom seam when I sold it.

I guess it depends on what your long term ownership intentions are. If you intend to trade or resell it later, that's one thing. I've run 4 trucks into the ground, and not one was gotten rid of due to bed rust. Frames on the other hand... The first one I owned actually had a rusted out bed back by the tailgate when I got it, I simply reinforced it with some angle and kept using it.

FWIW, I am in the New England "rust belt."

 

[sklunk]

BedRug .. BedRug .. BedRug !!!

I hate that the company put "rug" in the name since they are NOT carpet or a rug; these things are amazing. You can't stain the material, things don't slide around, and they are easy to clean out. And the foam backing keeps them from scratching the bed and is easy on your knees.

I am not affiliated with them but I have had one in my 1994 Silverado for over 15 years now. It does not have a tonneau cover and gets used hard but the liner has held up great. I really have been impressed!

 

[Panik]

BedRug .. BedRug .. BedRug !!!

I hate that the company put "rug" in the name since they are NOT carpet or a rug; these things are amazing. You can't stain the material, things don't slide around, and they are easy to clean out. And the foam backing keeps them from scratching the bed and is easy on your knees.

I'll second this nomination. I wanted to get the bed of my truck done with a spray in liner and in fact would still like to get this done eventually. However, other priorities took precedence. As an interim measure I purchased a Bed Rug floor liner for about 150.00 from etrailer. (still need to get the tailgate for another 35.00)

I've been really happy with it for light duty use! It's affordable, it looks good and sklunk said, its real easy on the knees and whatever you want to put in the bed. I've hauled log rounds for wood turning, lawn equipment and regularly take the trash to the dump and it still looks good. My only issue is that occasionally I have to get in the back and step on it a couple times when the velcro holding it to the bed separates.

All and all whenever I do get the bed sprayed I will likely reinstall the bedrug overtop.

 

[grnspot110]

I've used the same rubber tailgate liner on at least the last three pickups!

 

[NewfieDan]

I have direct side by side comparison of a drop in liner vs a spray in liner. I have a '03 Ram and son bought a '02 Ram. Both trucks were bought new. Son had the drop in liner, I had the sprayed in liner done before I picked it up at the dealer. Both trucks came from the same dealer.

Sons truck is long gone due to rust. Mine is still going with virtually no rust. This was in northern Albera where it is fairly dry, no salt in winter. Can only imagine what it would be like around the coast somewhere.

 

[Will_C]

I understand the cost of a spray liner is considerable, but I spent $400 for a spray in liner for my 2004 truck when it was new and it has held up well. Annual cost- less than $40.

Will

 

[KiotiKowboy]

In my older (2001) truck, I've always used just a thick rubber bed mat and gate liner. The bed shows considerable wear on the sides and wheel wells.

In my new 2015 truck, I opted for the dealer spray-in liner, then added a thick rubber bed mat.

As for tonneau covers - I have one on the older truck but haven't added this to my new one yet. I much prefer the roll-up covers with metal backing. They are MUCH stronger, MUCH more secure and MUCH less hassle.

 

[KennyG]

I have direct side by side comparison of a drop in liner vs a spray in liner. I have a '03 Ram and son bought a '02 Ram. Both trucks were bought new. Son had the drop in liner, I had the sprayed in liner done before I picked it up at the dealer. Both trucks came from the same dealer.

Sons truck is long gone due to rust. Mine is still going with virtually no rust. This was in northern Albera where it is fairly dry, no salt in winter. Can only imagine what it would be like around the coast somewhere.

Just curious - were these trucks parked outside? I had no rust issues with a liner but the truck was kept in a garage. Is that the difference or are some liners (i.e. over the rail vs. under the rail) different?

 

[Code54]

We do our own spay ins now. Kit is about $120 by Raptor on Amazon or Ebay. This is the real deal, no cheap Autozone stuff.

Chris

Chris is right, the Raptor liner is EXCELLENT! I have used it on ATV racks, tractor implements, steel floors, and it wears extremely well. Plus it is sealed and you have no screws and for the cost you can always touch it up if something weird happened.

 

[NewfieDan]

Just curious - were these trucks parked outside? I had no rust issues with a liner but the truck was kept in a garage. Is that the difference or are some liners (i.e. over the rail vs. under the rail) different?

Both trucks were left outside year round. Whatever Mother Nature dished out both trucks saw it.