Ford aluminum truck beds are strong how?

[JRobyn]

275,000 miles on wife's 2004 Sierra, hauling all manner of stuff, including a few major overloads - Line-X bedliner is in terrific condition.

 

[Ford850]

As I said earlier in this thread, I opted for a belt and suspenders for my bed on my latest truck. I got a Line-X spray liner and a nice thick bed mat. I've used bed mats in every truck, but with Line-X plus the mat, it is fantastic. I will definitely have both in any future truck.

 

[KennyG]

How well would the spray in liners work? I've heard good things about them, no actual experience though.

Ronnie

When I get around to fixing my 2004 Dakota, I will post a thread on this. I think the spray on liners are good - just don't be cheap like me. I applied a brush on liner myself and then put in a rubber bed mat. It looked good and seemed to work good. Fast forward to 12 years and 100K later, I threw a round of oak firewood into the bed and it punched a hole in the wheel well. Apparently the liner cracked on the wheel wells (which were somewhat dented by this time), moisture got under it and rusted through, all unseen. Other than that spot it's fine and is perfect under the mat. I will have to weld in a patch and re-coat it. However, I think I will go back to a drop in liner on the next truck.

 

[Scrambler82]

I can't say for sure... BUT remember you are watching an advertisement for a Chebby Truck, need I say more !
If anyone has actually seen this happen or has anyone had this happen to their truck, please post up and show us pictures.

If GMC had a truck worth driving, other than for show, they wouldn’t need advertising like this !

 

[xring]

When did pickup truck manufacturers stop using wood for bed floors?

Steve

In 1973 My Dad bought a new 3/4 ton Chevy and custom ordered a wooden bed floor. When it arrived it came with a metal bed floor. Dad specified it because his previous truck a 1966 ford f100 had its bed rust out. He was unhappy with the omission & the Chevy dealer said that Chevy no longer uses the wooden floors and that they had a new corrosion system that will prevent rust through. Dad wasn't convinced and wanted it undercoated. The Chevy dealer said he would do one better and got the truck zeibarted at his cost to make up for the mix up. Zeibart was a new process that drilled holes into body and sprayed a type of undercoating inside of all panels and under the body.It had little yellow plugs to cover the drilled holes. The bed and body of that truck rusted through in 3 years. Zeibart didnt stand behind it neither did Chevy. I live on Gulf coast of Texas steel rusts here. Galvanization, High Quality Stainless and aluminum do much better. Plastic needs UV inhibitors to survive our sun. I have used the spray in bed liners and the drop in plastic bed liners. I think the rubber bed mats work as well if not better than anything else.

X

 

[tcartwri]

Spray on undercoatings often make corrosion issues worse. Just ask GM about their truck frames.

 

[Bird]

My 2001 Ranger had a slide-in plastic liner, and I think my 2015 F150 has the lineX spray in liner.

Incidentally, my 1969 Chevy pickup (cheapest thing they made that year) had the wooden bed. I think all of then did back then. Then my 3/4 ton 1971 Chevy did not have the wooden bed.

 

[Loadstar]

Spray on undercoatings often make corrosion issues worse. Just ask GM about their truck frames.

What about them?

 

[TSO]

I have a Ford with an aluminum bed... must be different aluminum though, because I beat the snot out of mine and it still looks great.



Regarding the commercial... I just saw that ad on tv last week for the first time, and chuckled. I refer to commercials as "propaganda" ... As already pointed out, any automaker can find a way to highlight or degrade a competing product if they find the right variables to test, so the video is certainly propaganda. However, while I also would never intentionally drop a load like that in such a fashion, it is possible that it could occur by accident, leading to the damage.

So i agree, in terms of "sharp, hard, heavy object impact from a considerable height" ... The Chevy bed certainly does appear to be stronger. It wouldn't sway my buying decision either way, but it would definitely be a point of consideration.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have had them and I love them. I don't have to worry about scratching, and the rough surface keeps things from sliding around. However, I also have a rubber bed mat, which I enjoy a lot. And it will ansorb a fair amount of shock. Have used the same one and three F150s now.

I have the spray in LineX coating and it is worth it. Also use a heavy mat when carrying stone blocks etc.