Pick-up Truck Bedliners

[MChalkley]

RobertN - What kind of Lance camper did you have, and what did you do with it? I'm sorta kinda on the verge of looking for one. I'd be willing to bet my old beat up '93 Dodge will take it.

On the bedliner issue, my Dodge has had a drop-in liner since it was new. It's hard to imagine that there would have been more damage to the bed without the liner than the rust caused with it. I'm getting ready to fix all the dents, dents, rust, etc. When I do, it'll have a Line-X liner in it. I don't know anything about the spray-ins from an experience standpoint, but a body shop owner I really, really trust and like says he's seen all of them over a number of years and thinks the Line-X is the most durable (weather- and time-wise), best protection, and stands abuse best. I don't know if he's right or not, but he's proven to be a good place to start in the past. I do have one opinion based on lots of experience: It will not have another drop-in liner. Unless it's on top of the spray-in one to let things slide easier, and I doubt I'll do that.

 

[RobertN]

I had a Lance 9.5' 400 series self contained unit. It would have fit your truck. Problem is, these new ones taper in closer in the back, and also have a vertical support that protrudes into the bed(the tailgates backs up to it). So, the bed was too narrow between the rail tops to clear the grey water tank(on the side of the camper, kinda fits above the wheelwell). The shower stall itself stuck out too far on the right side, hitting the support rib that sits right behind the tailgate.

Chevy changed thier bed too; it has a similar issue to the Dodge. Ford has a taller cab, so older campers need a 2x4 under them to clear...

 

[Bayrat]

I'm with you Paul! Been away for awhile and catchin' up. I bought a breathable bed paint protector mat for $35. Next in goes the Mopar (Made by Duraliner) bedliner with a built in anti-skid material. The bedliner had a cut in it, so they sold it to me for $100. Total cost for keeping my truck in new condition and not destroying the metal, $150.oo /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. I ordered a Covercraft Tonneau to make it more usefull as well. I don't bother with the elaborate sliding or locking panels. If someone wants to get in it, they do. With the canvas, you lose a tarp, with the other products, the crooks tear up your vehicle prying it open /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif. I also put rubber mats over the cloth ones that come with it, that is due to the winter weather here that soaks anything that has just carpet to the bone and leaves heavy salt stains that never come out. Usually takes until early summer to dry out. I take care of all of my property that way. I paid 30k for a truck, so why ruin it when a couple hundred bucks will keep it nice. I suppose when I re-roofed the house, I could have used just the tar paper /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif, but no, adding shingles makes the place look better /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif!

 

[pennwalk]

I have always liked bedliners just looks nicer to me and makes me feel easier throwing stuff in the back. I ran into a guy at the shore that ran a fish store. He had the bed striped and fiberglassed. Claimed you could hit it with a hammer and not hurt it. Guess trucks at the beach rust out pretty quick too. I have been wondering about all the folks I see running around town with trucks that look better than new. They can't be using them. I know the Government is worried about forign oil dependence. Maybe they should make anyone who's truck doesn't have a scratch get a Volkswagen. Those trucks suck down an awful lot of forign oil to just use for joy riding. (This ought to get this thread perking again)/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Chris

 

[RobertN]

Oh, you are 100% right. There are sooooooo many trucks bought these days that will never do anything but haul groceries. They are just cool, macho, big daddy awesome. And, they eat up a lot of gas.... hauling nuthin but air.

There are a lot of us that do use our trucks, but I think we have been in the minority for a number of years now.

 

[looch]

I have a pick-up truck and a Volkswagen - where does that leave me?/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Bayrat]

That is very true, many people do use them mainly for commuting, but it sure is nice to be able to pick up that new mattress or lawn mower on the way home. Or to stop at the lumber company for 10' decking and not pay for a delivery. Hauls my 30' boat to the shore once a year (another waste of natural resources), but I enjoy it. I like the crash resistance of a pickup as opposed to a VW as well. But I pay for it in gas, no doubt /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif!