Pickup Bed Liner

[Gomez]

I'm debating what to use in my new truck. My old truck has the drop-in plastic liner (Duraliner). I'm comparing the spray on type (Line-X) with the standard plastic drop-in. I liked my drop in, other than things sliding around. Some times sliding is good, sometimes it's not. A friend of mine has the Line-X and he also put a mat in to help keep things put. I'm 90% sure I'm going to get the Line-X but wanted get a few opinions from here before I schedule my appointment.

I've perused the pickup sites but I honestly value the opinions here a bit more.

Thanks!

 

[Bird]

I had a drop in liner in my old '81 F250, a spray in liner in my '99 F150, and now have a drop in liner in my '01 Ranger (that's what they all had when I bought them and I've not changed any of them). However, I've been seriously considering stopping by the local Line-X dealer (right across the street from the Ford dealer) and see what it would cost to get the Line-X in my little Ranger. I do much prefer the spray on liners.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

How are the spray on liners for protecting the bed from dents? With the drop in liners if you drop a backhoe bucket in the back of the truck you don't have to worry about the fender wells or bed floor being dented up. How do the spray in liners hold up against things like 6x6 blocking, cinder blocks, steel beams and such that can do damage to metal rather easily? The reason I am asking is because we are looking at getting a new truck and are wondering about the spray in liners. Also, do they allow things to slide around like the drop in or do they have a rubber compound in them to help keep things still?

 

[Will_C]

Robert; I put the Rhino liner in my new truck. It is much better about things not sliding around. I have not put anything like cinder blocks, iron, etc. in it yet. I suspect it would not be as good as a plastic liner for that use.
Will

 

[DmansPadge]

I have also used both.. drop ins and spray in. I like the spray in by a long shot. Make sure they get down to bare metal when they spray it. I've seen a few that were done on top of the paint and it seems to chip off easier.

 

[Bird]

Robert, I've just had the one spray in liner myself, and don't know that it was a Line-X brand, though it appeared to be the same. And things did not slide on it much at all; an advantage sometimes, a disadvantage at others. I had occasion to move quite a bit of furniture and applicances, including a refrigerator, hauled my two wheeled dolly in it, a lawnmower a few times, and hauled lumber and a few concrete "stepping stones?" to build a porch one place, steps a couple of places, etc., but never had occasion to treat it really rough. I don't know what the original owner hauled in it, but it didn't show any wear or damage at all.

 

[leaddog]

Go to menards and get Herculen brush on liner. Its about $70 or if there is a rebate $50. It brushes and rolls on and it is great. I put it on my 2000 silverado when it was new and I haul things all the time. Nothing slides on it as it has groundup rubber in it. It will get scared up if you slide something real sharp but it doesn't peel off. I did put another coat on acouple years ago because I had a paint can leak and I wanted it to look good again. My son had The spray on type and mine does as good a job and it was alot less.
leaddog

 

[willywildes]

I bought a new truck in july. i still have not decided what to do. i had a drop in, under the rail. drove the truck for 200K miles and traded it in on a new one. no one cared what liner i had so it's hard to justify 600$ for a line-x or rino spray in liner. a new drop in with rubber bottom is 200$ I am leaning drop in. the spray look great when new but fade like a drop in after years in the sun. i think spray in for show drop in for go
Good luck!
W.W

 

[bgott]

I have a Line-X. It doesn't have as much padding as a Rhino but it does a good job as long as you aren't into heaving stuff into the truck. I was in a snit one day and heaved a few logs into the back and they left dents. I have hauled tons of double jamb cinder blocks and they haven't hurt it a bit but I set 'em down when I load 'em, I don't heave them. I have loaded lots of heavy metal items with the loader and haven't hurt it but I do it easy. The lining on the edge of the tailgate is getting pretty chunked up and there are a few grooves in the liner where I loaded heavy metal stuff and had a sharp edge dig in and peel the lining. It didn't happen easily, though. One thing you have to watch out for with Line-X, if you haul drywall you want to lay down a sheet of plywood first. Line-X is really rough and will abrade the first sheet you lay down. It will also eat up any sheet you let drag across the wheel wells at an angle.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Last truck had a duraliner, this time I got Line-X. I prefer the Line-X. Be sure to look at some examples of the installers work. A good application is very important.

I stayed away from the apply-it-yourself liners because the opinions on the truck forums were very down on them. Many bad experiences were reported. I have not seen or had one of those.

Line-X and Rhino liner were both given very high marks with some instances of poor application. Rhino liner is a little softer and sprayed on cold. Line-X is a bit harder and sprayed on hot. I've carried a fair bit of block and wire dog crates with wire sticking out the bottom. I can't find any sign that I've used it at all except for dirt.

As I've said on this forum before, if you want a cheap liner, go to a Line-X installer and ask to take a look through the pile of liners he's taken out. You might find one that fits and get it real cheap.

Cliff