March 23, 2020

WHY DO I NEED A TRUCK BED LINER?

With the expense of vehicles rising, it's extremely vital to stop anything from lowering its resale worth. One of one of the most mistreated part of any pickup truck is the truck bed. Whether you utilize it readily or as a daily vehicle driver, it's difficult to stay clear of the dents or dings that take place-- it seems-- as quickly as you drive it off the whole lot.

In this article, we will look at the choices you have in 2020 for picking the best truck bed liner. As you will certainly see there are a variety of choices you can make when selecting how to protect your truck bed. There are pros and cons to every type of truck bed liner. We break it down so you can make one of the most enlightened decision that fits your budget.

TYPES OF TRUCK BED LINERS

ARMORTHANE

Price range – $399 to $449

Bedliners are something that will completely transform the look and durability of your truck bed. Most people do not realize what it takes to do a Spray In Bedliner correctly. That's why every ArmorThane installer is certified and why every ArmorThane Bedliner looks so much alike. These are professionally sprayed in to give a glove like fit to the bed of your truck. A fit that can not be matched by any other.

PROS	CONS
Complete protection Lifetime warranty Inexpensive Non-skid Designed to fit your year, make and model of truck

DROP-IN BEDLINERS (PENDALINER, RUGGED LINER)

Price range – $140 to $390

Drop-in bed linings are just that, a plastic shell formed like a truck bed that you "drop-in" your truck's bed. It's not irreversible, it can be eliminated. Nonetheless, over time the elements might warp as well as alter the shape of the bed, dirt and debris will certainly make their method between the bed liner and the bed. With the debris caught between the bed and also the liner and also the loosened fit of the liner, the repetitive movement triggered by wind and bumps will remove the factory paint. This long-term friction will trigger corrosion where the paint has actually been scraped down to the bare metal in your truck bed.

PROS	CONS
Good protection Not permanent	Cargo slides around Can warp and lose shape over time Loose fit can cause damage

CARPET (BEDRUG, DEWALT)

Price range – $107 – $198 (bed mat) to $410 (full coverage)

Carpet bed liners been available in 2 types, you have the kind that simply covers the bottom of the bed and also you have the type that gives complete insurance coverage. The complete insurance coverage kind sets you back concerning 3 times a lot more. Carpet bed linings make use of velcro to connect the liner to the truck bed. Particles and water can make their way underneath the carpeting so taking it out as well as cleaning the bed is something you must do a few times a year. Because they are easily detachable there is an opportunity of theft or criminal damage. One more disadvantage is that they do stain when bird droppings, dirt, gas or oil get on the carpeting. Smooth-surfaced cargo such as plastic will certainly slide around in the bed otherwise safeguarded.

PROS	CONS
Good protection Not permanent	Cargo slides around Debris gets under the carpet Can stain and discolor

RUBBER TRUCK BED MATS (ROUGH COUNTRY, DEE ZEE, WESTIN, SMARTLINER, BLACK ARMOUR)

Price range – $81 to $199

Rubber bed liners cover the bottom of the truck bed and also offer respectable damage security in addition to maintaining your cargo from moving about. They don't supply any kind of protection for the sidewalls, liftgate or wheel wells but they are relatively easy to tidy up. If you're budget-conscious as well as you don't carry anything that might damage the rest of your truck bed this might be the way to go.

PROS	CONS
Keeps cargo from sliding around Not permanent	Debris gets under the mat Not typically custom fit to your truck Not full coverage No tailgate protection

SPRAY IN OR SPRAY ON (PROFESSIONALLY APPLIED) (RHINO LINING, LINE-X, Z-LINER)

Price range – $355 to $600

There are many regional franchises providing this solution. Irreversible distinctive paint is splashed on your truck bed to stop damage. Usually the application of around 5 gallons of bed liner product is used with a spray gun. This is an irreversible covering.

PROS	CONS
100% coverage Good protection Sound deadening	Permanent Commercial use not covered under warranty Prep work, application of spray and customer service only as good as your local franchise Prices can vary dramatically

SPRAY IN OR SPRAY ON BED LINER DIY FULL KIT – (U-POL RAPTOR, LINERXTREEME, CUSTOM COAT)

Price range – $119 to $276

You'll discover these in your regional residence improvement, hardware and vehicle parts stores. Marketed as a low-priced alternative to having a company use spray-on bed liner properly. The durability depends on just how thick it is used. Keep in mind that this is implied to be permanent. If you alter your mind there's no reversing.

PROS	CONS
Less expensive than a professionally applied spray-on truck bed liner. 100% coverage	Can chip or wear off Messy to apply A lot of prep work required

ROLL-ON BED LINERS (HERCULINER, RUST-OLEUM, DUPLI-COLOR BED ARMOR, U-POL RAPTOR, DURABAK)

Price range – $75 to $120 for full kit ($18 to $30 per gallon)

As implied by the name, this bed liner is "rolled on" the surface area of your truck bed with a paint roller. Generally you will get this as a package and relying on the dimension of your truck bed, 1 to 3 gallons of the bed liner paint. A set will include rollers as well as a roller frying pan to hold the paint but it will probably be more affordable to get your own supplies. The most essential (and also hard) step when picking to utilize a roll-on bed liner is the cleaning and also prep work. You'll require to use sturdy solvents as well as hostile sanding to obtain the surface area all set for applying the bed liner. The cleaning as well as application will take a weekend break and you'll need to wait concerning 3 days for the paint to completely dry so don't intend on hauling anything for at least 5 days.

PROS	CONS
Less expensive than drop-in bed liners Good protection Sound deadening	Permanent Prep work is extensive for the best results Messy to apply Takes a long time to dry

PORTABLE TRUCK BED LINERS (MOKO, WAL-MART)

Price Range – $75 to $100

Portable truck bed linings offer a little bit a lot more protection than the non reusable bed linings but not much. The main difference is the mobile bed liner will certainly last for more than one use. The number of usages depends on the product delivered. These are good for occasional use when transferring non-abrasive cargo such as timber chips as well as mulch. Heavier, more unpleasant freight such as logs or rocks might tear the liner.

PROS	CONS
Cheap Not permanent	Not very durable Noisy at high speeds Minimal protection Unattractive

DISPOSABLE TRUCK BED LINERS (BEDBAG)

Price range – $15 to $20

Non reusable truck bed linings are commonly a cheap single option made use of when you are delivering backyard waste to the landfill or compost bin. They are temporary bed liners that use very restricted defense to your truck bed. You would certainly utilize a non reusable truck bed liner if your only problem was stopping your bed from getting unclean and for making it easier to clean up after the job. Freeway usage is NOT recommended as it does not adequately secure the components from blowing out onto the roadway.

PROS	CONS
Cheap Not permanent	Bad for the environment Minimal protection Use only once or twice Noisy Could fly off Unattractive

TRUCK BED LINER COMPARISON CHART

	=Yes		= Maybe		No
TRUCK BED PROTECTION	ArmorThane®	Drop-in Bed Liner	Carpet Bed Liner	Rubber Mat Bed Liner	Spray-in Bed Liner	Roll on Bed Liner	Portable Bed Liner	Disposable Bed Liner
Does the liner help prevent bed floor dents?
Does the liner protect the tailgate from dents?
Does the truck bed liner protect the front wall by the cab?
CARGO PROTECTION
Is the floor of the truck bed liner rubber to help keep the cargo from sliding around?
Do you have complete access to the tie-downs?
Does the liner material prevent cargo damage or abrasion?
INSTALLATION
Will the liner keep things from sliding around in the back
Does the truck bed liner negate the factory paint warranty?
Are all installers certified?
Can i be trained to install it myself?
APPEARANCE/DURABILITY
Is the liner custom fit to your vehicle’s year make and model?
Is the liner resistant to chalking, color fading, or peeling?
Does the liner preserve the factory paint job?
WARRANTY
Does the truck bed liner have a 100% REAL lifetime warranty?
Is commercial use OK
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Is the liner free of hazardous chemicals?
Can the liner be installed without following OSHA regulations?
Can it be installed without the concern of inhaling hazardous chemicals?

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