Is there an argument for a naked bed?

[Jeepnoob34]

To me, the bed is a tool. I wouldn't put a fancy paint job on the head of my hammer. You swing at one nail, and there goes your paint job on the hammer.

Heres my hammer.

Is there no one else!....IS THERE NO ONE ELSE!?

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[punk'n]

Why did the OP edit his original post?

The thread no longer flows correctly as some of the answers to his questions no longer make sense.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Heres my hammer.

Is there no one else!....IS THERE NO ONE ELSE!?

Maxwell's silver hammer

 

[JTBurns]

I don't know if there's an argument for a naked bed unless you're always super careful to put blankets or tarps or some kind of barrier when hauling something, and when not, be parked in a garage or have a bed cover. I negotiated a dealer spray in bedliner at purchase but had to wait about 6 weeks to have it added because Covid. So it was naked for a month and I only hauled a few things and already had a few scratches, so if you decide to go naked, then stock up on touch up paint.

As for those saying all JTs should come with the spray in bedliner, that would be a bad sales strategy as there are plenty of buyers who prefer a rug, rubber mat, or drop in plactic liner, which all have their own benefits. Mainly being that if they get damaged, you can swap them out and they are cheaper. If something punctures a spray in liner, then it's going to puncture your bed.

 

[1OffCraz]

This is an interesting thread.
I've been plagued by the difficulty in choosing something to protect the shiny new bed over the years. Tried everything, spray in, liners, bedmats, etc.

Ultimately, I always end up going back to using a good old bedmat.
I like the look of the painted bed, but being realistic about hauling, I discovered the rubber bedmat provided me the best combination of non-slip, and bed floor protection while still maintaining a bare bed look as much as possible.

I do get some minimal scratches around the edges, but for the most part, it does a decent job of protection, and a superior non-slip surface to keep cargo from flying around.

I added a bedrug tailgate protector to make it easy to slide stuff across the tailgate.
It does a nice job of protecting the gate without having to drill any holes for a mat type cover.

 

[Doc B]

I live in the North. I hunt. I don't want to have to deal with trying to wash frozen blood and gut residue out of a textured bed. Bed mat and paint for me.

 

[Gladiator Girl]

I think every truck/gladiator should come with a bed liner. It is so easy to scratch the paint. Whether you haul anything. I myself love my spray in bed liner. I haul pine needles and plants in mine. I didn’t pay all this money for my Gladiator to have scratches on it. I think trucks just look naked without one!!!

 

[Higher_Ground]

Well I ended up without one because I couldn't find one on the lot that had it and didn't want to wait for the dealer to have it sprayed later that week.

I fully intended on getting one from the start, or at least right after I bought it.

But I find myself really liking the look without it. I know that seems antithetical for a truck, but this isn't just a truck - it's a Jeep. Roof off, doors off, I like the painted roll bar too. I looked around for a bit to see if I could get a color matched liner but that was a no-go.

I don't haul any loose gravel, logs, etc. I have taken several items to the dump and picked up half a dozen large packages (I guess I was overdue having always asked a friend). I put one of those thick blue furniture/moving quilts down if I was worried and it worked out well.

The only time I got any scratches/dings was when I made the mistake of letting someone from the warehouse load the item for me. It was a mattress and box springs - not something I really figured would cause any damage. They dinged the tailgate and scuffed up the clear coat on the paint in a couple places

So I'm sort of in between. It's already got a few marks, nothing actually down to the metal thankfully. I got my ~$500 quote for a spray in and of course plenty of coworkers offering suggestions on drop-ins and bed mats. I'm in no hurry at this point to drop another $500 but don't think having just the mat would protect the rest of the bed. The guy managed to scuff up the sides too.

 

[brianinca]

Exactly, I can swap out a rubber bed mat in five minutes for $100 if it gets too beat. Heck I spilled some used motor oil on it the other day, going to disposal center. That would be a trial to get off a bedliner.

The bed liner in my JT looks like heck - spills stain it, dirt is hard to wash out.

 

[InvertedLogic]

Day 2 of ownership and I already have a bunch of scratches in the bed and on the tailgate just from sitting on it, putting a pair of MTB shoes in the back, and standing in the bed. Scheduling a linex appointment soon!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Exactly, I can swap out a rubber bed mat in five minutes for $100 if it gets too beat. Heck I spilled some used motor oil on it the other day, going to disposal center. That would be a trial to get off a bedliner.

I had my 1970 Chevy C10 for years and at least 75,000 miles. I used it - it was a 3/4 ton truck. I hauled my engines in the back until I got a flatbed trailer. Still, I was able to keep it pretty nice.
This is a silly "argument" really because it's up to the OWNER what they want, how they want it to look, what they can accept or not, how it will get used and more.
Good grief, what next - a post explainingwhy painted fender suck?
And those talking about shiny paint - so you never hit a trail with over-hanging trees, close rocks, never get a fender or wheel marked by a tree or rock or just plain getting it muddy? Mud and dirt eventually dull a painted surface - it simply does.
Unless you bought a truck for show, a trailer queen - it's a truck, and why should YOU give a rip about how the box on someone else's truck looks after a few years of use?

If I was doing it over on the JT - I'd likely have left it painted and used a bed rug or even a custom fit mat. I can be careful, or use something under the whatever I'm hauling.
I've had and worked on enough trucks over my over 45 years of driving, I've had pretty much everything from wood floor with factory paint, bare metal, "plastic" bed liners, spray in, you name it. I've had trucks where the bed looked pretty darned nice when I was ready to trade. The bed of my 70 Chevy with the wood floor - the dealer was amazed how it looked, but I always used mats or carpet, and being a hobbyist who painted his own cars and trucks back then, it was nothing to prep and touch things up. The guy they sold that truck to was using it for camping - he was happy how the back end looked. I watched them put his topper on it when I took my Comanche in for final dealer accessories.
Why not let the BUYER decide? No, someone wants to dictate to others and suggest they aren't as smart for choosing anything other than a spray in liner of their preferred brand.
What if it's a truck used mostly for camping - and won't see rocks, concrete blocks?

Let the buyer decide - you do what YOU want, we'll do what WE want. If you ain't interested in buying my truck in 5 years, why should anyone here give a rip - honestly.

It all sounds harsh, sorry, but I guess the original was slamming anyone who disagreed with the thought ALL trucks should come with a sprayed-on bed liner.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Exactly, I can swap out a rubber bed mat in five minutes for $100 if it gets too beat. Heck I spilled some used motor oil on it the other day, going to disposal center. That would be a trial to get off a bedliner.

Mine was a small gas spill - filled gas cans for lawn tractor and it got HOT that day, the cold gas expanded and found a way out the seal. What a mess - I've washed it twice, still stained - I even used simple green which removes grease and oils - no joy. Now it looks like sh|!

 

[cgflyer]

Well I ended up without one because I couldn't find one on the lot that had it and didn't want to wait for the dealer to have it sprayed later that week.

I fully intended on getting one from the start, or at least right after I bought it.

But I find myself really liking the look without it. I know that seems antithetical for a truck, but this isn't just a truck - it's a Jeep. Roof off, doors off, I like the painted roll bar too. I looked around for a bit to see if I could get a color matched liner but that was a no-go.

I don't haul any loose gravel, logs, etc. I have taken several items to the dump and picked up half a dozen large packages (I guess I was overdue having always asked a friend). I put one of those thick blue furniture/moving quilts down if I was worried and it worked out well.

The only time I got any scratches/dings was when I made the mistake of letting someone from the warehouse load the item for me. It was a mattress and box springs - not something I really figured would cause any damage. They dinged the tailgate and scuffed up the clear coat on the paint in a couple places

So I'm sort of in between. It's already got a few marks, nothing actually down to the metal thankfully. I got my ~$500 quote for a spray in and of course plenty of coworkers offering suggestions on drop-ins and bed mats. I'm in no hurry at this point to drop another $500 but don't think having just the mat would protect the rest of the bed. The guy managed to scuff up the sides too.

Linex can color match

 

[cgflyer]

Exactly, I can swap out a rubber bed mat in five minutes for $100 if it gets too beat. Heck I spilled some used motor oil on it the other day, going to disposal center. That would be a trial to get off a bedliner.

Bedliners clean as easy as paint

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Bedliners clean as easy as paint

BULL HOCKEY - come and clean mine if you think they do. That's bunk. Get some gas or other stuff on them, they are stained forever. I've tried and tried - further, they are so course, you have to brush some things out while washing them.
I'd love to see someone come clean mine and make it look new again.

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