Bed Liner - Spray on or drop in?

[Quickstep192]

I’m shopping for a bed liner for my new Gladiator. I had initially planned to go with spray-on, but it occurs to me that the spray on liner won’t protect from dents.

For those that have one or the other, what do you like or not like?

Should I look at other options?

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[Mr._Bill]

I have always had drop in bedliners on my trucks. Worked well and never had any issues. This is the first truck with a spray in bedliner, it came from the factory that way. One of the things I checked before the test drive was the texture and feel of the liner. I had seen some in other trucks, and did not like the look or feel of them.

 

[jay21mojave]

My Vote Drop IN.. and I did not order the "spray" on my Mojave. Agree with the NO Protect on dents and guess what will chip and crack; so the H2O still gets in.

 

[itsdapk]

Do a Bedrug. They have a full coverage one now. Doesn't kill your knees if you have to climb around in the bed.

 

[FloridaJT6MT]

I’ve got Rough Country Molle panels all the way around, a Dee Zee bed mat and a bed rug tailgate mat.

 

[be77solo]

I prefer the spray in liners, but I also won't abuse a truck bed by dropping gravel/stone/block or similar in it like I see some do.... that's what my trailers are for. Spray is incredibly durable and protects the bed from just about anything other than stupid hard hits.

Worked construction since 2002 using truck beds daily.

First F250 had a Rhino liner, didn't love it because it would catch/peel occasionally, and was just all around a bit sticky and thick. Do they even still do Rhino liner?

Next truck was a new F350, had a drop in plastic liner from dealer. It provides protection, but is slippery and everything slides around, and all sorts of crap falls in the required cut out holes to just be "lost" under the liner. After about a year took a peak underneath, and just wasn't happy with the chaffing on the paint or crap build up, which, over time will of course rust. So, had a Line-X (used an off-brand local shop I liked) spray in liner put in and was totally happy with it for 10 more years. My only addition was a rubber bed mat, that to me is the perfect setup.

So, based on that, I do a spray in liner to protect from scratches/bed damage/rust and a rubber bed mat for impacts ever since.

I am going a different way on my Gladiator out of pure curiosity since there is a group-buy for a BedRug, but if not for that, it would be a spray in liner and a rubber bed mat.

But, if you are going to have a loader fill your truck bed up with gravel/dirt etc, then do the plastic bedliner that covers the rails. Just be aware that any cutouts for hooks/lights etc will let crap fall through. I bring my utility trailer for those missions, as I just don't want to deal with the bed cleanup or paint scratches, but others do.

That's my experience, I have no idea if I'll love or hate the BedRug, but can 100% say a spray in liner and rubber mat is awesome for just about everything.

 

[am1978]

Line-x here. Third truck since 2005 with it. Love it, and it does the job. Are you swinging a sledge into the bed or what?

 

[DocMike]

Have Line-X and adding Molle panels. The Line-X comes with a lifetime warranty. Even moved a Hammond Organ. No issues.

 

[Dqban]

spray in all day long. looks way better. It dries hard so there is actually some dent protection. I actually think the bed rug is a cool idea but ive never seen one myself.

 

[rj74]

SPRAY IN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU PLAN TO KEEP THE VEHICLE LONG TERM. DROP INS WILL RUB THE PAINT OVER TIME AND DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER WHERE YOU LIVE CAN CAUSE RUST

 

[am1978]

SPRAY IN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU PLAN TO KEEP THE VEHICLE LONG TERM. DROP INS WILL RUB THE PAINT OVER TIME AND DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER WHERE YOU LIVE CAN CAUSE RUST

…and spray-in increases the value.

 

[Mac]

Drop in, less than half the cost and 10x the protection, as far as rust, that argument maybe had some teeth 20 years ago but trucks don't rust like that anymore. My last truck was a 2010 Tundra with a factory drop in, I had for 10 years, not a single issue with rust, it may chafe some of the paint off but no rust.

 

[dstephns]

Sounds like your Javelin policy is actually "Agreed Value" and not "Stated Value". With Stated value, the insurance company gives you whatever they like should the car get totaled. My 1970 Mach 1 is insured with Hagerty and it most definitely an Agreed Value policy.

My JT is my first Jeep, so I'm wondering how much noise difference is there with hard tops once winter hits. I have the 3 piece hard top and had a good layer of frost on the roof. When I got to highway speeds, I heard a lot more wind noise than I did the previous morning, but weather wind speeds were actually lower than earlier in the week?

Does the cold really affect the hard tops that much?

No doubt ?.

Here’s the even crazier thing ....it’s 109 but “feels” like 101 AND no humidity. It’s not that bad actually.

I prefer the spray in liners, but I also won't abuse a truck bed by dropping gravel/stone/block or similar in it like I see some do.... that's what my trailers are for. Spray is incredibly durable and protects the bed from just about anything other than stupid hard hits.

Worked construction since 2002 using truck beds daily.

First F250 had a Rhino liner, didn't love it because it would catch/peel occasionally, and was just all around a bit sticky and thick. Do they even still do Rhino liner?

Next truck was a new F350, had a drop in plastic liner from dealer. It provides protection, but is slippery and everything slides around, and all sorts of crap falls in the required cut out holes to just be "lost" under the liner. After about a year took a peak underneath, and just wasn't happy with the chaffing on the paint or crap build up, which, over time will of course rust. So, had a Line-X (used an off-brand local shop I liked) spray in liner put in and was totally happy with it for 10 more years. My only addition was a rubber bed mat, that to me is the perfect setup.

So, based on that, I do a spray in liner to protect from scratches/bed damage/rust and a rubber bed mat for impacts ever since.

I am going a different way on my Gladiator out of pure curiosity since there is a group-buy for a BedRug, but if not for that, it would be a spray in liner and a rubber bed mat.

But, if you are going to have a loader fill your truck bed up with gravel/dirt etc, then do the plastic bedliner that covers the rails. Just be aware that any cutouts for hooks/lights etc will let crap fall through. I bring my utility trailer for those missions, as I just don't want to deal with the bed cleanup or paint scratches, but others do.

That's my experience, I have no idea if I'll love or hate the BedRug, but can 100% say a spray in liner and rubber mat is awesome for just about everything.

+1

 

[OVERLORD]

If you're looking for aesthetics, go for a spray in. If you use your truck, as a truck, use a drop in. I've had both. The constant touch-ups, with spray-ins, became a problem, and also there was no protection from dents. There's an ol' wive's tale about corrosion, I've been using a drop-ins, in different trucks, for forty years+, no rust issue, and I'm in the Northeast. I went with the Rugged liner, the price was right, it fits perfectly. I pulled it out after two years to see how it was doing, no issues. All depends on the use of your truck. Again, I use my truck, as a truck. The Rugged is thicker than most, and has a good texture, which stops slips, but is a challenge to clean. I find that floating debris is the easiest way to clean. All depends on the use of your truck. Again, I use my truck, as a truck. Cheers.


Why this is bold ..............

I have NO idea!

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[NachoRuby]

I vote spray-in, and if you're loading something that's going to be banging around a lot, use a rubber mat for added protection. I have the factory spray in, and it's tough as nails. Anyone know who the supplier is?

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