Pickup truck bed liner

[mikester]

I'm looking for recommendations for a paint on bed liner. I'm thinking along the lines of 2 coat epoxy that isn't too slippery and sticks well to a metal bed. Something that will take abuse with logs, rocks etc.

 

[YanmarFever]

I used a kit made by rust oleum to do the bed on a Daihatsu mini truck, it worked out ok.
The trick is in the prep work, first I pressure washed the bed, second I wiped it all down 3x with xylene using a new rag every time.
Then I applied to the bed with a roller and used a brush for the corners.
I let it dry for a few days and it looked great, but not professional.
As far as rocks and logs dropping on it, I dont know, maybe a plastic truck bed liner would be better for you.

 

[Jstpssng]

Pickup beds really weren't meant to have rocks and logs dropped into them. I would be more concerned with the metal than what's covering it.

 

[Alan W.]

I used a kit made by rust oleum to do the bed on a Daihatsu mini truck, it worked out ok.
The trick is in the prep work, first I pressure washed the bed, second I wiped it all down 3x with xylene using a new rag every time.
Then I applied to the bed with a roller and used a brush for the corners.
I let it dry for a few days and it looked great, but not professional.
As far as rocks and logs dropping on it, I dont know, maybe a plastic truck bed liner would be better for you.

I used the same product on the bed of our Kawasaki Mule. It has held up really good over the years to shovels and pitchforks

 

[oosik]

I have a Line X spray on bed liner. Installed at the factory. Also have Line X complete body undercoating - also done at the factory. Line X has DIY kits also.

 

[ponytug]

I have both Line-X (trailer floor) and a drop in bed liner (pick up). I like both, but they are quite different. I agree with @Jstpssng. If you are dumping rocks, that is going to be tough on the sheet metal of the bed no matter what.

That said, I would go for a bed liner. It will take more abuse than a roll on (spray on) liner, even a thick one like Line-X. Things will slide in and out much easier on a bedliner. With Line-X or Rhino liner, things stay put, which is good and bad. Great to keep animals from slipping in a trailer, but tough on your back if it is a pickup bed.

My only $0.02 on liners is to be sure to park with the tailgate end sloping down hill so you don't accumul ate water under the liner.

All the best,

Peter

 

[oosik]

I don't carry loose material- sand, gravel, dirt - in the bed of my pickup. So .. no sore back. But I will sure state that the Line X bed liner is NO SLIP. HE** - I don't even enjoy kneeling on it. It's got sharp knobbies that dig into my knees - something fierce.

 

[KennyG]

I've done a couple myself. I've used Rustoleum and Herculiner. The Herculiner seems to me much better but both are functional. I now have a factory installed Ford spray on. Puts the others to shame.

Whatever you get, also get a rubber bed mat. Your knees will thank you. Also, if you do dent the bed check carefully for cracks and repair the coating. Otherwise moisture will be trapped under the liner and rust out the bed. I learned that the hard way.

 

[JethroB]

The texture or coarseness of Line-X can be varied by the installer. Local shop had samples to choose from. Maybe the home kits can too?

 

[Rustyiron]

I prefer a rubber mat that's specific to the truck. There not slippery and provide some impact protection and distribution of a point load. More than a paint or spray on "liner". For years we always just dropped in a 4x8 sheet of CDX plywood, your wheel wells are still vulnerable but the only protection for them is the drop in skating rink (bed liner).
I moved 1 rubber mat about every 4 years to the next truck for over 20 years, and these were all full time work trucks.

 

[deserteagle71]

I've had two pickups with the Line-X lined beds. The ONLY thing these are good for is preventing things from sliding around so much. If you are heaving rounds of firewood into the bed, or rocks or anything of that sort, the "painted-on" liners do nothing to prevent bed damage.

I put a drop-in liner in one of the truck beds that I was using as a firewood getter. Tall ridges molded in the plastic liner protected the bed of the truck quite well from impacts.

Without a drop-in liner I would "line" the bed of the pickup (with the "painted-on" liner) first with a piece of 3/4" plywood, then some old industrial belting that was 3/4" thick. That was enough protection to keep from denting the truck bed.

 

[Jchonline]

I have a Line X spray on bed liner. Installed at the factory. Also have Line X complete body undercoating - also done at the factory. Line X has DIY kits also.

LineX from dealer here. Working out nicely after 3 years.

 

[Toyboy]

I had Rhino Liner put on my truck bed over 10yr ago. Still looks good.

 

[oosik]

The first year here on the property I used my pickup to haul firewood. I guess we were just more gentile on loading, etc. Never had a problem with dents. Our problem - the pickup simply didn't haul enough and it would get stuck with repeated trips. I got all my firewood from right here on my property.

Then we got an old double axle trailer. Packed tight it would carry 2+ full chords. Pulled it with my first tractor. One way the trips were around half a mile. Life was good........

 

[civilian]

I've had two pickups with the Line-X lined beds..........
View attachment 692040

Not a tree in site, but all that firewood!!!!! Just kidding. LOL Jon

 

[PILOON]

When I had my pickup painted the painter suggested about a gallon of axle grease smeared B4 he re installed the bed liner.
I obliged but sold the PU B4 I could confirm his suggestion, but it made sense.

 

[4570Man]

If you want a truck bed to survive logs and rocks you’ve got the wrong bed.View attachment 692525

 

[buck12]

I prefer a rubber mat that's specific to the truck. There not slippery and provide some impact protection and distribution of a point load. More than a paint or spray on "liner". For years we always just dropped in a 4x8 sheet of CDX plywood, your wheel wells are still vulnerable but the only protection for them is the drop in skating rink (bed liner).
I moved 1 rubber mat about every 4 years to the next truck for over 20 years, and these were all full time work trucks.

My Dad has rubber mat that has been moved from truck to truck. It started out in a 1981 Ford. It is grumbling at this point. He puts the rubber mat on top of the drop in liner to keep stuff from sliding.

My 09 F150 has Linex that has held well. My 1993 F150 has Ford rubber mat that still looks good after 28 years of abuse.

 

[deserteagle71]

Not a tree in site, but all that firewood!!!!! Just kidding. LOL Jon

I had to smile when I read oosik's post about have to travel a half mile one way to get firewood.

Very true, no firewood to be had around here. Well, there is some but the government (BLM) won't allow firewood cutting, even for dead trees that had been killed by forest fires. So that load of firewood I posted a picture of came all the way from Oregon - 242 miles one way. Hauled my firewood from Oregon for many years. But two years ago even that source started drying up - they can't get firewood cutting permits up there either anymore - so I went to a pellet stove. Drought and bugs have killed huge swaths of our western forests, so now massive forest fires result. Yet no one is allowed to cut down dead trees....the logic of government bureaucrats.

 

[oosik]

Right now I have six trees than need to be cut up into firewood. Three from pine bark beetle - three blew down in the last big wind storm. A couple are real monsters - ~ 32" at the base and 90 to 95 feet long.

Got a fellow who burns wood and will be cutting them up later this year when the land dries out.

Looking back - I could have saved a lot of money, time, sore back, etc, etc. I installed electric heat when we built the house here. I should have started using it from day one. Electricity is dirt cheap here.

But......... like we all know. Wood heat - so warm, wood right here on my property and the smell of burning pine.