For those that may be like I was, considering a spray in bedliner, but still uncertain. I got my bed Line-X'ed yesterday. Apperance wise I think it is the best $400 I ever spent.
You would not believe the amount of damage the dealer installed bed liner had done to my truck in just one month. The paint was totally worn off the upper curve of both wheel wells, as well as severe scratching around the the opening of the bed, and the bottom of the tail gate.
If I had been carrying my camera I would have gotten pictures, I was truly shocked at the amount and severity of the damage.
Yep, drop-in's are bad news. Like you, I got rid of mine right after we got the truck and the damage was already starting. I would never recommend a drop-in to anyone.
Congrats on your Line-X
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Quote:
Courage isn't always a lion's roar. It is sometimes the heart at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."
This truck is my first experience with Line-X, after a few trucks with drop in's. So far so good, although I haven't done any real heavy hauling yet, just a couple loads of hay. True test will come this summer.
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If you care about your bed's finish, all plastic bedliners should have underlayment installed first. Typical installers really drop the ball on this simple preventative item.
How hard is it to remove the Drop-In Liner? Do you just un-bolt the cargo hooks, and pull it out, or do you have to remove other trim pieces? I am thinking about removing mine, and going with a rubber mat (if the paint isn't scratched up really bad) and maybe eventually Line-X.
If the bed is too sratched up, I may re-install it with an underlayment, what would you suggest on the type of underlayment to use for that?
Hey,
It's not hard. I haven't looked closely at the new body style version, but mine doesn't require any trim removal. I just removed the hooks. You pick up the very rear of the floor in the middle and put a box or a bucket under it. This allows you the flexibility to work the sides loose from rear to front. Once those are out from under the bed rails it just lifts out. You'll have to look where it meets with your bed rails and determine how it fits on your newer body style. The paint rubs off quickly without underlayment at every contact point, high or low. I've tried a couple of types of underlayment. Initially, I tried a product called "PaintSaver". It worked well, but didn't run up the walls as far as I would like. What works better is hardwood flooring underlayment. You can buy a larger amount and put it everywhere you prefer. It is rather expensive and various brands and thicknesses are stocked based on location. Look at what is offered and buy around 1/8" thick. Poke and try to rip it and see if it's durable because some is this cheap, blue trash; avoid this. Also avoid going too thick because it will make the liner fit tightly.
Thanks Max!!! I have to admit, I am a little scared to take it up. It has been on there for a year now. I lifted it up in the center (maybe and inch or two) like you described, and from what I could see, my paint is in pretty rough shape already.
I really like the liner, it has a nice clean look to it, easy to maintain, and very functional, I just don't want my bed rusting out in another couple years because of it.
Seems to me, that FoMoCo would install these underlayments at the factory. This has been the biggest grip about Drop-In Liners since they first came out.
I'm always amazed when I hear about people pulling up the drop-in liners and getting worked into a tizzy over the look of the bed underneath.
About the only comparison I can think of is someone who owns a retail store and gets glue-down carpet, then worries about what the concrete looks like underneath the carpet. Who cares? Yes, the paint will get worn off where the plastic bedliner is rubbing. No, it won't rust or wear through. No, it won't affect the value or function of the truck one bit. The only reason I could ever imagine removing a drop-in liner would be if it were damaged and I needed to replace it. I consider the liner pretty much 'permanent' and it will be there for as long as I own the truck. Therefore I have no reason to look underneath it. And if the truck is going to rust, it's going to rust somewhere other than inside the bed. The most common rust areas would be the wheel wells and the bottoms of the doors. The galvanized steel in the bed is much thicker and more rust resistant than other areas.
Allow me to give you a different perspective. As you may already know, I'm a LINE-X dealer.
I have customers who come to my shop that just paid $30,000 to $45,000 for a brand new truck. They very much care about what happens if they put a $125 plastic liner in the bed.
I can tell you that if the liner rubs long enough it WILL cause rust. I've seen many trucks that have had plastic liners. However, some drop-ins are much worse than others.
RockyJSquirrel- Your perspective is one viewpoint and TruckGasm's is another. The point is, there are multiple viewpoints on this topic. A couple of guys have shown interest in purchasing one of my Lightnings and EVERY one of them ask about the paint condition under the bedliner. I'm sure they could care less if it was a used 1999 XL 6-cylinder work truck. Another reason that I add the underlayment is because the plastic liner vibrated when I did my exhaust and the underlayment fixed the problem.
kbldawg- You're Welcome. My 2000 truck rubbed off the paint in one week before I did the underlayment. You'll be fine either way. I noticed some Knot-heads at my dealership as well:
Originally posted by max mitchell RockyJSquirrel- Your perspective is one viewpoint and TruckGasm's is another. The point is, there are multiple viewpoints on this topic. A couple of guys have shown interest in purchasing one of my Lightnings and EVERY one of them ask about the paint condition under the bedliner. I'm sure they could care less if it was a used 1999 XL 6-cylinder work truck. Another reason that I add the underlayment is because the plastic liner vibrated when I did my exhaust and the underlayment fixed the problem.
kbldawg- You're Welcome. My 2000 truck rubbed off the paint in one week before I did the underlayment. You'll be fine either way. I noticed some Knot-heads at my dealership as well:
Glenn Campbell, looks just like my salesman!!! hahaha Too Funny!!!
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