Bedliner Dilema

[karl from idaho]

Hi guys, if you have been following my posts, two weeks ago I bought my BRAND NEW BEAUTIFUL F150!!! It is a 2000 SC short box, 26,000 miles on it. It came with a plastic bedliner (tuffliner). But, the bed underneath is pretty scratched up. There is a little surface rust on it, too. I dont do a lot of hauling (but want to have that option). The most I haul right now is just my bike (bicycle, that is!) But this fall I plan on laying some sod and getting some lava rock or something to keep the cats from using my shrub beds as litter boxes. I live in a semi-arid desert, we get only 6 inch of precip (incl snow). I am looking at the following options for the bedliner: 1) leave it like it is. 2) Repaint the bed and put the plastic bedliner back in. 3) Have a sprayed bedliner installed. If I choose #3, would that stop any further rust from developing? Roughly what is the cost of a sprayed bedliner, like a Line-X? --karl

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[BeastRider]

A spray in bed liner will stop the rust. Actually, they etch the whole back of the bed for adhesion so it doesn't matter if the bed is scratched or has rust. Price wise, a TOFF spray in costs $359 + tax in Houston.

[MitchF150]

I'd just primer the bed and put the plastic liner back in. To keep it from moving around, just use some stainless sheet metal screws along the bottom edge at the tailgate. That'll keep it from moving and rubbing away anymore paint.

That's how mine is and I'm happy with it. I like to slide items in and out of the bed, so the plastic liner works best for me.

[karl from idaho]

well, I dont think I would just primer it and put the plastic one back in--primer absorbs moisture which can be a small problem esp on the wet side of the mountains..

--karl

[sundog7]

Put in that Line-X and don't give it a second thought. It'll look great forever, you won't ever have to worry about rust again, and it's tough as hell. It also quiets your bed and cuts down on cabin noise: an added benefit. You can expect to pay about $325-390 for a Line-X.

[98 4x4Flareside]

Your situation was same as mine: bought used 98 flareside 4x4 w/ Tuffliner. I took out the Tuffliner and found a considerably scratched up bed. I debated for a month or two about bedliners and finally decided on the Herculiner, the do-it-yourself roll-in bedliner. $89 at Northern Tool (and til Nov, they have a $20 rebate going on). Came w/ a scouring pad, 2 special rollers, and a gallon of solution. The scouring pad is to "take the glaze off the paint" (and it does it w/o wearing u out!). Took less than 2 hours to prep my 6ft flareside. The only thing u need that isn't in the kit is a mineral spirit called zylene (or xylol) avail at Home Depot/Lowes in the thinners area. The directions are VERY specific on using JUST zylene to wipe down the bed after using the scouring pad. The solution is very easy to rollout thanks to the special rollers.
Bottom line, I guess, is I am VERY PLEASED that I did the job myself. I was able to pay particular detail to the areas I wanted to (the tailgate, the tailgate gap, the bottom of the tailgate, and the front drains).
BTW: the bedliner is a gloss black that, after 2 mos, still maintains a "wet look". u can order different colors from their website (herculiner.com) for $135.

Re-reading this, i realize i sound like a salesman. I have no connection to herculiner, just a very satisfied user. And i guess that is the best salesman of all.
If you have questions or want more details, just holler.
Larry

[karl from idaho]

Thanks guys (and gals) for all of the input!!! That is what makes this site so great...

I talked to a few locals about them, a shop around here does a sprayon called amarcoat, people seemed to be please with it. priced like the linex, looks like it too.

Rhino liner shop closed up here, so that is all we got.

I've kinda decided to put a lineX in, $345 plus tax. Dont know when I am going to do it, though, the wifey is making noise about needing cab steps to help her get in. (I dont like them myself). Then, I want to put a hitch in before winter to pull out those chevy's and dodges....

Reason going with the lineX is the armarcoat looks good but if I move to another timbuktu town I dont know if there will be a shop there that can handle warranty issues, more likely a lineX shop will be there.

[BeastRider]

Originally posted by karl from idaho
I want to put a hitch in before winter to pull out those chevy's and dodges....

Karl, there was a pic a while back of a hitch cover that said something like "remove to tow dodge". Anybody know where it might be at?

[Thefoyboy]

Got my Line-X in today and it is great. Love it and am sorry it took so long to get it in. The finish and fit is excellent and now I can see why durability is so phenomenol.

[karl from idaho]

BeastRider: I have seen those in truck accessory shops, seen one that said Remove to tow Dodge, another that said Remove to tow Chevy. They were pretty pricey, somewhere around $50.

--karl

[MitchF150]

Very good point on the primer. I didn't really think about that part of the primer solution. You could just use a good "Rust Preventer" type of spray paint too. Humm.......... Now, I'm thinking this may be the way I want to go.........

Originally posted by karl from idaho
the wifey is making noise about needing cab steps to help her get in. (I dont like them myself).

That's what happened to me with my wife. I kept saying that we'll get some, but kept buying other stuff!! She finally went out and bought them herself and said "Please put these on."

Was able to put it off as long as I could! Now that they are on, it's not so bad, but I'm still keeping my pic of it without them!

Here's a quick pic of it WITH the boards on (and my messy garage)

[BeastRider]

[i]
Here's a quick pic of it WITH the boards on (and my messy garage)[/b]

At least you can park in your garage... mine hasn't seen a vehicle in it in 23 years.

[swampview]

Originally posted by MitchF150
. . . and my messy garage . . .

Mitch,

. . . messy garage - I just wish I could get all of my truck in my garage at one time - I back it in to work on the rear and the bed, then I pull it in to work on the front . . . at least its a double with one door so I do have room on both sides . . . !

Karl,

I got the Lund Runners, left them black like the mud guards, less noticeable than most of the others and, so far, I've only seen one other truck around here with them . . . !

Bob

[MitchF150]

BeastRider and swampview:

My wifes car even fits! ('90 Ply Acclaim). I've got just enough room to get out on the drivers side and walk sideways to the back. This is my first garage, so I'll do whatever it takes to keep my rigs in it. I've got two storage sheds in the backyard to hold the rest of my crap!! Nothing better then to be able to change the oil in the middle of winter and not get wet!! That's saying alot because I live in Washington state.

I do have to back up some and center it to really work on it, then the garage door won't close, but I'll take that anyday!

[karl from idaho]

yeah, I spent last saturday cleaning mine out a little and reorganizing it so I could fit MY BEAUTIFUL NEW TRUCK!!! into it...Jee whiz, it fits!! I can even get the wife's grand cherokee in there, too!!! I might post a snap later...

--karl