I just got my Line-X installed yesterday. I was a little bit hesitant about spending so much money just on a bed liner, $450. My 2004, I just used a plastic drop in liner. I took it out before I got rid of my truck only to find about 600 lbs of sand underneath and it was already all rusted up, surface rust but rust none the less. So, I decided I would spend the extra money and do it right this time. Line-X of Central Florida did a GREAT job, they only took about 2 hours and it was finished. My friend told me that with a spray in bed liner, you can't go through car washes because the color will fade, does anyone know? The place didn't tell me this so I have no idea. Overall, Im very satisfied how it came out, it looks EXCELLENT!

Here are some pictures.

 

My has faded to a dull finish, but still very dark black. I would blame the sun and abrasion, but not car washes, as mine has only seen the latter about a dozen times in two years.

There is an additive that can be added before application that is supposed to prevent all fading and dulling, but that won't help you now. Search for threads on color matching Line-X and you might find more specifics.

Looks great.

 

I had Line-X in my 2000. I had it in there for about three years before I sold the truck. No dulling what so ever. I took it through automatic carwashes all the time.

 

Looks great..

 

Forget the do it yourself liner I'm going to go line x

 

that looks amazing thumper! i'm getting my line-x in about 2 hours. can't wait. i'm getting the ford logo embedded into it below the rear window too. hope it turns out as good as yours! i think i got a really good price too, especially seeing how much you americans are paying. $500 cash, including the stenciling (usually a $100 option). maybe my dealer is hard up for business.

 

Do they always spray over the plastic plugs in the front wall? Obviously, there is some unknown purpose for the plugs, but they are sealed them shut. It kind of looks like they bent up the bed caps. Did they remove them in the process? I'm going to get a Line-X liner soon, so I want to know exactly what I need to do/or tell them to do to get it done right.

 

I take **** rententive to a new level when it comes to my truck. When I was going to have it done I freaked about scratches, removing bed rail caps, taking the tailgate off, taking the bolts out...you name it. HOWEVER, I decided it was necessary and left it up to then to take care of it. I was PERFECT an absolutely pro outfit, job was perfect and no problems at all. Line x is the bomb! I have automatic car washed, dumped gas on and otherwise beat my liner. Soap and water and it looks the day I bought it.

 

Looks really good Thump.... thats on my list as well. So many mods

 

The plugs in the front are for draining the bed, if needed. Line-X of Loveland said that they leave them in since after spraying you cannot get them back in. They fit fairly tight, so the added thickness of the liner makes it impossible to get back in. Most dealers will remove the tailgate cover and spray it separately in order to not "seal it off". Also, they removed the bed bolts and re-install after spraying so that one could take the bed off, if needed.
Thumper: I took my plastic liner out of my 97 just before trading and found ALOT of rust. Those liners only trap dust, dirt, and sand to act as a finish remover. Mine would vibrate alot even though it was tight and wear off the finish in certain areas of the bed. I vowed never to get another drop in again.

 

It's going to fade regardless of whether you take it through car washes or not.
Does your friend think they use some special Line-X eating chemical in car wash soap that they don't use in home car wash soap?
Maybe a Line-X dealer can chime in, but I believe they have and extra coating (Line-X X-tra, or something) that they can put on for an additional cost that will keep it looking nice and shinny. My dealer told me something about it when I got mine done but I thought $450 was enough. I don't need it to sparkle. It's a bedliner.

 

nevermind

 

Fade? How about the look of a drop in bedliner after a few years! Everything is going to fade in some sort of way, and I don't think washing would make it any worse than our good old Sun will!

 

I'm a LINE X dealer.

...Just kidding! I think it's funny that TruckGasm starts most of his posts like that...I laugh every time

Anywhoo, I am very passionate about Line-X. Obviously I don't have to convince you of its superiority since you already have it. All I can say is you made the best choice possible, and frankly in a few months, I think you will believe it is the best $400 you have ever spent on your truck.

Having said that, mine has had dirt, rocks, chairs, bed rails, washers, dryers, chemicals, tree stumps, mulch, and MUCH MORE in it, and it looks as good as day one. No scratches. No fading.

However, fading is inevitable if you leave it as-is forever. There are, however, a few options to prevent fading from happening.

1) Get Line-X Xtra applied. TG has the chemical details on what it does and how it works. Ask him or search for it.

2) Buy a tube of Just Once. Apply it a few times a year and you are good to go.
http://www.justonce.com/

 

Welcome to the club! LineX is definitely worth the extra few dollars! The shop that did mine is top notch here, too. Although I've only had it for a few months now, the bed continues to look perfect since the day I got it with no sign of fading. I've also had my truck through a few automatic car washes...

Your truck is looking good!

E