(Re-Post from Super Crew thread) I have been doing quite a lot of research on the web regarding bed liners but have not come across a site which compares the quality and versatility of the various manufactures of the insert type bed liners (I am not going to go with a spray-on or paint-on).
Does anybody have any data to support their decisions as to what plastic insert type bed liner is "the best"?



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2001 SCrew Lariat, 5.4L, 4x4, Arizona Beige, CD, Leather 60/40, Skids, Slider, 3.55LS, Tow Package, Block Heater. Future Mods: Plastic Bed Liner, Westin Chromed Stainless Step Bars, Front Hitch, Warn semi-hidden winch. Bed Cap. K&N Filter, Flowmaster Series 50 exhaust.

 

It may be hard to find "data" comparing all major mfgr bed liners in some kind of long term testing procedure. It will probably be much easier and faster to trust "opinions". The members here seem to have all the types and for different trucks, years, and uses.

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2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back,
3" exit Y-pipe, Hellwig rear anti-sway bar.

 

Just an opinion, but you wouldn't be able to give me a plastic insert liner. They hold water and moisture in, they are very slippery and dangerous to walk on in the winter with snow and ice, and after about 4 or 5 years they look as crappy and scraped up as just an unprotected bed would.

I too have not forked over the cash for a spray in liner. I just have a rubber mat to keep things from sliding around back there.

If you absolutly have to have a liner of some sort I'd look at the Herculiner DIY kit. With one day of your time + $100 you can get a better solution for less than a drop in.

Just my opinion...

-jeff b.


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2000 F150 4x4 SC/SB 5.4 Auto, Tow Package, ORP (with the sticker for 2000), Cab Steps, Lariet.
Oxford White/Harvest Gold 2 tone.



[This message has been edited by FarmBoy (edited 08-03-2000).]

 

i have a tuff liner in my truck now and it seems ok, i also have the rubber mat on top of that...mainly so whatever is back there doesn't slide around....you will want to take out your plastic liner every so often and hose out your bed, stuff gets trapped underneath and you want to get it out of there, especially if you haul mulch, or anything else that tends to blow around...i have to say i don't agree with farmboy about the plastic liners ruining your bed, the old ones used to move around a lot more than the new ones...they can look bad after many years of hard hauling, but, better a $100 liner than your bed, right?...one thing to look out for with the spray-ons, and i have seen this many times...you can still dent your bed with the spray-ons...i work on construction sites all summer long and have seen many trucks dented to pieces and had owners of these trucks tell me, never the spray-on again...just my opinion, but, i can buy 3 or 4 plastic liners for the price of 1 spray-on, and not have to woory with the dents..Rich

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-1999 F-150 4X4 SC
-4.6, auto
-3.55 gears
-Westin chrome nerf bars
-dual straight pipes
-hikerdadrich@aol.com

 

Does anyone have a colored spray in liner? Wait until you have body damage and try to match the spray in liner.

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http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Album...1294&a=3025856
Mine:1997 F150, XLT, SC, Oxford white/maroon 60/40 cloth, 4x4 ORP, 4.6L, 3.55LS, 17" ORP wheels w/GY AT/S LT265/70/17, auto, 6 CD,Towing package, alarm, Rhino grill guard w/PICCA lights, dual exhaust. Bought new June '96

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Album...1294&a=3025874
Wife: 1999 Explorer Limited,pearl white/tan leather,4.0L,4:10LS,CD,sunroof,towing pkg.,alarm. Bought new Sept. 1999

Next: SuperCrew, 5.4L, 4x4,3:55LS,tow pkg. etc..

Previous: '65 Mustang 289 HiPo, '70 Chevelle SS 396, '70 Vette Conv. 350/350, 72 Datsun PU,'74 Vette TTop, '79 Blazer, '81 F150, '83 Bonneville, '84 Gran Marquis '89 TBird Super Coupe 3.8L SuperCharged, '93 Explorer 4.0L

 

Plastic bedliners are junk, They trap moisture, rub the paint off the bed and,as
said before(I know from personal experience)
will bust your beehind in the winter time
(OUCH) Just cough up the money and get a spray in already! They are so worth the money

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98 XLT 4.6 litre f150
genII K/N fipk
B/M shiftplus
dual exhaust w/Gibson rectangle tips
Snuglid/color matched
Kenwood cd/aftermarket speakers.sub on the way
slowly getting rid of chrome front pieces(yuck)
door cracks,roof cracks,out of warranty,oh
hell. you think if I weld
the third door shut it'll
stop the cracks?????

 

I had a Ranger and the plastic bedliner rusted the top of the wheelwheels pretty badly. They do protect way better against dents than a spray in, but I still dented the tailgate with a plastic liner. But you couldn't tell. I have a Herculiner now, and I like it. But if I used the bed for heavy work on a regualr basis, I would have gotten the plastic liner.

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

My Home Page

 

Just an idea but has anyone thought of using the Herculiner then dropping a liner in over that? Think about it: 1 Herculiner kit + 1 drop-in + a Saturday = an indestructable bed that still cost less than the spray-in. The Herculiner would prevent the rust and vibration damage while the plastic drop-in would fend off those wheel well dents and dings. You'd even have a little cash left over to throw the rubber mat back there to keep stuff from sliding. Hmmmm, sound like a good idea or overkill?

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Stock Stuff:
Y2K SCab 4X4, Chesnut Metallic, 5.4L, 3.55 Limited Slip, Skid Plates, Factory AM/FM/CD, 40/60 Split Bench, Sliding Rear Window, Towing Package and Keyless Entry.

Extras so far:
305/70X16 GY Wrangler AT's on American Eagle Series 146 chrome wheels.

Future plans:
Flowmaster or Gibson exaust system, spray in liner, stainless step bars, hood deflector, chip?, K&N? we'll see.

 

g-money;

I have no data, only an opinion. I like my Line-X spray-on bed liner. It looks good and cargo doesn't slide around. It doesn't scratch. It's some very tough stuff. However, if you're going to literally 'throw' stuff into the back, the bed will dent...

But to answer your question, the 'top-name' brands will all give about the same serviceability. I would just go to your local Ford store and get the one that Ford offers. It has the Ford oval on the front of the bed and is made by Duraliner, one of those 'top-name' brands. The cost should be around $250. installed or $150. if you install yourself. It's not a hard job to install, about an hour.

onemilmhz;

Your idea is a very sound one if you have the cash to pay for it all. The cost of the spray-in is what turns alot of people off to the idea.

Here's what a $350. Line-X spray-in did for my bed:


[This message has been edited by DuckHntr (edited 08-13-2000).]

 

Well, he's saying use Heculiner first (100 bucks) then a drop in (150 bucks). Still quite a bit cheaper and way tougher than any Rhino or LineX liner. I think it's a good idea, but I'll probably just get a rubber floor mat to go over the Herculiner. Then I can toss heavy crap into the bed without denting the floor.

 

If the truck is going to be a 'work truck' go with a plastic drop-in.

If the truck is (as mine is) a family vehicle which hauls camping gear and firewood, etc and no stuff 'thrown' into the back, go with the spray-in.

Install a rubber mat for the floor but cargo will slip easier than with the Line-X alone...

 

Without a doubt, the Ford branded liner from the dealer is the best value around.

I've used the liners from the dealer since 1987. Had the '87 for 10 years. Took the liner out after hearing about others talking about wear and rusting. Know what I found? Dusty but pristine paint with just a bit of scuffing. No rust.

Spray in liners look great, but guess what happens if you drop something heavy in the bed? The metal will dent almost as easily as if nothing was there. With a drop in liner, it absorbs the shock before it can dent the metal.

If you're worried about rubbing and rusting, they sell foam pads that will eliminate this problem. Otherwise, you could easily take the liner out and inspect the bed yearly. Give it a wax if you like. Personally, I wouldn't bother.

BTW, the Ford liner isn't slick. Things don't slide all that easily, but they do slide which can be an advantage, if you think about it. Besides, you should always tie down anything in the bed anyway.

 

Here is a general guide to bedliners (from the Truck Trends web page):
http://www.trucktrend.com/apr99/liners/liners_f.html


The current Ford bedliners are made by Duraliner. They have a textured floor, so items dont slide around. For impact (dent) resistance, drop-in liners are superior to sprayed-in liners (its the ribbed design that allows the liner to absorbe the impact). If you dent a sprayed in liner, you dent the bed.

When it comes time to sell your truck, you can always get a sprayed-in liner to cover any scratches (or rust) in the bed.

 

Drop in Vs Spray in.

Had a quality drop in liner for two years. I couldn't wait to get rid of it. Why? It rattled; no easy cure. It wore the paint off; ended up putting down 100 mile a hour tape on all the rubb spots. It was slick; and most plastic liners have a potential static problem. Put a platic gas container in your plastic liner and let it slide around is bad news.

I got a spry in liner form Inyati (Phoenix). It's great! Absolutely no complaints. Should've done it right the first time. Good luck!