So I was sure that I would be visiting the nearest Line-X dealer to have a color-matched bed liner sprayed on my new FX4.

I've always used drop-in's in the past and had very good results from them. Yes, they act like sand paper and grind areas on the bed down to the metal over time ... but I've never had trouble with rust as the areas that usually get this way are continually "sanded" by the bed liner which keeps the rust at bay.

Anyway ... with all the hoopla surrounding the Line-X Spray-in, I figured I'd go that route this time. That was until I read an interesting comparison where the possibility of bed dents was highlighted.

For thise with a spray-in liner (any brand), take this example and comment on it:

Let's say you were loading just regular bricks by hand and one drops from let's say waist height. Let's imagine that is doesn't land in the truck exactly flat. Would you have a dent in your brand new truck bed with you expensive spray-in bed liner??? The general answer I'm getting is yes, you would.

If this same thing would happen with a drop-in liner, you would be spared of dent.


I'm still undecided on which way to go ... and I suppose this is all in relation to how one utilizes their truck bed ... whether as a grocery bag hauler, occasional heavy hauler, or big-time heavy hauler. I myself would be in the "occasional hauler" category. I have had heavy things drop in my previous truck beds that would've caused dents if not for the bed liner.

If I do go with another drop-in liner, however, I think I'm gonna use the pre-liner that keeps the liner from "sanding" the bed .... here's a >> LINK <<

 

The answer to your question is YES! The spray in liner isn't going to protect you from dents. Case in point. The other day I loaded a floor jack into my truck and forgot to secure it. I came to a stop sign and it rolled all the way forward and put a nice dent into the front vertical part of the bed. It can easily be seen.

I've noticed with my Line-X liner that I'm too careful about the way I put things in the bed. My 95 with drop in liner I never gave a second thought to the matter. I would throw anything in the bed and not worry about it because it was thick and dent resistant.

Maybe I'll get a drop in liner to put on top of my spray-in!

 

I'm a LINE-X dealer and I agree to a certain point. Spray-ons do offer some impact protection, but the purpose of a spray-on is to provide a permanent, watertight protective coating. They are not made of titanium. There are pros and cons of drop-ins and spray-ons. You should make a list of the pros and cons and choose which is right for you. I can tell you from experience that drop-ins DO cause damage to the paint and metal. I have pics of this and will have the film developed (probably) this weekend.

I'm down to about 8 or 9 used drop-ins. I sell them for about $50.

 

I am with you and agree that more protection is better. Definitely use both. A spray in is good for sealing, however a bed mat, or a hard drop in on top of it is better. The spray in will protect your from the chaffing, and the drop in will protect from dents.

Other people here will disagree, and that's fine. Bottom line is that the more protection you have the better off you are.

However, if someone is more concerned about being trendy and looking good, or have a bed that is not at risk from dents, because they only see foreign matter in their bed may see is the dust that rushes by during a washing, then a spray in alone is fine... But it should be noted that Line-X looks pretty damn good by itself.

My recommendation is the dual protection.

 

As far as denting is concerned, a drop-in bedliner will provide much greater protection. I have had both and prefer the look of the line-x over a drop-in liner just because it molds itself to the factory nooks and crannies in the bed. It looks much cleaner than a drop-in liner.

I currently have just a rubber bedmat in my 2005 F-150. I think that if I were to buy a full bedliner, I would probably go with the bedrug. I have a sample of it here and it seems to be thick enough to absorb an impact and it looks to be a nice product.

 

From a standpoint of dent resistance from dropping, the drop-in is the best. The problem I've always had is if you don't tie down the load, the bulkhead and tailgate take a beating, along with your cargo.

Mats offer great drop-dent and cargo protection, but didn't protect the wheelwells - the Dualcomp bedliner solves that.

From a looks standpoint, the better spray-ins are nicest IMHO. For me personally, they didn't hold up and yes, the dents show.

 

I'm ordering the F150 mat to add when I do the heavy hauling other than that my linex is great.

 

This is my first "Real" truck and I do have the line-x and am ordering a bed mat for additional traction.

I do have a question about drop-in bedliners though. Do they protect from dents, or do they just cover them up by returning to their normal shape while the dents are still in the metal underneath?

 

Well, I had a bed liner in my former Ranger and hauled (and droped) some pretty heavy things ... including motorcycles with the kick stand down.

After five years, I took the liner off to clean underneth and the bed was a straight as the day I drove it off the dealers lot. There was just the typical area's where the liner had "sanded" down to the metal. So I'll definitely get a PaintSaver pad if I install another.

I'd like to go with the Line-X & Bed Liner combo but that's just too expensive.

 

WHat happens is they distribute the load more evenly. So if you dropped something with enough impact to dent, it would make a larger flatter depression. I dropped a big block from about 18" once, and that didn't leave a mark. Also had an M80 go off laying on one... that actually cracked the liner, but had no other effect.

 

It the same consept as having "ridges" (aka beads) on large pieces of metal or on the underneath side of running boards. The ridges distribute the load and make for better overall integrity.

If you drop something on them, they should eith absorb the impact or slightly spread and then return to shape.

They will accept most blows with no degradation to the bed. However, you drop a large rock from several feet, it make take the blow and dent the bed. Nothing is fool proof. However for thinks like wood, shovels, bricks, kids toys, your toys, etc., you should be fine.