When I bought my truck last week (99 F-150) it had a drop in liner and I can see that there is a lot of dirt under it and what not. I plan on leaving the drop in liner in it (as I don't have the $400+ to get a spray in liner) but should I pull it out and clean underneath it or just not worry about it?

Would it be worth my time to do it and how much of a Pain in the A$$ would it be to pull it out and put it back in?

Thanks.

 

If this was my truck I'd throw it out! Since it's not, I'd clean it out. Water will get trapped in and help promote rust. I had a co-worker remove his drop-in after 5 yers and the bed looked like swiss cheese. If you have the money, invest in a spray-in like Line-X, and never worry again!

 

it shouldnt be too hard to pull out and clean out...

ignorance is bliss though...you might not want to see what it looks like underneath

 

I know, that is what I am afraid of....

 

It only takes a few minute to pull one out, easier with two guys. HOWEVER...

The dirt will reaccumulate fairly quickly, and really has no detremental effect. Think about what happens, vibration and gravity move the dirt to lowest levels, where that bedliner doesn't touch. It is an urban myth that dirt under plastic bedliners hurts anything, the chafing is caused by the bedliner not fitting tight to the sides and therefore chattering in the wind.

Bottom line, clean it if you want, but I would look at and repair any damage that the liner has already caused to the paint. And of course, it doesn't hurt to make sure there's no accumulation of debris around drain holes.

 

I'd be worried that dirt will attract/hold moisture and any scratches, abrasions, etc., will eventually cause the paint to be compromised and allow rusting. Why not clean it out?

 

I totally (but respectfully) disagree with Bryndon. I've pulled many drop-ins out of trucks. The dirt does not totally settle. Look at the dirt on these drop-ins that I've pulled out of beds. You can see plenty of grime on the sides just from this picture.

 

When I pulled the factory drop in out of my F250, (I bought it used) it had piles of dirt and straw in the front that were soaking wet! The straw had begun to decompose, and if you know anything about straw you know how fast it can eat through a truck bed. The drain holes were all caked up, I don't see how it is NOT bad to have soaking wet debris detting in your truck 24/7. If you can't afford a drop in right now, yank that thing out and get a rubber mat.

 

i have a rubber mat in my bed and then i have a drop-in bedliner sitting on top of it to try to keep any rubbing to a minimum. i plan on pulling it all out this weekend and giving it a good washing. i'll take pics & post them after i'm done

 

Personally, I think I'd find it easier to not worry about your truck bed and any potential rusting if you'd post some more pictures of those Hooters girls washing your truck....

 

i get that request all the time! that was a fun day, i prefer to wash my truck myself usually but i have NO problem letting those lovely ladies scrub it up for me anytime.

 

I was thinking under the bedliner... in the bedliner, water, debris, you name it... but the plastic they use is impervious to damage from those things... just makes it ugly and nasty!

 

Realistically I don't think the dirt under the liner itself is going to cause a lot of damage... However, the liner will rub the paint down to bare metal and then the debris will hold water and cause rust... Plus its just kind of nasty... which is why I see little point to a drop-in plastic liner when there are several better options...

Of course spray-in dealers (I am one) tend to overstate the damage because thats what sells spray-in liners...

 

You rock!

That's pretty much the point I've been trying to make... and then others go out and repeat... and so on... and so on...

 

I've seen one extreme to the other. The variables are: 1. How long has the drop-in been in the bed and 2. Some drop-ins do more damage than others.

I've pulled out drop-ins and there's no damage at all. I've pulled out others and it's REALLY bad. Most are in the middle, especially with paint rubbed off on the wheel wells.