I just bought a F150 platinum w/ 55" bed. I'm new to trucks & this forum but realized I need advise.
1)I want to have a rhino liner sprayed in, what is a approximate cost ? Is there any drawbacks ? Should I open up the drain holes before getting it sprayed ?
2) Also thought of putting a rubber mat or bed rug in just on the floor, for my knees & a stuff sliding around. Kind of redundant I know but I'm worried about not protecting the bed and my knees .
3) Any advise on the exstang solid fold covers ? I know they are pricy but do they leak ?
4) With the above products in place I should be able to keep the area dry & protected on long trips during the winter ? will I get any seepage from the drains in the front of the bed by the cab on trips or during rain storms ?

Any help or advise would be appreciated, It seems the sticker was only part of the shock, I didn't realize I needed to buy more accesories being a first time truck owner.

Thanks

 

Not silly or redundant, depends on how you want to care for the bed and your knees and for how long.

My '07 had a near new Line-X spray in when I bought it last year. It also had a soft Truxedo LoProQT cover on it. As winter neared, I thought about snow and ice loads and decided on a hard cover.

So I purchased a Undercover hard cover, I love it, you can get on it and walk around .... with a buddy or your GF, etc. I have been on it when cl;eaning / waxing the roof of the truck.

With it open, I could get in the back, but the texture of the LineX was tough on the knees, and besides, I wanted to take care of it. The cover keeps it dry so not too worried about moisture. Was at Tractor Supply one day, they had a sale on molded rubber bed mats but none for a 6.5 foot Flareside, though they did have the one for a 6.5 foot Styleside. Price was right, I took it.

Used a hooked like carpet cutter and metal straight edge in the drive way with old piece of panel behind it. First I crawled in and measured the widths behind and in front of the wheel wells, as mine would be narrower. I measured across at front, then just in front of wheel well, then behind wheel wells, then at rear, and at tailgate. Each place I measured across, I also noted how far back from front wall it was.

I recorded all this on a diagram. I marked my mat, and trimmed it to fit. It does fit, and stuff doesn't slide, it's easy enough to roll up the sides and drag out to clean ... and it's much easier on my knees!

Mine stays dry, we travel sometimes in it and I just put suit cases, etc back there, hauled Christmas Gifts wrapped in rain / snow last winter OK. I have also purchased a large black carry all case at wallyworld made from recycled plastics for 30 some dollars that I keep back there now, it's easy to remove.

I know sticker shock, but it's only needed if you want it?

 

The truck looks nice. I did look at undercover's and other brands. I'm still undecided on the bed cover. It seems the more I read , the more I can't decide what brand. I am very particular and am trying to add accessories that are " bulletproof ". I don't anticipate using the bed much, just luggage and whatever.... I would really like it to stay dry and be protected. Anybody info on the extang solid fold ? do they leak at the seams / hindges ? Am I expecting too much from the bed cover and bed/tailgate design for it to be watertight ? Or will there always be some moisture that get in ?

 

To be honest, when I purchased my truck last August, it had a Truxedo Lo Pro QT cover on it.

It's a soft cover with a couple integral bows and it rolls up the front, unrolls to the rear, siodes hook with velcro alongh the edge and the rear has an aluminum extrusion that locks down pulling the cover tight with spring pressure and the tailgate locked it. It overlapped the sides a bit and the tailgate and I used it in some heavy rains and never got any water inside.

It was handy to roll up to reveal what bed I needed for things too tall to go underneath.

If I hadn't been worried about snow and ice, it'ld still be on the truck instead of rolled up in the basement (it's for sale, but it fits flaresides only). It's a nice cover and looked good, no sags, taught, no leaks. It costs a little less than an Undercover or other hard cover.

Back in the old days, we used plywood and made our covers and reinforced them and had them covered if desired at upholstery shop.

A buddy has a tri fold type, it's three sections, folds up, and he's had some leakage at the seals between the sections. Not sure of brand though, but just something to look at if you look at those. (Edited to add it was Extang Tri Fold)

 

the truck looks great...I wouldn't go for a black pebble finish plastic lid...I bought a Snuglid painted to match my truck...get lots of compliments

 

I learned a few things since I posted this. Bought a SolidFold. It had shown up with small scratches, a dinged end piece, adhesive leeching out of the underside hindges, ect.... definetly looked like a " B " stock item or something that was returned to Extang then re-worked. ME BEING ME.... it had to be sent back, the dealer ordered a new 1 and all should be good ?. Then the condition it arrived in, started to bother me ! So I did some searching on line and ran across 2 threads in other forums, there was 1 guy who has returned 5 or 6 of them with the dealer eventually eating it ( $$$ ). I decided that this would be a future nightmare, Everytime I would walk into " BRUCES " he would kringe and I would be eternally Pi$$ed. That is not the type of relationship I want to have with my local 4WD accessory place . WE talked about it, and I ordered an UNDERLINER. Bruce cancelled the 2nd SolidFold order, all should be well. My research had discovered that those leak water into the panels then into the truck bed. Even if the 2nd 1 had shown up in perfect condition, and I tried not to get it too wet while washing it, there is the ice & snow thing coming at us fast and it would turn out to be a nightmare.

 

Check out the Dual Liner if you haven't already. it is usually cheaper than the spray ons and I think it would give you exactly what you are looking for. It is really easy on the Knees and it uses the factory designed drain holes already in your trucks bed. Go to www.dualliner.com for more information.

 

i hate 2 add but if i have holes in my bed would a rubber liner be a bad thing?