I've seen all the posts for spray-in liners vs. drop-ins but not much mention of the old rubber mat. They won't protect the wheel wells and side walls but will protect the floor without the disadvantage of scratching the surface or rattling around like the drop-in liners.

Would anyone recommend the mat as a better alternative for just the occasional hauler?

 

If you are an "occasional hauler", then it really doesn't matter what you put back there to protect the bed. IMHO, that's not why I chose a spray-in. Actually, it's not why I chose any liner in particular, and I've had both drop in and spray in. I look at it this way: I keep my truck clean. All the time. Matter of pride. It looks good. I feel better in a clean ride. I look better in a clean ride. (Are you guys with me?) Having said that, there's no way on God's Green Earth that I'm going to get back into the bed everytime I wash and dry the bed, then wax and buff so it looks as good as the "outside". Sorta silly, isn't it? So, if I don't, then over time that bed's gonna look dull, even tho' I hose her out regularly.
But that's not good enough. So I lined it. Now it looks good all the time. It's protected. And I can haul and not worry about damage. And the spray-in makes the bed quieter, too.
Now I've got a great looking bed that I don't have to fuss over. So having a liner, IMHO, is just a better way to stay sharp looking without a lot of hassle, and still have the benefit of hauling occasionally.

 

Hey man,

I do everything with my truck, at least on my '00 4x4 scab. I now have an '01 KR screw and went with the Bedrug. I don't think the bedrug is quite as much of an alteration in case you sell it to someone that doesn't want that feature, it can be removed. IMO, can't beat the Bedrug with a stick, no pun intended. My photo gallery shows the bedrug installed to get a decent perspective.

My $0.02

DaveMan

 

To echo Daveman's response, the Bedrug has held up to every single marketing claim in their advertisement. Very few products have impressed me this way, and the Bedrug makes for a very versitile bed liner. It cost just under a spray in liner, and serves so many more purposes. I also get tremendous responses from everyone that sees it. Check it out at, www.bedrug.com , and believe me, they understate the dynamics of this product. Mine remained uncovered for over a year through the harsh and diverse climate of North Carolina, suffering through freezing snow, 98 degree sweltering heat, and the unforgiving pollen season. It retained its shape, color, and newness without a hitch. I have hauled cab-high loads of firewood, 46" riding lawn mowers, and bucket loads of trash in it, and it washes perfectly clean every time.

https://www.f150online.com/galleries.../11-15-113.jpg

 

Hey NoLimits,

The pic of your truck is awsome. Also, that background for the photo is neat as he//. I'll have to remember next time I take some pics of my KR that I need some kind of eye pleasing back drop. Can't agree with you more on the Bedrug and I haven't even used mine yet, just got a feeling on it and from what I've read it appears to be correct.

DaveMan

 

Daveman,
Your King Ranch F150 (with four captain's chairs) need no back-drop scenery at all. What a sweet ride!!!

 

I know that many people have bad feelings for drop ins and also spray ins but I have found an awesome. It comes in five pieces check it out at dualliner.com

 

I have a nice rubber mat in my bed.. its about 3/4" thick. I don't haul much, so this was the best solution for my needs.. they're cheap too

Cool thing is, if I ever decide to Line-X the bed, I can still use the rubber mat.

 

DIY rubber bed mat made from 3/8" conveyer belt ...

 

I've had them all. I found that every single one destroys the bed in some way, including the spray on. You see the process to apply the spray on is nasty number one, number two if you haul decent loads you will get dents in your bed but the liner will hold. The rubber mats slide when you push a load in(forklift loading pallet for example, or pushing wood into bed) and dont protect the bed, plastic liners move around and scratch the hell out of the bed. Only the bedrug seems to work for all. All in all through its all appearance. Unless your a contractor or something your bed even with no protection will look not much different naked over time as it will with a drop in or similar. Spray is permanent but will fade, shows dents. So its all a beauty is in the ye of the beholder kind of thing.. for 50.00 my rubber mat get used for all sorts of things.

 

It's good to have choices and people have different expectations of what their bedliner needs to be and do. Cost, function, and beauty tend to be the top considerations (but not necessarily in that order for all people).

 

Like I said check out dualliner their mats are made to stay put ive seen many of them around have not heard one complaint about it.

 

If you do a search, you will find lots of posts regarding Dual Liner. It's been discussed quite a bit on this forum.

It's basically a rubber mat on the floor with plastic on the sides.

 

that fits perfect to your truck and a zero skid floor that fits so it doesnt slid around. Have you seen one first hand or are you just talking?

 

Yes, I have seen one. Also, there is a person on this forum with the forum name of Bryndon that works for DL! I even suggested changes to the DL to perhaps make it more marketable.