Bed liners

[akashasdaddy]

Just bought a 2001 dodge dakota quadcab was thinking about putting in a bed liner; not sure though the truck is 100% rust free and I don't plan on owning it for more than a couple years at most, but I do live on the wet side of the state close to the ocean.
If a guy were to put a bed liner in, what would be the best route  to take, spray in vs drop in, whats the cost vs pay off?

Any recommendations on dealers?

[YellowDog]

What do you plan to haul in it?  If it is rust free and the bed is not scratched up and you don't plan to haul a bunch of rock, metal, etc. and you don't plan on owning it long I wouldn't put anything in it right now.  I might think about putting a rubber mat in the bottom of the bed just to keep stuff from sliding all over and because they are pretty inexpensive (less than $100-150 for a good custom fit one).  I have a canopy on mine and don't haul heavy hard materials so I put a Bedrug in mine.  If I plan to haul a bunch of gravel or dirt, I put the plastic liner in it that came with the truck that I kept to keep the dirt, sand, rock from getting all over the bedrug and saving clean up time.

[toothfangclaw]

^^^ ya, that. If I wasn't going with a spray on type bed liner, I would do exactly that. Having a drop in bed liner full time might trap salt from the sea and promote rusting unless washed regularly.

[akashasdaddy]

Just gonna be my secondary rig. Used mostly for hunting/fishing/camping, not gonna be hauling much if anything other than harvested deer/bear/elk/fish/camping gear, maybe the families bikes; unless we move while we own it, then it will be asked haul a little more.  The bed is a little scratched it came with a canopy but I took that off I don't care for them; but the wife liked the way it look with the canopy on, so it may be going back on the rig, cause if the wife aint happy aint no one happy. Whats the price difference between the spray and drop in bed liners?

[Bofire]

The drop in ones are slick, stuff slides around, but you can find one beside the freeway and they are cheap. Spray in if you get a good one I like Linex and full metal jacket liners. and stuff does not slide around.
Carl

[Skyvalhunter]

  besides those drop in ones are killers on your knees!!

[YellowDog]

With the information provided, I would buy a rubber mat that is made to fit the shape of that particular bed (mail order ones are usually reasonably priced ~$100 or so).  If you decide to keep the rig longer and/or the bed gets all dinged up then you can go Linex (probably a minimum of $350-400) and still put the rubber mat in or sell it if you want.

[Alchase]

besides those drop in ones are killers on your knees!!

 

Rubber mats are easier on your knees, but stuff does not slide on rubber "when you want it to".
And with a slide in everything slides whether you want it to or not, lol.

I have a slide in and I cut a rubber fitted one to only cover the first three feet from the front of the bed back on top of the slide in. That way the stuff I want to stay in one place (tools, utility box, etc..) I can put on the rubber mat, the rest goes on the slide in.
Still hurts the knees though.

[Holg3107]

http://www.herculiner.com/

do a "do it yourself" roll on bed liner. The drop ins are aweful and the custom spray ons are expansive. The DIY's dont generally come out looking quite as good but they are functional and if you take your time and do it right they can look great. Cost should be around $100 for the DIY. check out the herculiner link above for an example. there are a ton of products out there though.

[uplandhunter870]

plastic slide in liners suck IMO, trap water/moisture between them and the bed promoting unwarranted rust and wear and as said above they are murder on your knees.

based on what you said id suggest a custom cut rubber bed mat or if you have the time and are feeling ambitious do a DIY roll on liner like hercu-liner, or make the wife happy and put the topper back on it

[JohnVH]

herculiner is great, I did the inside of my 20' bayliner with it. Id use it again for sure.

Or if your cheap, get a rubber mat for the bet.

[Alchase]

plastic slide in liners suck IMO, trap water/moisture between them and the bed promoting unwarranted rust and wear and as said above they are murder on your knees.

based on what you said id suggest a custom cut rubber bed mat or if you have the time and are feeling ambitious do a DIY roll on liner like hercu-liner, or make the wife happy and put the topper back on it

The biggest draw back of rubber mats, some of them like mine turn everything black that touches it, your knees, cargo, etc.. but they do hold stuff in place well.

[biggdogg]

I just purchased the raptor bed liner kit. It came with a gallon of spray on bed liner, the gun and everything you need to do it yourself and only cost a 139.00. All you need is good air compressor that holds a consistent 30 pounds. With the gallon I did my 8x8 steel flatbed and even had enough to get underneath and to the frame. Trust me if i can do it anybody can do it. Now I'm spraying the stuff on everything from wheel barrels to shovels. I am even thinking about spraying down my hunting truck completely.

[coop2424]

I just purchased the raptor bed liner kit. It came with a gallon of spray on bed liner, the gun and everything you need to do it yourself and only cost a 139.00. All you need is good air compressor that holds a consistent 30 pounds. With the gallon I did my 8x8 steel flatbed and even had enough to get underneath and to the frame. Trust me if i can do it anybody can do it. Now I'm spraying the stuff on everything from wheel barrels to shovels. I am even thinking about spraying down my hunting truck completely.

Got any pics?

[Klyne3]

I know this is a little late but we used Monstaliner. It comes in black and different colors, also has the ability to be either rolled on or sprayed on. You can either order it through Ebay or by the website. Awesome stuff I plan on ordering more of it and use it on several other projects.