Bedliners - Plastic or spray on? Help!

oneslackr · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 04:48 PM

I'll be taking delivery of my new Tundra next week.

I'll need a bedliner but can't decide between a plastic one or spray on (Rhino etc).
Any recommendations? Is one better or more durable than the other? I've read all the sales hype but I'd like some actual owner comments/experiences. Thanks.

IBTundraGuy2 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 05:23 PM

You should get lots of suggestions here. I had a Rhino Liner sprayed in the bed of my 02. I like it, I had it tinted a little lighter then the black to better match my Thunder Gray, it is just darker than my bed rails. Only drawback I can find is it is slippery when wet so I must be very carefull when washing it. The drop in liners if you screw them down will expand and contract looking like hell and if you don't tie them dowm they may fly out. I didn't want the paint damage and rust one gets under them.

Larry Lawton · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 05:23 PM

Oneslacker,
Bedliner people divide into two camps, and both insist their solution is the ONLY true faith. It's kinda like the old debate 'tween Chevy and Ford. Both sides will make their case loudly, just remember this is a matter of religion, not objectivity. Listen carefully, then make your own choice. I'd probably have gone for a spray-on, but the dealer threw in a drop-in to seal the deal. I've been pleasantly surprised by its performance so far. It's black, but fits below the grey bedrails on my limited. The color difference doesn't really impact the looks of the truck anywhere near as much as I thought it would -- and I'm the guy who special ordered stake pocket tie-downs to match the grey bedrails. IMNSHO (In MY Not So Humble Opinion), a drop in will eventually rub through your paint and cause rust. A spray-on will eventually crack, letting in moisture and thereby causing rust. Heck, I'll have traded for a new Tundra with a stepside box long before either happens.

TundraWolf · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2002, 11:49 PM

I think that there has already been enough discussion on this topic that one can search the site for old threads and get in on some good reading. We had a poll on the old forum that was about 2/3 for Line-X and 1/3 for Rhino. I think that the general consensus is that drop ins will eventuall wear through your paint. I was gung ho to get myself a Line-X, and ultimately still will, but realize that I won't be needing it as badly once I get my SnugTop on the back. Then a little scratch here and there won't be so apt to rust. I figure that I can get around to the Line-X. My wife keeps reminding me that they have to rough up the paint to spray on a liner anyway so big deal if I scratch it up a bit (Without the rust mind you) before hand. A few posters are also using the Rug style liners under a canopy to make for a nice bed when needed and soft ride for our 4 footed companions.
Good Luck

Joey · #5 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 01:14 AM

Spray In. They just look like they are supposed to part of the truck. Every contour of the bed can be seen. I just think they look awsome. BTW, I went with Line-x . They just made a better application for me. I dont want to slip and fall on my butt when I am washing my truck.

dyogim · #6 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 08:18 AM

Drop-in liner(plastic) will protect your bed from dents because it absorbs the impact. However, it'll ruin the surface and in time will eat away to the metal. I had the drop-in over-the-rail and replaced it last week with Line-X. When I took the liner out the clear coat had been scuffed up so much the paint was starting to get scuffed. I had it for about 1.5 years. I'm very pleased with the spray-in. I went with Line-X because it was about $50-$75 cheaper than Rhino in my area. Either company, IMO, is reputable and has a good quality product.
Mike

Larry Lawton · #7 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 03:04 PM

Hmmmm...
After a year an a half of use, all your drop in had done was wear through the clear coat? In some places? I think I just stopped worrying about my drop-in causing the bed to rust out.

dboy4ever · #8 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 05:15 PM

Basically you get what you pay for. A spray on is certainly better than drop in. I just read an article in the current issue of 4 Wheel Drive on bedliners. The spray-on's last longer, are more skid-resistant and easier to repair, but are not immune from UV deterioration. Contrary to what the spray-on advertisements claim, the drop in liner will not help build up rust because rust gets sanded off by the same action that scratched your paint away. It's not an easy decision, I know. But here's something to consider: Go to the Personal Classified forum and you will see people who're selling their drop-in liners to get a spray on. But people who have spray on never regret their decision. I, for one, got the drop in but now wish I had gotten a Line-X job.

Larry Lawton · #9 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 07:02 PM

Chris,
Perhaps the adds are there because someone actually believed the spray-in salesman's pitch about ruining the paint under the drop in. Of course, no one advertizes to sell a spray-in if he's unhappy with it.

gforeman · #10 (**permalink**) 03-09-2002, 10:00 PM

You can see ly Line-X Spray-In at http://www.gwfweb.com/tundra I love it!

oneslackr · #11 (**permalink**) 03-10-2002, 02:51 PM

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the info. I didn't buy a drop in with the truck since I was leaning towards spray on. Now I'm sure spray on is the way to go

jsimpson · #12 (**permalink**) 03-10-2002, 04:10 PM

Wanna buy a factory drop-in from a Limited cheap?

jsimpson · #13 (**permalink**) 03-10-2002, 04:15 PM

I don't entirely agree with you Chris. The drop in will not neutralize the damge that it does. Rust spreads and sanding action doesn't. Furthermore, the drop in bedliner traps moisture between the bed and the bedliner rather than keeping it out. I have two Dodge one-ton trucks; one has 154,000 miles and a drop in bedliner. There is practically no metal left in the bed. The other has 92,000 miles and no bedliner. The bed is rust-free. Both are South Florida trucks getting the same use. Before it's a year old, my Tundra will be losing its drop-in liner and gaining a spray-in - probably Line-X this time because it's slicker than Rhino and will make it easier to drag hay bales out of the bed!

ra1nman · #14 (**permalink**) 03-10-2002, 04:49 PM

I'm not sure if it's me or the way it was installed, but I think the Rhino was "slicker" to me compared to the Line-x. I had the Rhino on my preivous 97' taco and a Line-x on Tundra.....

dboy4ever · #15 (**permalink**) 03-10-2002, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LexusTundra
I don't entirely agree with you Chris. The drop in will not neutralize the damge that it does. Rust spreads and sanding action doesn't. Furthermore, the drop in bedliner traps moisture between the bed and the bedliner rather than keeping it out. I have two Dodge one-ton trucks; one has 154,000 miles and a drop in bedliner. There is practically no metal left in the bed. The other has 92,000 miles and no bedliner. The bed is rust-free. Both are South Florida trucks getting the same use. Before it's a year old, my Tundra will be losing its drop-in liner and gaining a spray-in - probably Line-X this time because it's slicker than Rhino and will make it easier to drag hay bales out of the bed!

Ok I was simply quoting the magazine here, and it could well be wrong. The theory that rust gets scratched away sounds plausible to me. I have a friend who has had his Tacoma with a drop in liner for 5 years now and there's plenty of paint left underneath. Well I just spent $300+ on a locker for my Tundra so I won't be able to afford a Line-X for a while. Maybe I'll keep the drop in for a few more years and then we'll see what is gonna develop there underneath.