Well, I've read all of the posts and now I have to put in my $.02 worth. I've had both. I just sold my 2000 Ranger and traded in for my new screw. My previous three trucks all had the plastic drop-in type liners. There is no doubt that these provide great protection to your bed from hauling heavy objects and preventing dents. My two biggest problems that I had with them was the #1, the warping. I live in northern IL and it gets warm up here in the summer, but not too excessive. Still, the liners warped because of the heat beating down on them and causing them to expand and not having anywhere to go. It was so bad one weekend last summer that my tailgate wouldn't shut unless I held the liner so it wouldn't bind. Mind you, this was a Pendaliner, not a cheap brand by any means, so it wasn't because of that. The #2 problem, sliding. I use my trucks to pull my camper. I quite often have firewood, coolers, etc in the back. If not for my cargo bar, that stuff went flying and could become lethal, I swear, if I had to make a quick stop. Although it sounds as though someone has illeviated this problem with the addition of a mat. Thats all good. This being said, I just put a Line-x liner in my new KR Screw two weeks ago. I absolutely love it. It looks like a custom job, (it is actually I guess) and all of the drain holes are intact and functioning perfectly. I don't have to worry about warping and the surface has a non skid feature to it. I haven't hauled anything excessive yet, but I believe this is gonaa be the cats ***. I do know for a fact that plastic drop-ins scratch the paint right off your bed when you install them. They may not cause a major rust problem, but you will have surface rust if you remove them.
Anyway, I really think it's all a personal preference, but I for one am a believer in the spray-ons. I won't go back.

 

Lots of Pros and Cons! I have had experiance with both types. I personally like the "spray in" best. My 2002 S'crew has the "drop in" and the fit isn't very good. The piece covering the tailgate doesn't fit well, either. It does seem to be up to the task of protecting the bed from falling objects, but if Ford didn't have "top rail" covers, I know that this "drop in" would rub the paint off. If I can find the "right price", I will have this one removed and it will be sprayed.

 

If spray-in is the answer, I think I'll ask the competing versions for truck references. If I look at them up close, maybe I can make a good decision. Line-X, Rhino, and Pro-liner are available here. The most eloquent info I received on the phone was from the actual technician who sprayed the Rhino lining. He showed me two things...he cared and knew about the product, and his manager forced him to focus on high quality application.

I'm also concerned about static and grounding, as well as bed bolts and tie-down hooks. I think covering the bed bolts makes sense from a load protection point of view, but if you ever have to get at the fuel pump wouldn't you have to take the bed off?

 

I had a sprayon liner in my 89 f150 and everything I put back there slid around, so I ended up putting a rubber bed mat in on top of the liner. I just bought a 99 f150 last week. The first thing i did was buy a rubber bed mat. Nothing slides, and who cares about the looks inside the bed? Its a truck, its made to be used.

Buck000

 

I do. I also wash and vacuum my truck occasionally, even though its a truck.

I agree its made to be used an I use mine. Thats why I like a bedliner because eventually the bed will get scratched up and dinged up and it will be more than just cosmetic problems.

 

As an added note, when the Line-x dealer sprayed my liner in, he removed the tie down hooks from the side, the bed bolts themselves, and also the panel that covers the latch for the tailgate. All these items can be removed easily if need be since the recess in the screws are not filled with liner material. He did a class job on my truck and I am very pleased with it.