I took delivery of a 2003 SC in November 2002.
My dealer threw in a Ford (Duraliner) bedliner as part of a local promotion.

Before accepting and having it installed, I did my research.
Rhino-linings (sprayed on) quoted me $415.00 (for the 5-1/2' bed).
Line-X (same thing) was $395.00.

I've seen dozens of trucks with both plastic and sprayed on liners.
There seems to be alot of bad hype for plastic bedliners.
My question:
Has anyone really removed a plastic bedliner from a truck and made the
ghastly discovery that the bed was, in fact "rotten" or
otherwise rusted out from the mysterios "trapped moisture"?

(personally, I never have)

I'm got my plastic bedliner for free from my dealer.
Its already installed.
I sprayed WD-40 all over the whole bed (12 ounces) beforehand.

Can they really be as destructive as everyone says?
Why would they still produce them?

I like the Ford Duraliner...it fits really tight, it doesn't rattle,
and seems to be a good addition.
(if this has been discussed before, pardon the redundancy)

Your thoughts?


2003 SC 5.4 4x4 Highland green/beige, 3.73 LS.

 

Just my $.02.

I have never seen a plastic bed liner that I liked. They never fit to my satisfaction, and I think they look kind of cheesy.

I have a rubber liner for my 89 work truck that just covers the bed floor - it's made from recycled tires. It does trap moisture, but it's heavy and won 't blow out and it keeps things from shifting too much.

I just got my 03 S-cab yesterday and will be going to line-x to have it sprayed. It looks great, I never have to take it out and spray it down, if it ever has a problem, it gets fixed free. I don't have to worry about the plastic liner rubbing though my paint. I've never seen a plastic bedliner rot out a bed either, but I have seen the paint damage they can cause by rubbing...

Sounds like you like yours and that's cool. Like I said, this is just my opinion.

Sounds like you have a nice truck.

 

I had the spray in on my 97, and had no complaints! I just got an 03 SCab, and I asked a few dealers what they think is better. All of them said that for trades, they like to see a plastic liner, for the simple reason that it can be removed. They also said that everyone says that rust can occur with a plastic liner, and that is a common fallacy. There are drainholes in the truck bed, and if water gets underneath, it will drain out!

They also said that with a spray on liner, the drain holes a lot of times will be plugged up with the spray in material, and moisture can build up there, thus causing some rust.

With my 03, I decided to try the plastic liner, and I have no complaints so far! It fits VERY tight in the bed, and has no noticable rattle while driving!

Either choice will work fine!

Mike

 

I had Fords plastic liner in my 01 F-150 supercab flareside, and I loved it. Plus, I didnt have to worry about throwing cinder blocks in and denting the liner....

Rich

 

Down here the plastic bedliners warp after a few 109 degree summers. The spray in bedliners seem to endure though. The main problem is curling at the tailgate and at the edges.

 

I have a '01 Screw. When I put a "Snugtop" shell on it, I chose the "Bedrug" bed liner--looks and feels very much like carpet, but much tougher. My previous vehicle was a '97 S-cab with the dealer installed "duraliner". I really prefer the Bedrug, at least in my application. I don't haul lots of building materials, worst use is the ocasional trip to Costco although, I have loaded sheet rock and the like on it with no effect to it. Best of all, I am assured of the fact that the Bedrug will not rub the paint off.

Regards,

 

I have used plastic bed liners in two trucks. On my '88 Ranger, I installed a over the rail bed liner. It would warp really bad on hot days. So I installed 3" angle iron on the rails. Made it tougher and ride better.

On my F250 LD I again went with the plastic. You can't make a dent in the bed with the stuff. I do pull the plastic now and then and have never seen any rust. The one thing I like about the rhino liner is that items placed in the bed don't zing around the bed like a cannonball, so I strap stuff down in my bed.

I don't think you can go wrong with either. But the plastic is cheaper and can be removed.

 

I know a guy that has the plastic bedliner and then put a rubber bedmat on top of the liner for the non-slip factor and also since he camps in the bed on the truck on occasion it makes it more comfortable on the liners ribs. I just got my F-150 and it only has a bedmat. I think I might just get the plastic liner and put the mat over top of the liner also.
-Steve

 

i got a plastic bed liner..and I like it.Fits great,Looks good..i use my truck to haul gravel in the bed,gas hedge trimmers,all kinda of dirt,weedeater,i got a tool box so whatever can fit on the junk in it ,then it goes in there....and if your a clean kinda person which i am not...they clean easy

 

One thing to remember about plastic liners, is that absorb oil and warp and it is VERY dangerous to fill gas cans in the back of the truck, static could cause an explosion and has. At work, we use half tons with spray in liners and slip in fuel tanks, and spray in liners are unaffected by diesel fuel and easy to clean up spills, just make sure they left the drain holes open. Otherwise the metals tanks rust if sitting in water for a while.

 

What would be the difference between a plastic liner and spray in as far as fuel filling? I would figure both of them would isolate the gas can so it wouldn't be properly grounded and allow static to build up. For that matter, isn't filling tanks in the back of a truck a no no for anything?

Chris

 

I am not sure, but I think it is the fact that the spray in is in full contact with the bed, and the slip in is not, that a static charge builds up. Also the spray in is a different material, impervious to fuels

 

If the spray in liner is epoxy-based, it would have to be conductive epoxy to prevent static build-up. Some epoxies are filled with conductive carbon.

Pendaliner has a slip-resistant liner, and an optional paint protector. Since my paint is already dinged and scratched, I'm thinking that a spray-in is the way to go.

 

I have a plastic liner in my '86 Ranger since new. Have never taken it out to check for rust or anything, But as far as protection they are very tough. Have hauled firewood, furniture, and engines and there are no dents. the only downside(for me) is that without some type of mat(I use old truck mudflaps) or tiedown, things slip-and slide a lot. When funds allow I am going to spray-on my '01 SCrew, since it only hauls icechests and camping gear,I am only looking for paint protection.

 

I have the dealer installed drop in liner. It has the Ford logo on the front, behind the cab, and it is held in place by the tie-downs. It fits up under the top rails and looks great!

I like the looks much better than the spray in types. Cheap too, 225.00 installed!