The inside of my bed is pretty well scratched in every way possible. I was thinking about just getting some flat black rattle can paint and calling it done but then I realized it won't hold up. I looked into other options because I'm a DIY kind of person and I don't truly need a bed liner.

I came across a couple kinds of rattle can truck bed coating and some roll in ones. Wondering which of the two would be easier and which would be a better option for longevity and not scraping away when I toss stuff into the bed.

 

just some primer and paint is all it takes.then find a used bed liner.they run for like $50-$100 and it will keep it from denting and scratching.
don't pay attention to those who say the water/moisture gets trapped.thats a sale gimmick for roll in liners is all.i worked the snot out of my last truck as my old man did his,and under our plastic bed liners many years latter was the best looking part of the trucks.lifted them up to wash once in a while for kicks and giggles (like all of 3-4 times over 8-9 years lol) and it was always a treat to see a large portion of the truck look as if she just rolled off the assembly line.

 

Interesting. Wish I'd seen this a long time ago when I could have gotten a drop in for $20 and passed on it. My dad has always had drop in liners in his trucks and he's had trucks since the 60s. Don't know if they had liners then.

 

If there are no holes in the plastic liner, and it fits up under the bed rails like it's supposed to, then water won't be a problem. Trouble with those liners is stuff slides around on them like crazy.

 

oh don't sweat it.you can find them all the time easy enough.just keep checking your local sale/swap mags and yard sales.
either type is good too.i had the under the rail,and the old man had the over.both beds looked stupidly out of place as the rest of the trucks dented and rusted out lol.
edit,
right.thats an issue.slippery.so depends on how you use the truck.for me it was always good.with a load of wood on,often i could drop the gate and backup fast and nail the brakes and unload at least half my load!
ah the days before the dump.ugg lol.
i have always thought about grabbing two of these and cutting them up to screw down to my wooden bed to make dumping easier,but i never have.sometimes wood chips (mostly just when wet) get stuck up high and iv got to poke the clump to get it to slide.(oh tisk,tisk.i know right.the dump bed has made me think lazy thoughts lmao.20-30 seconds poking time to time,is nothing compared to the 1/2 hour pitching chips,per load!)

 

I've had Herculiner on the '05 bed for about 4 months now and it's holding up fine. It has a nice, slightly rubbery/sticky feel to it. Prep is KEY for the roll-in liners.

 

I don't know what I'm going to do now. I just want to cover up the nasty looking bed. I have a cover but I think the truck overall looks better without it.

 

If you are going to paint it, I would suggest NOT using any spray cans. use regular automotive paint and spray it, or just get some tractor paint and brush or spray.

As for the DIY bed liners
Have a look and read
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...nco-build.html

And YES plastic bed liners hold moisture. The biggest way water gets in it condensation when there is ANY puddle in the liner. The liner will sweat on the back side and then you have water between the liner and bed

 

I had considered getting one of those roll on kits. That way it would be textured. I may pick up the kit soon.

 

Roll on kit? I guess you did NOT rear the link I posted

HERCULINER IS JUNK and so is DUPLICOLOR. They and the like a a SINGLE part PAINT

AL's
Scorpion
Raptor
And similar are at least a 2 part EPOXY

 

I skimmed it.

 

I'm mostly just trying to cover the scratches more than anything else.

 

Don't you have to spray in the ones you mentioned, meaning I'd have to buy equipment, at the end of the day meaning I'd be better off getting it done somewhere.

 

I used duplicator on my step bumper and it came out near perfect I suggest using the spray can then their roll on liner on top of that it makes it much better. Personally I'd rather use line x but they're so expensive and there's not enough money for it at the moment. If you do it right it'll come out good.

 

It is $40 for the spray gun to spry the GOOD liner. HARDLY the 300+ difference like going somewhere and getting it sprayed