What is a good durable DIY bedliner that is smooth once applied?
I need to be able to slide stuff around in the bed of the truck.

Doesn't make $$ sense to pay to have rhino/x sprayed on this truck at this time.
Durabak/herculiner seems like it might be too rough to easily slide stuff around.
Rustoleums version seems like a hit and miss.
What have you used yourself, how smooth did it come out and how well of a beating is it taking?

 

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I've heard good results from the HF brand. Iron Armor is what it is called. I plan on doing this to my truck once I either get a new bed or repair all the rust issues.

 

... and I've heard good things about "Al's DIY Liner".

Al's Liner. DIY Truck Bed Liners!

 

I've heard good reviews also, but my personal favorite is UPOL Raptorliner. Not as durable as a commercial job, but also sold in single quart bottles for easy touch ups. You can control the texture with air pressure and coats applied. Tintable version and UV resistant.

 

I went with U-POL Raptor Liner after doing a lot of research. It turned out really nice I think. I bought the kit with the gun included.

Here's a link to the post in my build thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post14469711

 

looks good, what do you haul in it?

 

So far nothing but spare parts storage - the truck is still not finished

The research I did earlier in the year was promising though, both for durability and fading. It will be thinner than getting Line-x or Rhino though, but you can buy more and spray thicker to compensate for that.

Sorry I can't comment on the durability yet - hopefully others that have had it longer can comment.

 

I wouldn't mind touching up. I just don't to trash it the first time I slide something across the bed. Or needing a touch up every other haul.

 

I used SEM 2 part sprayable on mine and like it. It has a fine texture and it pretty tough so it can take some sliding... although good enamel or urethane paint will slide easier if that is what you want. The kit I got from TCP Global had 4 quarts... just enough for an 8' bed. 6 quarts would have been better.

 

I actually wasn't referring to touching up. What I was getting at is that any DIY spray in liner will be much thinner than the professional liners due to the amount of material that is sprayed.

You can get similar thicknesses on the Raptor liner but would need to buy more and spray multiple coats. If I was really planning on abusing the bed I would probably order double the amount that is included in the kit and spray a few extra coats on the bed floor. If you really need to have the same thickness as the Rhino / Line-x it would probably be more cost effective to just have them do it as the accumulated price of buying more material would start to approach the cost of the Rhino/Line-X.

But from what I can see the stuff seems very durable at the three coats I sprayed on the bed floor (enough in the standard kit for this purpose). I had a roll-on Gator liner that I used on the underside of the bed, no-where near as durable as the spray on Raptor.

Whatever you decide, prep of the bed is key to having the liner stick well.

Let us know what you go with and how it turns out.

 

I debated between paint and bedliner.
I have no thickness requirements.
Only that it is durable enough and I can slide logs out.
I really don't care how thick it goes on. Just hold up to some abuse.
don't peel off/gouge when I slide a huge knotty heavy log out the back of the bed.
Or chunk up and give me grief when I attempt to slide that same log into the bed.

 

While I am not fond of them, this may be a situation for a drop in liner.

 

Funny enough that is in it right now. I want to remove it, but it works well like you said.
I considered removing it when I'm not moving wood but it would be a pain.
When the PO put on rail guards, they cut the liner back so the rail guards would fit. It's capped on it so it's not just a drop in anymore.

 

Anything but a bedliner! I got rid of mine just before serious rust set in underneath it. For sliding logs, maybe best to simply paint it. Clean and wire wheel first, hit with red Rustoleum primer, then satin black. A brush is fine for this. Once a year, at least, touch up rough spots with the same material. Easy, low cost and controls rust.