For years I have run LineX coating in the bed of my trucks, but hauling a truck Camper in the bed along with all the other junk I put back there can take a toll if not in functionally but in looks. So I also run a bed mat. Now its nothing fancy and I am sure you guys with those Platinums would never run some ole El CheapO bed mat like I run but I assure you the one I run will last a very long time at a very low price.

Having just bought a new 5iver and getting the 5th wheel setup install in the bed of my truck I was not about to give up my bed mat. Now this stuff is TUFF, not fancy, no its not made from the foreskins of virgin Minks; its made from shredded tires and its some rugged stuff, its also not easy to cut, but worth it.

I drug out my mat before I got the 5th wheel setup installed, so today I trimmed it and fitted it over the rails and now its back doing its duty in keeping the bed of my truck like a virgin.

I forgot the cost, but you buy it by the foot at Tractor Supply, ask for the horse stall matting. It comes 4 ft wide and they cut to your requested length. 8 foot cost me about $50 bucks. It comes in various thicknesses from ¼ to ¾, its heavy and heavy duty.

If you want to keep that working truck looking good then this is your ticket, but remember it does not have any fancy label on it like 'BrokeRichards Bed Mat and Chinese Take Out LLC...

The install:





Here it is and I am getting ready to prop it up with some sawhorses to trim it





Made some marks on the fender wells to help me mark the mat





Stuff is tuff so I had 3 knives to score then cut





Here it is installed over the rails to protect the bed. Its also good if you have a tool box or toolbox fuel cell in the bed of your truck

 

Cool Don. I run a bed mat in my truck too. At one point I will get line-x sprayed in. My bed mat was expensive either - but I also didn't know about the option you described either!!!

The reason I like a bed mat is my last truck with the factory spray in liner was rough on the knees. The rubber bet mat is much kinder.

 

Dak, I will tell ya for sure, you won't wear this out and a good spray at the .25 car wash will having it looking new. Mine is all dirty as I have pea gravel leading up to the barn and I had drug my mat over it it from the shop. It prob weighs about 50 lbs or so and I was by myself. If it can take the beating in a horse stall you can bet it will work and look good in your truck. This is the second truck its been in.

 

I got a pavement princess bed mat. It's rubber and I've put a bunch of stuff on it, but I don't have your wear case!

If/When this one wears out I will be looking at your option.

 

I ran similar mat in my last truck, agreed very tuff stuff until I spilled some diesel on it from my slip tank and it blistered up like a bad burn and rotted apart shortly after. Got a new mat from feed store and was more careful

 

I use the same horse stall mat in the bed of my truck. I've had it in there for years and it is pretty much indestructible. Only drawback is it is 3/4" thick solid rubber so it's a bit heavy.

 

I might do something like that to help with all the rocks and dirt and stuff.

 

You can now get them thinner, I think I am using the 5/8ths or 3/8ths, I will measure it tomorrow and post.... but rugged stuff, no worry on it blowing out of the bed even with no tailgate, its ain't going nowhere, been using it for 6 years...

 

Very interesting Don, never knew there was a product for horses that could be repurposed like this.

Reps SENT!

 

Another use, part of my shop floor is gravel so I layed 8 sheets 4'X8' of Matts over top. Keeps dust down, soft to lay on to work, easy to wash off, and cheaper than concrete!

 

I also ran the stall matting in my trucks. I bought it in 5' wide by 8' long though and had to trim around the wheel wells. Sucks when trying to slide things in and out of the bed but it is good for campers.

 

I found some 1/2" but my Tractor Supply store only carries it in 3' x 4' sheets.

 

Looks interesting. What about water getting trapped between after rains? Any concern with rust?

 

Not in 5 years. The mat does not absorb water and its stiff enough to not lay flat in the bed, so the bed ridges have just enough of a gap to allow water to drain.

Couple of years ago I was cleaning up some dump area on my property. It was full of metal. I had exposed the area with my John Deere when I was doing some leveling for the barn. Thinking it was not much I loaded up my truck and took it to the scrap house. Rains came and more was exposed, after about 3 trips I did some digging and started loading the truck and my 20 ft trailer...$1007 @ 9.25 cents per lb! Point being was glad I had my mat as that scrap was heavy and would prob have done ugly in the back of my truck.

 

I have always just used a 3/8" rubber mat that's custom fit to the truck bed and usually costs around $75. The last two that I have had, have been modified/cut out (by me) to fit with the 5th wheel rails. They also sell them at Tractor Supply.


The mats have a pattern on the bottom that allows for ventilation. I would be hesitant to use something that was completely flat on the bottom.