Water Under Bed Mat?
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2019
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Water Under Bed Mat?
My first, well everything! First 3/4 ton+ truck, first trailer, first SxS, first good floor mats (Husky X-act), first 4WD. First bedmat, Dee Zee rubber bed mat over factory spray in bedliner.
Now our F350 Race Red CC 7.3 Tremor is getting it's first wash! That's a lot of truck to wash! So I came to ask if you guys remove the bed mat before washing or after, or just leave it in? The bed mat has little bumps on the bottom side, so there should be some air flow to allow drying, but I don't know.
The old drop in bedliners were notorious for hiding rust under them, but this might behave differently. We live in SoCal, so we get relatively little rain, but in areas with lots of rain seasonally, do you leave the bed mat in year round?
So before I wash, what should I do with the bed mat? TIA and Happy Mothers Day to all! Dave
Now our F350 Race Red CC 7.3 Tremor is getting it's first wash! That's a lot of truck to wash! So I came to ask if you guys remove the bed mat before washing or after, or just leave it in? The bed mat has little bumps on the bottom side, so there should be some air flow to allow drying, but I don't know.
The old drop in bedliners were notorious for hiding rust under them, but this might behave differently. We live in SoCal, so we get relatively little rain, but in areas with lots of rain seasonally, do you leave the bed mat in year round?
So before I wash, what should I do with the bed mat? TIA and Happy Mothers Day to all! Dave
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
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The factory spray in liner will protect the box. I have a mat/spray in combo also and rarely lift the mat up unless there is dirt under it. Unless you really hose the inside of the box down the only areas they will have water on them is around the edges.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2020
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I have a 2000 with a bed mat on the bare metal bed. I take it out once a year and wax the bed and then put it back in. Been doing that for 20 years, no rust and I'm in NJ. With your set up and aluminum you don't have to worry about anything. Enjoy.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,297
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From: Hunterdon Cnty N.J.
Just one more opinion... I had the rubber mat in my 07 GMC for 12 years. Maybe 3 or 4 times I pulled it to wash underneath. I was more worried about dirt... rocks or sand being under the mat. When I sold the truck it was barely scratched under the mat.
As far as water underneath... whatever doesn't drain out in 2 minutes will be steamed out after 10 minutes of sunlight.
As far as water underneath... whatever doesn't drain out in 2 minutes will be steamed out after 10 minutes of sunlight.
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Fleet Mechanic
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If it were me, I wouldn’t bother with the bed mat if I already had the spray in liner. Since you are, I wouldn’t remove it for normal washes. If you have a lot of heavy mud, dirt or stones in the bed, it’d make sense to pull the mat and sweep or hose it out, but I wouldn’t make it a regular thing. I have a bed mat directly on the painted metal and I have yet to take it out.
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New User
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I wouldn't remove it, especially since you have spray in liner. I had a drop in bed liner for 15+ years in my older F350 truck and removed it recently for goose neck hitch work. No rust at all.
My new truck has factory spray in liner. Looks cleaner than drop in, but the drop in liner in my other truck definitely protected better.
I like the idea of having a rubber mat for both type liners though, extra protection and no slip. Only problem for me is, when loading pallets of feed at feed store, the pallets won't slide with mat.
My new truck has factory spray in liner. Looks cleaner than drop in, but the drop in liner in my other truck definitely protected better.
I like the idea of having a rubber mat for both type liners though, extra protection and no slip. Only problem for me is, when loading pallets of feed at feed store, the pallets won't slide with mat.
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2019
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Thanks to all! The truck is parked under a couple of huge pine trees, so before washing we pulled up the mat and swept out the needles. But we left it in to wash. We have an Andersen Ultimate fifth wheel hitch which will wear off the spray in bedliner eventually, so that is why we use a bedmat.
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