2004 F150 FX4

Nice Machine , I'm thinking on having Rhino Guard put inside my box , I can have it applied in RED , same color as my vehicle. What's better, Box liner or Rhino Guard ?
Anyone.

 

I just ordered an '04 F-150 Screw 4 x2 Lariat, with a 5.5' bed, fully loaded. I too have been trying to figure out which type of liner to put in my truck, and have done a lot of internet and local retailer research on this and have talked with people who have owned or still own trucks with both kinds of liners.....have talked with people who sell both types of liners.....and have personally, physically checked out both types of liners. This is what I found:
1) The (Ford and other brands) of drop-in liners will allow a certain amount of moisture/water to be "trapped" between the liner and the bed body. Over a LONG period of time, the hot sun baking down on the exposed liner will NOT dry out this trapped moisture, but instead, super heat it to a point where it will eventually attack the painted surface and, again over a LONG period of time, start to rust out the bed.
2) The drop-in liners will flutter or rattle at highway speeds, causing extra noise "road" noise", especially if you run with the tailgate down.
3) The drop-in liners are slick and slippery and just about anything you put in the bed will slide around unless it is tied down.
4) The drop-in liners are not particulary good looking, and only come in black.....and for my 5.5' bed, cost anywhere from $189.00 to $299.00 in the Charlotte, NC area.....and generally have a 1 to 5 year warranty.

Now for the spray-on liner information:
1) The (Rhino Liner and other local brands) of spray-on liners are a urethane rubber based, high density, non-porous material that is usually applied 1/8" thick on the side walls of the bed and tailgate.....and 1/4" thick on the bed. This effectively seals the bed and side walls, and does NOT allow any moisture to get between the liner and the bed.....NO RUST, EVER
2) Because the spray-on liners are physically bonded to the bed, they do not flutter or rattle, and they do not cause ANY noise. On the contrary, they will actually make the truck run even quieter because of the sound deadening nature of the material.....much like "undercoating" used to do years ago.
3) Because of the "rubbery" non-slip surface of the spray-on liners, just about anything you put in the bed will stay put. However in the interest of safety, I highly recommend tie-downs.
4) Because the spray-on liners are designed to physically bond/adhere to the bed surface, the painted bed surfaces must be hand sanded or wire brushed to "rough up" the surface to allow proper adhesion of the spray-on liner to the bed. Any dealer who tells you otherwise, either doesn't know what he is doing and/or is taking short cuts to make more $$$$
5) The spray-on liners look really sharp and have a very custom look. They are also available in multiple colors to either match or complement your trucks color scheme.....and for my 5.5' bed, cost anywhere from $379.00 to $459.00 for a BLACK liner, in the Charlotte, NC area.
6 These spray-on liners are "guaranteed for a long as you own the truck". Some dealers even offer a transferable warranty as well.
7) There is now a spray-on/hose off cleaner/rejuvenator for these liners to keep them looking new for years.

And in case you haven't guessed by now......I am going with the spray-on liner in my new truck!! I hope you find this information helpful.

 

Hey Fanman,

Thank-you for the reply, all of the info you gave me is really something else , Personally I want the Rhino Guard too, Thanks once again.

Golddig in Canada

 

www.durakon.com/compare.htm

There ya' go.

 

Hi WXboy:

That makes a difference , I guess . The Waranty! Darn ! I will have too get back to you all on this . I'm still unsure , Now.

Golddig Canada

 

I'm a big fan of drop in liners. First of all...my trucks had a drop in liner in it since day one.....theres no rust under the liner.

Second, my drop in protects from dents a whole lot better. Go take a ten pound sledge and slam it into the bottom of your bed....with a spray in its going to dent....i've done it to prove people wrong with my drop in without a dent ever.

Third...much cheaper

the only thing about spray ins is that yes...they are quieter....although i don't hear mine unless the windows are down and i'm driving down a really bad road. Some of the newer ones have screw holes to attach them as well.

 

I have to agree with ryan on this one. I like the look of the "under rail" drop in bedliner. The bedliner doesn't go over the top of the sides of the bed so it looks much sleeker. Plus that whole denting thing.

Although here in new england (MA,CT,NH,ME,VT) I think the company is called, LineX and they are giving away 3 day/2 night vacations to either Las Vegas, Florida, or Hawaii or something like that with each spray in bedliner. So I guess that could help the decision, but I'm betting you have to pay for airfare. If i see the commercial again I'll grab the number for you, but i do believe it was called LineX

 

I liked my drop-in because it was slippery which really helped when pushing loads to the front of the bed. You should tie things down anyway.

 

Ryan50hrl :

It sure is a hard choice to make and yes , slamming a sledge anywhere on my truck , would dent the metal. I am still waiting for a response from a local Ford dealer , on warranty and boxliner
prices , and from what he say's, and I will have too have this in writting is, spray on Rhino , will not viod the warranty , and also,
bed liners do not rust out the box, so I do have a tough choice to make for a tough truck.

Thank-you

Golddig Canada

 

www.goline-x.com is the website for that free vacation giveaway for the spray in liner. And it also comes with a limited lifetime warranty that is valid nationwide, if that helps ya out!

 

Hello ,
bigbluebronco43,
Thank-you for the reply, I still did not get my exterior done .
I will check out the site you are referring too, ok .
What are you interested in for another vehicle , all I can say really is to take your time , and find what will really compliment your life.
Thank-you
Golddig Canada

 

I have the Ford drop in liner. The one with the big Ford logo embossed into the front of the liner , behind the cab.
The factory tie downs bolts thru the liner, as do the pivots for my bed extender, so the liner doesn't rattle or make any noise whatever.
The liner fits under the bed rails, not over the top, so it has a custom fit appearance.
Yes, stuff does slide around. I like that. It makes it easier to load/unload.
I have hauled some very heavy stuff, with out any denting of the bed.
I have seen many spray-ins that are scratched and dirty. I think they are hard to clean when really dirty.
The spray-ins look great when new, but don't stay new looking long.

My Ford liner was $225.00 installed, and after two years, it looks as good as new, with no rust under it. Just my .02 worth.

 

No problem with the info, and I'm looking at all the new 1500's from Dodge, Chevy and Ford, but am also conisdering a faster car for once in my life

 

Thank-you , Superbru,
Your information about the Ford boxliner was helpfull , and also interesting. Did you get the liner on sale or was it part of the vehicle sale? Yes , I can imagine , what a spray on , Rhino may look like after hauling , bricks , black earth , lumber etc.
Golddig Canada

 

Thanks guys for all your comments and remarks regarding the ongoing spray-on vs. drop-in bed liner controversy. I must say, that AFTER seeing what all of you have said, based on your personal experiences with both kinds.....I am seriously re-thinking my decision to go with the spray-on liner, and am now about 90% sure that I will go with a FORD drop-in bedliner instead. I was in Fayetteville, NC on business yesterday, and stopped in at Crown Ford, and was able to get Ford's NEW 2004 F-150 Accessories brochure # ABT-4013, which has ALL the currently available accessories for the new truck, and was actually able to see, touch, and smell some of the new items as well. On Page 7 of of the brochure, item # 11 is the drop-in bedliner, which now has a gritty, non-skid surface on the bottom.....and it is available in two colors: BLACK with the Ford oval logo on the front cab side.....and GRANITE (which by the way, perfectly matches the color of the plastic bed rail caps that come on the truck) with the Ford Racing logo on the front cab side. I will probably go with GRANITE color to get a perfect match with the bed rail caps.