I'd like your opinion. I had the bed off my 2019 XLT last weekend to install the Ford 5th Wheel Prep package. I was pretty surprised at how much the drop in bed liner had scratched up the paint so I've got an appointment to have spray in liner done. I've never had a truck with a spray in liner. I removed everything in the bed so the folks doing the spray don't cover everything. I removed the 4 tie down points in the lower corners, the covers for the holes in the front of the bed, the box link attachment plates, bed lights and switch, everything. Not having liner behind the box link plates would look terrible if I ever wanted to remove them and liner in all those bolts heads would make them tough to remove later.
Now I'm wondering if the spray in liner will cause issues with re-installing all of these items. Especially the bed lights. Also liner in all the bolt holes could certainly cause issues re-installing. I have the plastic covers for bed lights and switch holes since my truck didn't come from the factory with the lights. I'm thinking about putting all those plugs in to be sprayed and then remove once done.
Thoughts?

 

When I had mine done I left everything attached as it would normally be. The installer taped where they had to or pulled out what then needed to. I would call the installer and ask them what they require to be removed.

Not sure if it will cause problems reinstalling them, but my guess would be yes.

 

I'd leave the stuff installed and talk with them at your appointment if you have special requests like spraying behind the box link plates. Otherwise it's likely you'll have threaded holes get sprayed over and it'll be a pain to clean them up for reinstallation of your hardware. On my last truck I was really impressed with the attention to detail from Line X. They did a great job masking everything, removing fasteners before spraying, etc. I wouldn't have done anything differently than they did. Talk to the installer though and make sure you're on the same page before they start.

 

This reply shows how Ford masked off / coated the parts on my 2021 XL w/ the factory OEM Toughbed spray in bedliner.

 

Thank you for the reply's. I'm going to give them a call. Winglesss your bedliner looks great.

 

I know with Line-X the spray tech will remove and replace everything that is easily removable (tie downs, box link plates, bed bolts), and mask off everything else (LED bed lights I think). On mine they sprayed over the bulkhead plugs, which I am fine with, but they will accommodate your requests to spray or not spray certain areas or parts.

I wonder if they use the mounting screws from things like the box link plates, partially threaded in and taped to keep from filling the holes with product.

 

I removed everything when mine was sprayed and reinstalled afterward. No issues.

 

you can take everything off and either plug the holes with the soft squishy ear plugs or take some tape and ball it up and jam in there. Can use a pick to get them out when spray is done.....

 

Just let the bedliner guys do their thing, they know what needs to be done.

 

Thanks much.

Note that selecting the OEM spray in bedliner also includes Ford adding the optional Boxlink connector plates. My guess is that is to avoid a later incompatibility issue when attempting to install those parts.
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FYI, for do it yourselfers... foam earplugs in the bolt holes work great. Learned that lining the inside of my Jeep.

 

Line X removed and reinstalled the necessary stuff in the bed of my 2019 when they did the spray in liner. They did a great job on it.

 

Same as all the above...minus the one that removed all his stuff.

 

Like others have said Line-X did it all (removed what they needed to, taped over what the had to). Something to consider is whether to get the UV coating or not, if no bed cover and you have lots of sun get it.

 

Leave the stuff attached to the bed. If you bring it to them bare, they don't know what options you have or don't, so they won't know what to tape off or spray over.

They do thousands of trucks a year....just let them do their thing. They know what they are doing. Mine came out perfect leaving everything in it.