I have a Bedrug on mine. I have an ARE topper on itg, so its not exposed to the elements except for the few times I take the top off to tansport motorcycles or other bulky cargo. If you have a topper, I highly recommend Bedrug; it is very soft on the knees if you do lots of climbing in there. Its also works great for camping.

I had one in my 99 Silverado for 6 years before it got stolen this year. I used it similarly to my current one. I also hauled bulk (loose) pine mulch, and up to the time it was stolen, it looked brand new. However, I never had it outside (topper off) for more then about a week at a time. I do not know how it would work for long term exposure without a topper.

 

I think that the issue of rust beneath a drop in liner is overplayed. My father-in-law had his 1990 Chevy truck repainted just before I bought my 2005 Supercrew. His drop in liner(Duraliner) is 15 years old and in good shape. There was no significant rust under the liner when he removed it to the have the truck painted. His truck has never been garaged and has hauled everthing from concrete rubble to manure for the garden. A drop in liner protects the metal from dents better than the spray liners. When I saw the bed of his truck I made the decision to get a Duraliner. The newer ones have a more textured surface than the older ones. My Duraliner cost $225 installed. I had time to drink a Diet Dr. Pepper while it was installed!

In a high salt area rust will probably be more of a problem. However; in my neck of the woods(Tulsa)I believe the only big advantage of spray liners is that they do look better.

Dennis

 

I think his point was that you can't just take out a spray-in liner and have your pristine factory paint job back.

I'll admit that when I heard what they were going to do with my brand new, expensive truck, I took pause for a moment to consider whether I wanted to go ahead. But the reality was that the bed was going to look like hell after I hauled a load of rocks or whatever, anyway, so I went ahead with my Rhino lining (I got the better of the two versions they offer) and I haven't regretted it. In fact when I used a shovel to unload the load of rocks I hauled, right down to the bed floor, I was impressed that I caused no damage to the lining whatsoever.

 

I put in a bedrug and love it.... it wasn't quite as much as the rhino liner I had in my last one. I paid $285 for my bedrug - paid about $400 for the rhino (not sure if I got overcharged for that compared to others though). The bedrug looks great and I love it... stuff stays put and it is a soft surface on your knees if you have to get into it. Before finally deciding on the bedrug I was just gonna do a mat as I couldn't justify the $400 again for the Rhino.

 

2005, FX4, 5.4, 3.73 w/18" wheels.. NOT trying to ruffle any feathers..After some research.. I got the Ford Logo drop-in... spray In liners do more to prevent lite scratches.. however as displayed to a group at the local Auto show.. after they sand down the bed..spray in the liner..you only portect from light scraches..It will still scrach and Dent .. they dropped a brick from just 18" It dented..and scrached the bed & spray in liner.. The newer designed metals do protect much more against rust. You can drop quite a heavy load on the drop-in liner without any damage... Doug