When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Id like to see some pics of 73-79's with various bed coatings including DIY kits and feedback on the durability.I just finished blasting my bed and am in the market to do some kind of bedliner.
I don't have any pics to share with you but I do have some input. We sell the roll-on kit made by duplicolor where I work... ok let me rephrase that, we carry the kit where I work, but nobody ever seems to buy it, FWIW
I don't have that old a truck, but my 99 B3000 I had a Rhino liner sprayed in. It has held up decent, except on the top lip of the tailgate where I have had some lumber lay against it. In a couple of places it chipped. It is a rougher liner than the Linex and if you need repairs you have to go back to the dealer that sprayed it with your ticket, or at least that is what I was told a couple of years ago when I had it done. You also don't want to try to slid anything heavy across it because it isn't going to move very good.
Spray in liners will not prevent dents, especially in the wheel well area. The best thing is to spray one in and then drop in a liner if you are going to be tossing things into the bed (in my case firewood and cinder blocks).
The Herculiner roll on DIY bedliner doesn't hold up very well but it looks decent. Snowmobile studs and carbides cut right thru it. But it costs $50 compared to Rhino's $450. I don't mind touching it up every spring, so it works for me.
I don't have pics but I just did my 75 with a roll on bedliner PLasti-Kote and it looks really good. I haven't really used it much so I can't say how well it will hold up ,but for 45 bucks to do the whole bed even if I have to reline it ten times I still broke even with the pro spray on. LOL
If you are going to use it you need a spray in liner. If you just want a cheap cover up you can use the roll in ones but I don't recommend it. I used to own a Reflex liner dealership. It is a great product but is only as good as the person doing it. They can texture it more or less depending on what you want. LineX chips much easier but is better if you are sliding things in and out, Reflex, Aromorthane, Rhino and all the other polyurethane ones are made NOT to slide. As far as I am still aware ALL the liner dealerships require you to take it back to the original dealer. If you are out of state the original dealer has to authorize payment to the repairing dealer. Good luck with that happening. Nationwide warrant is BS. I have sprayed everything from an old restored bronco to a Farmland hog sloughtering plant floor so if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask.
Part of the problem with a DIY liner is the good liners are a 2 part polyurethane and take special equipment to apply. Normally the product sets up in about 10seconds after it is mixed and starts to catalyze. I haven't had good experiences with roll on liners, but they all seem pretty much the same. Just don't get carried away applying it. Thicker doesn't necessarily mean better. good luck.
Duplicolor spray on liner. Super grippy, doesn't chip or scrape off, it's somewhat rubbery. I love it
That looks pretty good i dont really use the bed of my truck much for hauling so this is as much for cosmetics as it is for use I plan to show the truck a little bit when its done so I want it to look nice.It seems the key to any of the liners is prep.
Thanks, hope you don't mind me posting a pic of my truck. It was intended to be more of a show truck...but it's the only truck we have, so I use it to haul lumber, bricks, w/e. It's a driver, that's for sure.