The time to protect my new truck's bed is approaching
and I need some advice.

I prefer the properties of a drop-in bed liner (like
duraliner, for example). I have looked into spray-in
liners, but need to be able to slide heavy loads (if
I want the load to stay in place I'll tie it down).

What I do not like about the drop-ins are the damage
caused to the bed finish, and their tendency to rattle
and make noise when driving unloaded.

My possible solution to this (actually my wife's idea)
is to use both - let me explain. Rather than get the
professionally applied spray-in, I believe there exists
some "paint-on" rubber/poly/whatever coating. I could put
on a few coats of the "paint-on" and then install a drop-in.
This will protect the bed from the drop-in and keep it
quiet, while the drop-in provides the surface properties
I prefer.

Comments or recommendations?

2001 350SD PS CC 4X4 STOCK

 

I have seen spray-on bed liner applied really smoothly. My dad's Dodge has a spray-on Rhino liner, and it is very easy to slide a load on. Are you sure about trouble with slideing your load? However, I'll recomend that you don't put a paint on liner on the bed, but perhaps on the bottom of the drop in liner, it probbably wouldn't ruin the finish at all, and you could competly remove the liner if you wanted to do so.

Logan

 

I have the same problem, I'm putting on a Herculiner in a few days and I'm going to get some plastic sheets from TAP Plastics and use that to slide loads around. Your idea sounds good and you can always take the liner out if you want.

 

>Are you sure about
>trouble with slideing your load?

I am sure that I will need to slide heavy loads,
from boulders to trees, or who knows what. It was
quite easy to slide 300-400 lb. boulders out of my
last truck with a drop-in liner. I have yet to see
a Rhino lining in person to inspect its frictional
properties.

>However, I'll recomend that you
>don't put a paint on
>liner on the bed, but
>perhaps on the bottom of
>the drop in liner

Excellent idea - thanks!

>I'm going to get some plastic sheets
>from TAP Plastics and use that to slide loads around

Another good idea!

Thanks guys.

2001 350SD PS CC 4X4 STOCK

 

My dad's liner was a fast, cheap installitation, but I have seen Rhino liner sprayed on very, very smoothly. The local John Deer dealer ship has a large service truck, so I can only imagine they are constanly sliding big loads on it's "bed". I'd have to assume that they had the liner sprayed on smooth enough to get rid of any problems. Talk to a Dealer that will spary liners on(that is where I have seen most spary on liners from, dealers)since they will probbably have samples(I'm only guess they will have samples) and I was quite amazed by how smoothly they can spary the liner.

Logan

 

>>However, I'll recomend that you
>>don't put a paint on
>>liner on the bed, but
>>perhaps on the bottom of
>>the drop in liner
>
>Excellent idea - thanks!

Ya know, after thinking about that a bit, I'm not sure
that rubberizing the underside of the drop-in would be
the best way to go. That would still allow dust/dirt to
be rubbed into the bed's finish. Whereas directly
rubberizing the bed will prevent dirt/dust from sanding
the finish as well as moisture from reaching bare metal.

Given my intended use - a drop-in over a painted-on rubber
coating - why would I not want to apply the rubber coating?
Assuming the drop-in has enough slop that it will still fit,
is there some irreversible, terrible effect, that I will
regret after applying the paint-on? I really have no clue.

p.s. I will be looking for examples of Rhino liners (and
others) before deciding what to do.

Thanks again.


2001 350SD PS CC 4X4 STOCK

 

I'm quite sure that abesolutley none of the spray on liners cant be removed without say burning the liner and paint off. If you paint on enough of the liner and clamp the drop-in down, then you would probbably be able to protect the box quite nicley.

Unless your sure that you want to permanatley have pain on liner in your bed, I wouldn't recomened it.

Logan

 

The ones that I checked out that were professionally done were all thick 1/8~1/4" I just did the cab floor with Herculiner and did 2 coats. It wasn't very thick probably 1/8" or less, but it looks like 25 grid rubber sand paper. I tested it with 1500# pressure washer and it held up very well. As far as reversable, I did have a test patch that I pulled off because I use the wrong cleaner on purpose, it will come off but might require quite a bit of work. With 1 gal of Herculiner, I'm sure the plastic bedline would still fit.
The main reason for me wanting the plastic sheets is that it would be very easy to remove and I don't slide stuff around all that much, but I know exactly what you mean, who wants to lift a frig when they can slide it?

 

Karljay,

Since you mentioned a specific kind of plastic sheet
that you are going to use, can you please provide
details about the product? What type of load do you
expect that you'll be able to slide with the plastic
sheets? Also, why have you chosen Herculiner - are
there any others? (I'm still searchin')

Thanks.

'01 350 PSD CC 4X4 LARIAT / '00 LAND ROVER DISCO II CCP SRP ACE

 

As far as the plastic sheet goes, I didn't have a specific one in mind, TAP is just a plastic shop that has all types of plastics. I'd like to get a teflon sheet, but I think that a regular plastic sheet would work fine, just needs to be thick enough to prevent tearing.

I was looking into bedliners and saw that Duplicolor was $44/gal and looked for some pictures. I found someones Toyota that had Duplicolor liner and I didn't like what I saw. It looked like thick black paint. I saw the Herculiner and started searching on it and found nothing but good reviews. The pictures were great, looked like 25 grit sandpaper in rubber.

So far I've done the inside the cab and love it, it looks excellent, goes on easy and I used a 1500# presure washer to check for adheasion, it held up (I don't think it's a good idea to do all the time, but it did hold up).
Also, the cost was a factor. $400 for just the inside of the bed was too much. I paid about $65/gal and have enough to do the cab and bed and top bed rails with 2+ coats. I used an online price to get a local store to price match and that's how I got it for $65, they wanted $109.

 

I went to a NAPA store to get a qt of Herculiner so I could test it. They won't have any until tomorrow, but they also had some 3M rubberized, spray-on undercoating. I got a can and am testing it on wood. Seems ok so far - only have two coats on. It goes on very thin which is fine by me - as long as it is tough enough to hold up under a drop-in liner. Any thoughts on this product? The sales guy said it would remain soft & flexible, whereas the Herculiner would become very hard. Given my intended use, I think soft & flexible would be better.

I'll begin testing the Herculiner tomorrow.

'01 350 PSD CC 4X4 LARIAT / '00 LAND ROVER DISCO II CCP SRP ACE

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 17-Apr-01 AT 10:12 PM (EST)[/font][p]Hey dweezil
I use that 3m undercoating in my shop. I apply it to new panels such as fenders (inside). Im thinking it would remain too soft for your needs. I know here in Canada it gets dam cold and that stuff still remains flexible. I have used a product called Gator Gaurd and it appears to be a good product ( hows that for a penetrating and insightful product review).

 

I have not gone through all the postings here guys but the ones I have reviewed don't mention the dent prevention of drop in liners. Drop in liners have corrogated floors that typically sit higher than the bed floor and the plastic disperses the pressure of a heavy object when dropped. I dont think you will get this type of protection from a spray type liner. What do you think ??

 

I think your right, the plastic ones would be better at stopping dents. The Herculiner would help some, but not as much as having the plastic dropin type.

As for the compare of Herculiner to undercoating, I used the undercoating ($2.99/can) for the inside firewall and sprayed about 1/8" or more thick. The stuff is great, but I did notice that if you poke it, you can damage it or have the poke stay there. The surface is pretty smooth and I wouldn't want to have it inside the bed, too soft and wouldn't be as tough. Try walking on it with boots, then kick it a few times, I bet it'll tear. And I think the Herculiner is more waterproof because of being less pourous.

However, if you don't ever use the truck without the plastic liner, it could work.

 

>I think your right, the plastic
>ones would be better at
>stopping dents.

Right - IMHO I think drop-ins are the most practical, usable, etc. I am just trying to minimize some of their weak points.

>As for the compare of Herculiner
>to undercoating, I used the
>undercoating ($2.99/can) for the inside
>firewall and sprayed about 1/8"
>or more thick. The
>stuff is great, but I
>did notice that if you
>poke it, you can damage
>it or have the poke
>stay there. The surface
>is pretty smooth and I
>wouldn't want to have it
>inside the bed, too soft
>and wouldn't be as tough.
> Try walking on it
>with boots, then kick it
>a few times, I bet
>it'll tear.

Exactly what I have noticed - doesn't _seem_ up to the job. But, it's hard to say.

The undercoating is much softer than the Herculiner. Pro: the undercoating may be better at dampening liner vibration and noise. Con: it may be displaced after vibration/large force allowing the liner or moisture to contact the bed.

In fact, the Herculiner is so hard it probably will not dampen vibration noise from the rattling liner.

>And I
>think the Herculiner is more
>waterproof because of being less
>pourous.

It would seem to be true, but I really cannot say. I guess I could dream up some test to determine the porosity of the undercoating.

>However, if you don't ever use
>the truck without the plastic
>liner, it could work.

Right - I don't ever plan to remove the drop-in.

Hmmm, I may need to do a layer of Herc, followed by a few layers of undercoating, and finally a drop-in. Doh! When it gets wet, the chemical brew will probably melt my truck.

Still searchin' ...

'01 350 PSD CC 4X4 LARIAT / '00 LAND ROVER DISCO II CCP SRP ACE