So i removed my plastic liner....
 

I've got an obvious problem where the previous owner thought he was an engineer and made his own hitch but other then that its pretty savable. My question is do i put a DIY kit on the bed then put the plastic liner back in or just get a coat of line-x on it and be done with it? The truck isn't going anywhere i plan on being buried in it haha but i plan on getting the whole truck painted and restoring it so would it be worth it money wise to just fork the money out the first time? Here are some pics of what i'm working with. Its wet from spraying all the crap that had collected under it from the last who knows how many years its been since the cover has been off.

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Personally, I do not like the plastic bed liners. I'd use the roll on liner.

roll on all the way.

Proper prep and a decent roll on whatever you can afford

The only problem I have with a roll on is I still use it as a truck and haul scrap, brush and anything else that fits and I've had them on other trucks and its a constant game of scratch and repair

Spray in for the win. If you're going to restore and paint, why not look for a serviceable bed ?

Other then this spot it is pretty good it's got on spot above the wheel well but other then that its in great shape the truck is a southern body so it's in great shape and with out shelling out a bunch of cash for a new one ill fix this one up. I see what your saying but when does it equal a line-x or rhino liner job?

Why not both? Plastic liners are hard on paint, I hate them, but understand your day to day activities seem to require one. Roll on to stop further damage or to save the repairs you choose to perform. Find a plastic liner that gives you the the protection you need and pull it our when you don't.

Fix the damage from the goose neck hitch and just paint the rusty areas and toss the liner back in. No point in spending the money coating the whole thing if it's going to be covered with a plastic liner anyway. If you do plan on getting a spray in get it professionally done, dont use the cheapo spray can or roll in junk. It will never hold up as well as a pro job and you will always be repairing nicks and scrapes.

I just figured if I used bed liner on the spots where it was rubbing it would just rub right through again making the repairs worthless. I'm looking for longevity what will be my best option in the long term if every year I'm recoating the bed with 100 bucks of liner to cover all the scratches would it have been worth it to just get a nice spray in one? If I get the spray in I will toss the plastic liner but if it just cover up the spots and go from there it's going back in

You could get some sort of rubber insulators to keep the plastic liner slightly off of the bed?

Theres a lot of DIY redneck solutions, but other than proper prep with a good spray in liner there is nothing that will hold up to the stuff you're doing day to day.

Id go with Rhinoliner professional dealer. Its great stuff. Just pricey... i chose to leave mine undone and do a roll in when i can.

I've got a line-x in my truck - it was in it when I bought it. I use my truck for all kinds of stuff - anything and everything you could think of goes in and out (firewood, metal, brush, etc.). The line-x has held up well, and looks like it's been in there for many years. I'm impressed, and if I had to line my own, I would consider going with line-x. Just my .02.

That's what I've been hearing but i wanted to know if it was cost effective. The insulators are a good idea but it could just warp the liner and have it rub in new places. I just don't want to have to be constantly patching and fixing rub spots or scratches and chips in the liner Id like an end all solution I there is one.