Bed liners: Spray-on vs insert

Got my new Tundra last Tuesday. Worked into the deal a bed liner insert, which I'm still waiting for. Couple people I've since talked to think it's a bad idea, but even the salesman said for my use the insert is probably the way to go.

It would be pretty rare that I'd haul something like sand, if ever. But I will be hauling firewood, tools (shovels, picks, digging bars, axes, etc..), occasionally things like brick or stone. None of this would be regularly, just thinking of things that I definitely find myself moving now and then.

My thought is the insert will likely stand up to this type of use better than a spray-on, but I don't have any experience with a spray-on so can't say for sure. Only downside to the insert is the potential for holding moisture between the liner and the metal, but hopefully that's not a huge problem.

 

Spray in will outlast the liner. The liner will also scratch the crap out of the bed and rub the paint off so once installed never take out. Liners also cause static electricity which can be an issue if you ever place gas cans back there. The spray should outlast the truck and the liner will probably need replaced at some point and is susceptible to warping in the heat. My 2cents

 

I second @Tracker

Spray in is they way to go if it’s an option.

 

Will a spray-on flex well with dents and not crack? Not that I plan on putting dents in it, but I just can't imagine not getting some dents over the years with any hard use and a spray-on liner.

My parents have an insert type liner in their F150. It doesn't fit tight at all anymore; still effective though admittedly I have no idea what the bed underneath looks like. I wish I could remember what it was like when it was new.

 

I have a liner in my 1990 F350. I’ve always had a liner in my trucks. When loading firewood, refrigerators, boxes, whatever is always easier to slide from the bed to the tailgate. The bed could hold a static charge but I always fill my gas cans on the ground like the pump tells you to and I ground myself out on the pump itself.
Let’s say you load a big piece of wood in the bed you flip/roll it over and it hits the bed hard, I’ve seen spray Berliner’s dent in where the plastic liner has a little more give. Plus the plastic liner has slots in it for a 2x6 to divide the bed into 3 sections which is great, I always leave the one in closeted to the tailgate for my cooler and other items I don’t don’t rolling/sliding to the front.

 

I’ve honestly never seen a spray in liner crack in person, but most come with a lifetime warranty anyways. The one I’m having the dealership install tomorrow does!

 

I like the insert. I toss things in the back of my truck without thought, and never have to worry about it. It is much better dent protection in my opinion, which is something that I look for. The spray in looks pretty, though.

 

Just do both and it will last forever.

 

Seriously I would go spray in liner. If it really bothers you the drop ins are easy to come by. Sometimes even the Liner place can give you one that somebody is throwing away.

 

Haha

 

My thought as well on dent protection. Like I said, I don't have experience with the spray-ons but I just can't imagine if you stacked a bunch of cement block in the bed and something fell it wouldn't crack that liner?

 

I despise the liner in my truck. Had it not come with it, I would have done a spray for sure.

 

What do you not like about it?

 

It’s a cheap, poorly fitting piece of crap. And I can’t even imagine all the dirt and crap that is trapped under it. And let’s not even get into all the salt that must be under there in the winter, eating away at the bed.

 

I think my BedRug is the best of both worlds. You can abuse the crap out of it. Pretty much load anything on it. It's washable, breathable, and padded in case you have an impromptu overnighter.

 

Even a rubber mat would be better than what I have.

 

Depends where you live. I had one that I replaced with my BedRug. Plastic liner was 8 years old. Zero rust, dirt, crap ...only a couple spots with very minor scuffing.

 

DeeZee makes a real decent rubber mat

 

My spray-in liner flexes with the steel when the bed is dented and has no cracks. I have a bed mat atop my liner that does well at blunting impacts and also keeps items from sliding around.

 

That’s my setup. Wouldn’t mind a bedrug as well though.

 

I don’t like that my tailgate sheet metal flexes with my bod weight.

 

Interesting, never heard of BedRug. I see Husky makes something very similar too.

Sounds like your experience with the plastic liner wasn't bad though. Do you like the BedRug much more?

I see WeatherTech also makes a "TechLiner" that looks decent, and I've liked the WeatherTech products I've owned. Only thing is it offers nearly no protection to the sides and I'm questioning how much dent protection it would really offer.

 

Honestly I'd stay away from the plastic liner. Love my BedRug. Not even comparable to a plastic liner. There were some on my local Craigslist going for $75 and they won't sell. Sold mine for $60. I'm not aware of anything similar to BedRug quality. BedRug has been around for quite some time.

 

Yes, I had one in my old Tacoma and my current Tundra. Great product, keeps stuff from sliding around in the bed, keeps the bottom of your bed from being scratched up. Doesn't trap water or crud under your bed either, doesn't scratch the paint finish on your bed floor like a plastic liner.

 

Also any plastic bed-liner is a real piece of shit. I've had that POS plastic liner in two trucks I've owned.

First one was my 1993 Toyota pickup, a "basket case" I bought for $600. It had been hit in the front, nothing on the grill, headlights, fenders, hood lined up, hood was held on with a bungee cord. Whole truck had been black from the factory, I honestly think it might have been some sort of fancy factory black out package, no chrome trim, bumpers were black, yet delux interior with carpet, full door panels, it was trimmed out nice inside.

I don't know the whole story but my friend's mentally ill wife had painted the truck with flat black house paint in certain parts, after she had drove it in the ditch and wrecked the front end. Anyways this truck had a drop in plastic bed liner that scuffed the paint off the bed floor to the point that it turned to surface rust. Not rust through, but just surface rust. Not that I cared, I drove that damn truck for 4 years and put 20k miles on it, it was a great beater. Sold it for $1000.

My 2nd truck, a 2011 Tundra had a plastic bedliner from day one, didn't know if it was a factory or dealer option, I took it out last month only to reveal a bunch of scuff marks where it took the paint down to the bare metal. I've "touched up" those parts of the bed where it looks like it rubbed thru to metal. I guarantee that bed would look nicer if it just had a $90 rubber mat on the floor in there vs that stupid plastic bed liner.

Plastic bed liners suck ass and are total bullshit IMO.

 

Go with the spray on either rhino or linex. Both have lifetime warranties. They will last forever. And make ur bed stronger.

 

Spray in liners increase value.

 

look at the price differential between a liner and a basic spray in.

my line-x basic cost $498 after taxes out the door.

drop in liner usually cost between 300-400 and a basic mat is around 160-200.

 

I have always had spray in liners and loved them I also have a bed mat which keeps things from sliding and you can remove it and wash it off that will keep dents from the bed

 

I would recommend a spray in liner. I had a insert for about 3 years and didnt like it after about a year. I used to live in the desert and mine would warp when really hot outside and it would go back to normal when it cooled down and the smell of hot plastic got annoying. I eneded up moving back to New York and the scratches it left behind the salt got to some and starting the corrosion process. I had mine sprayed a few days ago and looks amazing and would never get a drop in liner again. I paid about 586 w/tax for the premium.