First scratches in bed

Finally used my truck as a truck today and hauled some scrap metal to the scrap yard. I have no liner so scratched up the bed pretty good. I don't really care since its a truck bed and that's what its for but it got me thinking what is the actual reason to get a liner to protect from scratching the bed? I actually have a bedrug to put in once my cap is installed so my dogs are comfortable and dont slide around, which in hindsight maybe I should have put in before loading the scrap metal but just curious about others thoughts about what makes more sense, just scratch up the bed and not care about it because that's what its there for or putting a spray in liner in to protect the paint to which you will never see again because the liner is permanent, or even a plastic drop in which will end up scratching the bed too. Why do we want to protect the bed of a truck and can scratches end up causing corrosion?

 

A spray in liner isn't there to protect the paint. For it to bond the paint gets scratched to hell in prep and sanding anyway. It's there to prevent the metal from being exposed and rusting.

 

I went with the spray in bedliner from the dealership when I bought the truck new. They outsourced the job to Inyati (local Phoenix bedliner company). Been about 2.5 years and no regrets, looks as good as new. I think I paid $450 for them to spray it if I recall correctly.

 

Spray in liner. Anything else harbors moisture and will cause rotting you can’t see.

 

I would think that for most of us, other than aesthetics; not seeing ugly scratches, the main reason for the liner is rust prevention. The liner is a barrier between the steel and moisture, chemicals etc.

 

I think I'll cover up the scratches with some spray paint I guess to protect from corrosion before putting my bedrug in then. No reason to put a spray in liner under a bedrug plus once the cap is on it won't be getting wet. I've seen many trucks without liners all dinged up and scratched down to bare metal but dont see them rusting out because of it.

 

I guess it depends on where you live. I'm in SoCal, rust and moisture is just a non issue here. I have always used drop-in liners in my trucks. I prefer them because I'm constantly loading things in my truck, its much easier to put something heavy in the back and push it toward the cab and load more. Spray on liners are very grabby and don't handle things like heavy block or concrete underground boxes very well, you'll go through it real quick. Spray on looks really nice though and they have color options which is cool

 

I’m kinda weird about scratches. I have spray in and the OEM mat.

 

I’m going to do the same - put the mat in today, and will get sprayed in the coming weeks.

 

Yeah, I was pretty amazed at how thick and heavy those mats are. Nothing slides around on them either. I bought my truck used and the liner had never been cleaned in 4 years without a bed cover. I bought some restoring gel and touched up the existing gouges with Duplicolor. It looked so nice I decided to put in the mat before I installed the cover.

 

Do things even touch the bed if you have a bed slide? Thought this article was funny https://www.hotcars.com/features-pi...t-waste-their-money-on-and-those-they-should/ it puts spray in liners at the top of things that are a waste of money. They definitely look really nice and obviously do protect your bed from scratches but scratches in a bed arenot going to cause your bed to rot out unless maybe your hauling salt around and its raining out. Your wheel wells will start to rust long before the bed does, atleast from what I see here in New England. I can't believe spray in is so expensive, seen one guy that paid $770 for a color matched liner, crazy money to spend to not scratch your bed imho but obviously to each their own and if you like it and it helps you sleep at night then its worth it.

 

I have a drop in liner and when I took it out a few months ago there was absolutely zero damage or rust or scratched under it.
I removed it, sprayed fluid film over the whole bed, then put in a weathertech underliner to add more protection. Then I put the plastic drop in liner back in. I don't expect to ever have any rust or damage ever. And I doubt I will ever have to remove it again.

 

And I thought by the title this was going to be about something else...

Had a Rhino Liner sprayed in through the dealer, the way to go.

 

Nothing is ever permanent. Put a coat of Line-x or whatever, but do not ever forget you have a truck that can haul sh*t! (Battle Scars beware!)

 

Nah I know I just meant once you go with a spray in, you can't take it out. Definitely agree about the battle scars.

 

I’m a huge fan of the bed rug. It came with a spray on bed liner and still got a bed rug. It’s really good for dogs as well.

 

Yeah that's the exact reason I got it. I was going to just throw a blanket down for them but the bedrug is a much better option and will look great since my cap also has a carpet headliner.

 

Now that's grocery snatchin!

 

Me too. I roll out the mat when I haul things to the dump, roll it back in when I hose out the bed when I get back. Same thing when I haul bales of hay.

Dan