Do it yourself bedliners

[GAhunter]

Which is the best (easiest to apply, toughest, doesn't fade)? I'm not going to pay for a professionally sprayed-in liner for my hunting truck but would like it protected. I've been looking at the Duplicolor Bed Armor. Is it best rolled on like they say or can it be sprayed?

[tnhillbilly]

I don't know what kind was put in my truck before I bought it, but its faded bad and patchy and looks like crap.

[tnhillbilly]

What about a plastic liner?

[GAhunter]

Plastic liner wouldn't be bad but it has some pretty scuffed up places that might rust under a plastic liner. I don't know how quick it takes them to start to rust under a plastic liner.

[mod93dirt]

I hate to try and tell anyone I don't know what to do, but DO NOT try the do it yourself Bedliner. You will not be happy with it after a very short time. I work at a dealership bodyshop where we do spray in bedliners, and there is no comparison between a good Bedliner and a do it yourself.  Most do it yourself kits i have seen are solvent based and will never be as durable as a two part liner. Think of painting Krylon vs painting a modern clearcoat. The Krylon relies on the solvents evaporating to cure, while the clear coat relies on a chemical reaction with a hardener to cure. There is no question about the durability of the two. We have had to re-do several bedliners that customers have done them selves and have not been happy with. In the end it just cost them more money to remove that crap and do it right then it would have to have done it right the first time.

My recommendation if you are really worried about your bed, and don't want to spend the money, put a plastic drop in Bedliner in it. Me personally, I don't even have a Bedliner in my truck. I could get a spray in for free, but I feel a truck bed is meant to get beat up so I am not to worried about it.

[dub]

If you have the money pay someone. If not prep prep and prep. That can't be said enough. If there is rust you need it gone and you have to sand it good and/or blast it. You have to put a top coat on because none of them even the professional are UV resistant. You have to put a UV barrier or it will fade. I help do the inside of a jeep and it came out great and it lasted at least five years the last time I saw it. Spraying comes out better. But I bet there are some pros on here that know how to do it right. I bet if you got what they ask and a case of beer or two and some BBQ it could get done for you

[cantexduck]

 Pay to have it done. Call and around and find a mom and pop shop. Pay cash. It is all in the way you prep the bed. I did liners for five years. If you use your bed, you will not like the do it your self crap.

[mod93dirt]

Dub hit a lot of it head on. Prep and prep. We spray nearly every truck that rolls off the showroom floor. The prep time takes 10x as long as the actual spray time. And that is with a brand new bed. Used beds take even longer. Not trying to sound like a know it all, but I have plenty of experience with bedliners. A do it yourself will never be as good as a professionally done liner. Goes back to the old saying, you get what you pay for!