Car enthusiast or not, it is very natural to want to pimp up your car. As for pick-up truck drivers, the interior and exterior are not the only ones worthy of giving attention. If you also own a pickup truck, you’d know that the bed liner can make such a huge difference.
That is why it is essential to find the best DIY bed liner for your truck. With a good and aesthetically appealing bed liner, your pickup truck can look so much better. But before that, there are several things we think you should know first.
Last update on 2024-04-30 at 13:28 PST - Details
Things To Consider When Buying Best DIY Bed Liner
Again, the bed liner can significantly affect the overall look of your pickup truck. However, aside from just improving the overall look of your pickup truck, the bed liner has more important purposes.
A bed liner is used to protect the inner-side of the truck bed from damages. It is also used to make the surface of your truck bed skid resistant. That is so when you load items into your truck bed; it will stay in place and not get thrown all over the place.
There are those that are for DIYs and those that need to be installed by professionals. Here are some things you need to consider first before buying a bed liner for your truck:
The type of Best DIY Bed Liner
There are five types of bed liners: drop-in liners, bed rugs, truck bed mats, brush-on liners and spray liners. It can fit a particular model of a vehicle, so drop-in liners come with plastic or rubber materials.
Some come with smooth surfaces and some come with a textured surface for skid resistance. It is also important that drop liners also come with a snap or adhesive to keep them in place.
On the other hand, bed rugs are also similar to drop-in liners but instead come from polyethylene foam and polyester fiber carpeting. These are tighter than drop-in liners.
That helps them keep water and debris from getting into the truck bed and the liner. In turn, this helps lessen scratches as well. The carpet surface is what makes the bed rug skid resistant.
As for the truck bed mat, this type of bed liner is often just meant to fit the truck bed itself and the tailgate only. Usually made with rubber, carpeting or plastic, truck bed mats have textured surfaces and for easier removal.
That can help you gain easier access as well to hitches and compartments. For brush-on liners, instead of “installing” them, this type is usually applied with a brush or a roller on the truck bed floor.
With a thick paint or paste-like consistency, brush-on liners adhere easily to metal truck bed floors while keeping away water and debris. And lastly, are the spray liners. This type is very similar to brush-on liners except, you use a high-pressure spray gun to apply them.
Ideally, you can have a professional do this for you to make sure it looks decent, or you can do it by yourself as long as you have the equipment. However, it is important to take note that brush-on and spray liners are hard to remove.
So, if you suddenly want to change them or have them removed, it might not be as easy. If you’re getting the last two as your bed liner, be sure that that is what you want for your truck.
The model and measurements of your truck bed
This particular factor can be one of the most, if not the most important. Before buying a bed liner, you must know first the model of your truck as well as the truck bed’s size and measurements.
You wouldn’t want to waste money buying an expensive bed liner only to find out that you can’t install it because the size is not compatible with your truck’s bed. If you do not want to find the measurements manually, you can always just ask the seller for a bed liner compatible with your truck bed size.
Just make sure that you know the specific model of your truck. Or better yet, you can search online the measurements of your truck model. It will significantly help you avoid miscalculations and mistakes.
The overall quality of the bed liner
The overall quality of the bed liner is critical. It is true if you want your bed liner to last longer and save up bucks from buying a new one now and then.
Do not be afraid to search for reviews online about the quality of the bed liner you want to buy. Ask the salesperson or the seller about the product. If you can, make sure also to affect its overall quality.
That is most especially important if you plan to use your truck bed roughly by loading some heavy cargos in it. A high-quality bed liner means a longer lifespan.
Although these might not be everything you need to consider, these are just some of the most important. Of course, there’s also your preference and budget. However, it is also best not to compromise the price for the quality.
It can be a given that some bed liners (especially those high-quality ones) can also be a little expensive. But also, taking proper care and properly maintaining your bed liner is also going to help you prolong its lifespan.
Our Top 5 Picks
With Penda’s 63017SRX Bed Liner, you get a tailgate, an installation kit and the bed liner itself. It is skid-resistant both on the top and bottom to keep the liner in place as well as your cargo.
Its molded-in board holders are designed to fit into almost any truck. But what’s even better is, unlike other bed liners, Penda does not need a drill for installment. That makes it ideal for those who want to install bed liners themselves.
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On the other hand, Herculiner’s HCL1B8 is a brush on bed liner that claims to be five times thicker than any other brands. The sturdy textured polyurethane protective coating makes it resistant to gasoline, oil, solvents and other chemicals.
It prevents rust from bonding and sealing all surfaces. More importantly, it is skid resistant. Not only does it add extra shine to your truck bed floor, but it also keeps the truck bed floor from chipping flaking or peeling.
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As for U-Pol’s 0820 Raptor Black Truck Bed Liner Kit, you get a scratch and stain resistant bed liner that also lessen impacts of sounds and vibrations. Unlike other products that still need another coating, U-Pol claims to be UV resistant.
It also dries faster compared to other brands of bed liners. You can even apply the second layer within an hour. But most importantly, it has high adhesion and is very flexible and easy to use, even for non-professionals.
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Custom Shop’s Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit. It comes in other sizes such as the 2, 6 or 8-liter ones with variations of either a roller or a gun included. It is abrasion and stain resistant, making it last longer.
It is also waterproof and rust or corrosion resistant especially against salt, damp and extreme temperatures. Moreover, Custom Shop claims to deliver a bed liner that is waterproof and flexible enough to lessen sounds and vibrations.
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Lastly, is DualLiner’s Bed Liner 2015 for Ford F-150. It is precisely cut to fit the curves and edges of your Ford F-150. It comes with pre-cut materials for factory LED lights and the Box Link System. The hard side walls are also well-built to serve as dent protection.
Moreover, its solid ZeroSkid floor makes it more efficient in keeping your cargo from shifting and moving all over the place. But most importantly, DualLiner offers a 100% warranty in case you encounter defects or are not satisfied.
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Our Verdict
You know your truck best, and your needs or preferences is what you should put first. Having said this, Herculiner’s might be a good starting option for you.
It is very cheap, yet it delivers an impressive installment kit and durability after it’s applied. But more importantly, it still has room for other uses aside from being just a truck bed liner. So, if you want a multi-purpose bed liner that won’t break the bank, this might be a right choice.
We wish you luck in finding the best bed liner for you and your truck.
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