Bed liner; before or after hitch install?

[gbraden]

I have an 03, 3500, LB, HO, 6-sp, 4x4, SRW and it's still stock. Haven't had time to install steps, bed liner, gauges, or anything. But, it's getting time to do so.

I do want to get a sprayed in bed liner. What do you suggest; Rhino or another brand?

Also, we're undecided as whether our next trailer will be a conventional trailer or 5th wheel. In your opinions is it OK to have a bedliner sprayed in now and perhaps get a 5th wheel hitch installed later? Or is there a reason that the 5th wheel hitch should be installed first?



I also have questions about tow mirrors and gauges, but I'll put them in a separate posting.

Glenn

 

[Dean Upson]

I have liked my RhinoLiners. Get the liner sprayed in first because you will just have to remove the hitch later to do the job. Black holds up better than the "custom colors"and is cheaper. Ask to see some of their work especially if you are having an over the rails install.



Dean

 

[Pit Bull]

I have Linex and really like it. I have a friend that has Rhino and likes it. Look at them both, Rhino is more rubbery. Linex is harder. It's the installer that is the most important part. Get an experenced installer and look at the work he has done. There are other good brands. Linex and Rhino are the oldest.

 

[CKruse]

You might look for a shop that can do both. The particular shop I use Line-X of Tulsa, OK does hitches and liners. Also, shop around and get a lot of opinions on bedliners. I've had Line-X on 2 different vehicles and could not be happier. The Pentagon is using a version of Line-X for blast mitigation. Just another opinion

 

[zari]

I had...

... the bedliner put in before the hitch; negotiated it into the deal . I like Line-X better, since it's a little harder; both Rhino and Line-X are good products, guess it's matter of personal opinion.



Alain.

 

[RKaniefski]

I just went through this same situation. If you are going to install the 5ver hitch yourself, I would suggest you install the hitch (at least drill the holes in the bed), then remove the 5ver to get the bed liner sprayed in. The reason is that you can see the spot welds in the bed to give you some ides of where not to drill. I installed a Hijacker 5ver and it is a good thing I installed first, cause the holes had to be drilled in the bed very close to the bed cross member supports and it is very easy to see where they are (spot welds) before the liner is sprayed in. I had the Perma Tech liner sprayed. I looked at the others and was not impressed with the person doing the spraying. Our Rino dealers is across the street from many new truck dealerships and none of them use him. I asked around and got a lot of bad reports about him. So I went with the Perma tech.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I go with what Pit Bull said. The installer is 75% of the equation. My friend has a Line-X that is coming off the bed because they didn't prep properly and didn't apply it thick enough on the bed floor (it's oly 1/16" think on the floor and I'm not kidding). Needs to be at least a 1/4" in my opinion.

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Rhino

I agree that the installer is a key part of the equation. I went with Rhino Liner because it's softer. Things don't slide around. My father-in-law has Linex and he has a rubber mat over it to keep things from sliding.

 

[Shooter]

I went with Ultimate linings. One reason was the installer . The other was experiences of others in the area that have had his liners in for years with no problems. My truck is almond and they have a pewter color that is very close to the paint. Looks good. I went over the rail a little further than normal to protect yhe top area of fender from fuel hose rubs while filling my inbed aux tank.

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Rhino

Originally posted by Bill Littlefield

I agree that the installer is a key part of the equation. I went with Rhino Liner because it's softer. Things don't slide around. My father-in-law has Linex and he has a rubber mat over it to keep things from sliding.

The installer that did my Linex has done 100's he made mine a rougher texture so things don't slide around.

 

[MOConnor]

Vortex

I have an 03 with a Vortex spray in liner,had it in my 01 gasser,and my brother in-law has it in two of his trucks and one jet ski. I paid 480. 00 for over the rail. Rino wanted 600. 00 and Line x wanted 550. 00. Then I put my 5er in. When I get another truck I will use Vortex. ---------------------------------------------- 03 HO 4X4 Quad cab long bed Auto 3. 73 Atlantic Blue,Alum Fuel door,Smitty built Stainless Steel tube steps,Vortex spay in bed liner,RBW Lil-rocker 15k 5th wheel hitch,Window vent shads,Yakima Roof rack,custom made Aluminum cooler rack. This truck is made for fishing and camping... ...

 

[theHulk]

LynTrux

I had my B&W Turnover Ball installed first and then had the liner sprayed in. Made for a very nice installation/finish.

 

[tae73]

I agree with thehulk, do the B&W before you do the liner. I did the hitch first then the rhino liner, looks slick. You dont see the top of the hitch any more. Just a nice clean cut out for the ball to drop down in.

 

[NSperduto]

would get the liner first then the hitch.

I have the Rhino in my truck. In the bed it's great, the part on the tailgate is terrible. I beileive it was bad prep by the installer, I even had to ahve hi spray it a second time, but the second coat just peels off the first coat. I had mine done under the rail. If I had to do it again, I'd only do the bed, but I'm leaning on a bed rug for my next ride.



Nick

 

[Mr.Goat]

gbradon



I concur with Pit Bull. Rhino and Line-X are excellent products. I have had them both, currently with Line-X. However the success off each solely depends on the installer, the preparation of the surface is critical. Rhino is applied cold, thus takes longer to set up and is prone to drips and is more difficult to spray on the vertical. But a good sprayer can do wonders. Linex is applied hot dries instantly and thus is easier to apply. Pete

 

[DLoughery]

I don't think it makes a lot of difference. The shop I used does both spray in liners and hitches. When I ask them, they prefered putting the hitch in first. They did and then sprayed it and I am very happy with the results. I have the B&W hitch and the liner seals all the way around the base of it. Looks like it was built in rather than added on.

 

[catoiler]

Don't forget if you put the hitch in after the liner(depending on the hitch)you will be bolting it down over the lining which may not let it tighten down enough and require re-torquing more often. Also the Rhino is almost twice as thick as line-x and fades more than the line-x. Just my $. 02 worth.

 

[catoiler]

Don't forget if you put the hitch in after the liner(depending on the hitch)you will be bolting it down over the lining which may not let it tighten down enough and require re-torquing more often. Also the Rhino is almost twice as thick as line-x and fades more than the line-x. Just my $. 02 worth.

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by catoiler

Don't forget if you put the hitch in after the liner(depending on the hitch)you will be bolting it down over the lining which may not let it tighten down enough and require re-torquing more often. Also the Rhino is almost twice as thick as line-x and fades more than the line-x. Just my $. 02 worth.

I put the hitch on after the RhinoLining was sprayed in on my last two trucks and never had to retighten any bolts. I had different franchises do each truck and both suggested the lining be sprayed first.



Dean

 

[NSperduto]

I'll give another take. You install the hitch, then spray the liner, then in 5 years, decide to get a new truck. You take the hitch out and now you have a nice spot in the middle of the bed with no liner.





I would spray then install.