Bedliner spray or drop in? What brand Nerf Bars do you like for a 2003 QC?

[PJensen]

What is your opinion of the spray in bedliners vs the drop in ones?



Penda liner looks to have a better grip than most of the plastic drop in liners.



Anyone use the rubber mat in the bed also?



Spray in liners bother me about the fact that they grind some of the paint off the bed to spray the material on. Has there been any issues with a bed rusting out from the inside out with this type of liner?





Now to nerf step bars? I have a 2003 2500 QC 4x4.



Who has the cleanest installation for these nerf bars, no drilling required.

 

[parcher]

Drop in liners spend their lives grinding the paint off your bed! My truck came with a drop in liner, at 6,000 miles when I had the Line-X done there was NO paint on the tops of ribs in the bed.

 

[WadePatton]

Most spray-ins carry a lifetime garantee against chipping or peeling. They have to rough it up for it to stick. The spray on is protecting the bed much better that the miniscule amount of paint they're taking off.



Drop-ins will ruin your paint way fast. I gave mine away, it came in the truck and had rubbed the paint off in many places.



I prefer the LineX. And throw a sheet a plywood in the bottom for really rough hauling.

 

[klenger]

Drop-in liners also trap water under them ---> rust.



I have Line-X and am thrilled with it. $375 two years ago.



I have Westen CPS bars on my 01. I assume they make them for the '03. No problem with them either.

 

[athompson]

Originally posted by PJensen





Spray in liners bother me about the fact that they grind some of the paint off the bed to spray the material on. Has there been any issues with a bed rusting out from the inside out with this type of liner?

Actually, the drop in liner on my last truck was the one that promoted the rust in the bed. At least with the Rhino I had installed, the paint was just scuffed up so the liner material to stick. I would go without a liner before I got another drop in.



As for the nerf bars, I like the Westins. But I put the Kodiak steps on my '02 Ram.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

You might search for prior threads on spray on liners. The Rhino is softer and stickier to hold stuff still more effectively. Linex and some others are harder, but may get cut less easily. Graininess varies with ambient temperature and who is applying the liner. Some shops are stingier than others on the material which is after all their major cost. Some also do a nicer, cleaner job than others. Therefore, part of picking your vendor involves looking at their work on other trucks.



I am fully in agreement with the excellent advice above. Drop in liners are just a good way to de-paint and rust your bed. They squirm too much with wind, etc. The spray in, if applied right, sticks like you wouldn't believe. Resale value of your truck goes up at least $200 usually if it has a permanent, spray in liner.



I live in the desert southwest where uv light is plentiful via sunshine way over 300 days per year. All colors can discolor or chalk. Black chalks and dulls, white yellows, etc. Next time I believe gray may be the best compromise at least for a truck color that is compatible with that color.

 

[gonzo2]

I had an Armaguard ( I think they are called Ameriguard in the States) Spray liner on my '98, traded it in last week and it still looked and worked great. I don't know if it helped my trade in but the dealer had the truck out the door the same day!



I plan on using the same product on my new '03. Last truck I went with black but I may color match this time.



I had Westin nerf bars on it as well (no complaints). Haven't decided yet if I will do the same again. Leaning toward the Kodiak Electric steps.

 

[Grunt]

I have had drop in liners which have wore the paint off the bed.

Tried Herculiner paint on bedliner in my '98... it was rough on the knees if I had to kneel on it. Also faded/wore off pretty fast.

Have Bullhide on the bed of my '03 (easy on the old knees) with Line-x on the rail caps (smoother finish). Am very happy with both.



Both my brother and I had polished SS three step nerf bars by "Willmore" installed on our pickups. . his is long bed, mine is short bed. We both are extremely happy with the bars.

 

[y-knot]

Some people like drop-in liners, but I am not one of them. Like some posters before me stated, they rub off the paint, hold water, leaves and dirt. The most frustrating thing is everything you put in the back slides around, then there is the static charge they build up, and the possibility of an explosion when filling gas cans that are on the bed! The spray in liners are fool-proof, mine has been in for several years and if has worn well. Only complaint is I got a grey liner to match the interior, it has held up as far as color goes, but I have gotten some black marks on it that will not come off. Also the spray liners are about 1/4" thick, and they do provide some nice noise dampining. On the nurf bars I would suggest WESTEN or any stainless steel bar. I have had good luck with westen and there chrome nurfs, this seems to be the exception. I have had many other, with HOOKER being the worst. Rusted out in a year in a half, and until the last month or two, it was all on the inside.

 

[Ramafid]

Spray in liner is the way to go. I had a drop in and after 18 mos there wasn't much paint left. I have a LINE-X and love it. The person doing the work makes all of the difference between having a good liner and a not so good one. Check around to find out who does the best prep and spray work. You won't be sorry.

 

[PJensen]

Different brands of spray in liners all the same?

I have been pricing the spray in liners.



Line X is at $475 and they are farther away from my home.



Speedliner is $420 they are the closest to my home.



I had a Bedrock liner in my 96 and I have to ring him and get a quote from him.



My truck is Bright Silver Metallic so I can go with a Gray or Black liner.





Here is a link to a company that sells a product to help bring that black color back to your spray or drop in liner.



I hope its okay to post links here if not just delete it.



http://www.pinnaclewest.net/Merchan...e=PWE&Product_Code=50.316.01&Category_Code=CH

 

[Bertram65]

I just have a heavy rubber mat in the bed, I figure if the bed gets beat up I'll have it spayed with one on liners then. As for the nerf bars I have Westin platinum series, they are black powder coated stainless steel, they also have chrome plated stainless steel lifetime warrantee on the finish, they installed pretty easily, you do not have to drill any holes, they use two of the body mount bolts and then have brackets that lock into two of the existing holes in the backside of the rock panel. So far they seem pretty good.

 

[PJensen]

For now Im getting a heavy rubber mat 3/8" to put in the truck when I haul stuff, not too often.



Ill be checking out some spray in liners and see who does the best work around my home. Seems that there are variances in liner quality depending on the installer. Then I can toss the rubber liner over that to boot.



Westin bars, LRV rubber liner, Husky floor mats and Husky moulded mud flaps will be in Thursday afternoon.



From other posts with the paint chipping problem I figured buy the flaps and save some paint.



Thanks for the input Ill have to attend the next GLTDR event and see some spray in liners to choose from.

 

[fkovalski]

The good thing about drop- in liners is that you can usually get one for free.