2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Paint Warranty

[srenfro]

When I bought my 02 I asked the salesperson if I could get this truck built in the Fenton plant outside St. Louis. She said that they did not build the 3/4 there and that in all probability it would be built in Mexico. No problem I said, less or no pollution restrictions which means a better quality paint. I talked the dealer into putting a bed liner in it on delivery, however it is not a factory Dodge liner but a Penda.



I'm pretty sure Penda has a good rep but about 2 months ago one of my part time employees didn't get the hitch on my trailer completely locked down wherein I got a couple nasty gouges in the tailgate. While inspecting the damage I noticed that the over the rail part of the liner had rubbed the paint down to the primer in some spots and the rest of it was scuffed badly.



I took it to the dealer and got an estimate on the tailgate and asked about the bed rail. The Body shop guy said "well that'll buff out. " I then showed him where it had gone to the primer. His reply; "the manager isn't in today, I'll have him call you tomorrow. " Well that was 2 weeks ago.



Now I know what your goin to say; "why haven't you called him back," simple, haven't had the time. It would seem to me that the company the dealer contracted with would of had enough sense to put those protectective strip's on the rails to keep the scuffing and the wear from happeneing.



So, who's responsible, the dealer or the company they had put in the liner or am I SOL. Thought I'd post this and see what you all think so I know what kind of response I'll get Monday when I call them.



Sorry about being so long winded.

 

[KMeek]

God only knows the responsibility could not be yours! It has to be someone elses--after all that is the American way. Is there really anyone out there that thinks this is someone elses responsibility? Doesn't everybody know that is the problem with drop in bedliners?

 

[srenfro]

Hmmm, maybe responsible wasn't the right word. However I had 2 Dodge 1/2 prior to this. The first had a drop in liner and I had it 3 years and it was nowhere near as bad as this one. My second truck had a protective strip on the top of the rail and it didnt have any scratches.



This post was to get a feel for what anyone thought. I did not post it to get a disertation about "accepting responsibility. " If I'd been the one that had put the liner in the first place and it did that... no problem. But like I said the other two trucks didn't have this happen and I was curious as to what you all thought.

 

[PHX ATC]

My meager personal opinion is that you are SOL. Not what you want to hear, but I think they've got you buy the short hairs in that those liners will rub down to the bare metal in no time flat! It it's not the paint's fault (which it isn't) then the bedliner caused it. Look into your warranty book and see what it says. I can't remember reading anything about it, but I do know that when I put mine in (under the rail) I knew it was all over and never planned to look underneath it. Same thing when I installed my camper - it's never coming off!



Toby

 

[Tulsa618]

Man, I'm sorry as he** about your experience. I learned [something special] by my own experience with a bedliner installation applied by Dodge



All I can say is I hope you have as great fortune as I've had with my dealer (Melton's in Claremore, OK). My Dodge "splash guards" - that I installed my self, but purchased with the truck - wore right through the paint to bare metal on all four corners. Melton's had a top-rate repaint applied all aournd recently - 35. 9 months and 41K miles into the warranty - no questions asked!



Liners might be a bit more tricky. My own recommendation (that could probably differ with much more experienced folks than me - whom I deeply respect,) is to pull that sucker out, buff it seriously and have a good spray-in applied. (My favorite is Line-X. )



BTW, don't be so concerned about being long-winded. If you look at my own posts, you might wonder how anyone could stay awake long enough to read them - much less reply!

 

[Wiredawg]

Lose the bed liner!

SRenfro:



I would lose the bedliner and either get Rhino Liner (or one of the other spray in liners) or a bed mat. The drop in bedliner will scuff, rub and scratch paint surfaces it comes in contact with. Over the rail bedliners are the worst as they ruin the paint on the outside as well as in the bed of the truck.



Take care and good luck,



Wiredawg

 

[EShaw]

Srenfro,



Dude... ..... you are very SOL... ..... if you must have a drop in bed liner it should always be under the rail... ... . put the Mopar bed rail protectors on for rail protection... ..... Of course the bedliner will rub the paint right down to bare metal... ..... heck it'll even rub through the metal if allowed enough time... ..... (my Dads Ford did)... ... . Suck it up... ... . have a spray in liner applied... ... Drop in bed liners are kinda like sendin' a boy to do a mans job anyway.

This isn't a flame just my opinion based on 18 years of automotive aftermarket experience.

Eric

 

[srenfro]

Looks like tomorrow I'll take out the liner and put it in the thrifty nickel and sell it.



Got a buddy whos friend owns a spray in liner biz, think I'll buff the rails down and have one sprayed in.



Thanks for the input.

 

[DavidC]

On a positive note the prep work for a spray in liner is at least partially done. Take it to linex,rhino or whoever you choose and they will cover up the damage including the tailgate portion.