Just did the DIY spray in bed liner...

[mt Al]

After waiting way too long, finally put in a spray in bed liner.

Cost:
Soda blast bed: $50 (he's a friend of mine)
Spray gun: $70
Spray in stuff: $95 (I'll explain below)
Masking stuff: $20
Total: $235 (not including time)

Went with the DupliColor stuff from Checker Auto. Having never spray painted anything (other than vandelism when younger) I was pretty concerned with how it would turn out.

The soda blasted bed was free of most of the rust and all of the paint. Got out the gun and initially purchased one gallon and another pint of the goo ($40 + $15). Maybe it was the psi settings, but it seemed to go on pretty slow. I've got a tiny "I wanna look like a real man" Dewalt air compressor that was working like a rented mule the whole time. It was very tough to get it on even at first and it basically looked like crap after the first coat. Used up the whole gallon and pint and it was pretty thin in some areas. IF YOU USE THIS STUFF (and you really use your truck), BUY TWO GALLONS, at least. Went back and got another gallon ($40) and evened out the thickness in some areas and spent most of the time making it look even/consistant, etc. with the rest. I had to step back and take a look at the finish at a few angles to find out where it was thin and tried to spray it in a circular/zig zag pattern to even it out. The biggest mistake I made was spraying it from too far away, since I think it partially cures on the trip from the nozzle to the bed and doesn't stick as well.

I found that the DupliColor stuff looks great, but is not "rubbery" enough to me. Its pretty hard and inflexible. Perhaps its because I put in on incorrectly, but I was expecting something more flexible.

The finished product looks really nice, especially after putting on some smooth (non diamond plate) tail gate and bed rail caps. If I didn't spend the extra time and money to even out the finish, it would have looked like crud.

In retrospect, it looks nice, but I'd consider paying someone the extra $150 - $200 or so for a professional job that would most likely be thicker. However, I've got a gun now and can start spraying that stuff all over creation, and the next bed will only be $145 in soda blasting and DupliColor.

Anyone else tried it recently?

[Yukon Jack]

Haven't tried it but good to hear your experience and thoughts on it.

[Dutch]

I've been checking the dupli-color stuff out. I was interested to hear someone else's experience with it.

What kind of gun did you use to apply it? Just a regular paint Gun? Different nozzles, etc?

I've got a paint gun and lots of air, but I figured it would take a special gun, more like an undercoat sprayer.

I was contemplating rolling it on to get a little texture (and keep the overspray off from everything else in the barn )

[Smooth68]

I've tried both and I prefer the Herculiner brand over the Dupli-color. I priced a Rino liner here locally and it was $375.00 for black. Anybody who seriously uses their truck bed for hauling needs to spend the little extra and get the real stuff - JMO

[smitty62]

A word to the wise---don't use Herculon. It does not tolerate sunlight well at all. Within 3 summer months it looks like crap. I called the company and they admitted their shortcomings and sent me a can of "topcoat"----again, it didn't look too bad when recoated, but faded rapidly. Suspect Dupli-color the same. In short, pay the extra money for Line-x or Rhino and GET THE WARRANTY IN WRITING!

[Shane]

I bought a kit from these guys ... www.rattleguard.com ... and am EXTREMELY satisfied with the results. It looks and feels as good, if not better, than some of the high-dollar places (Line-X, Rhino Liner, etc....).

Bought my kit from them off eBay and it uses a standard undercoating gun (approx. $20-$25) that can be bought at most local auto supply stores. These kits are also tintable to most any color.

Here is a link to one of their current auctions
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1869470811

[Brad]

I've rolled mine in and didn't get any brush marks. Looks good, but I don't use my bed much at all, and I have a tonneu cover.

[landon4421]

Had both my '71 C10, and my '72 trailer beds with line-x. Only payed $600.00 Had the truck done about 2 years ago, and the trailer about 1 year ago. They still look like he did it yesterday.I would say that this is anyones best bet. It was worth the money. Planing on having my '72 4x4 cab done some time next year.

[mt Al]

Dutch, the gun has a 1/4" nozzle and I'm almost sure its just an undercoating gun. Sounds like I overpaid for it

I agree with Prost68trk, landon4421 and Smitty62, if you use your truck pay the full amount and get the warranty in writing. I'm glad I tried it and it looks great, but I usually tend to waste a lot of money trying to save money and have never been dissapointed when paying a few hundred extra for a job that will last for years.