Drop in bed liners?

[StrokinRat]

Sounds like Staggerd86 and i had the same idea. My bed looked bad. No rust but the fenders were beat to hell so i went the cheap way and put a under rail drop in. I got a new tailgate so i just painted it the same color of the truck instead of going with the plastic tailgate cover. I went to a trucks parts dealer locally and got them to order mine.

[Dranoman]

Thanks for the input reading the above comments about bed liners and spray-ins. I am doing/paying on the restoration of a 1967 C-10 long bed and we purchased a used replacement bed. The sides are good (but replaced the side under cab window & tailgate), but the metal floor has quite a bit of rust holes. I have decided to retire the truck from a utility work vehicle (the money I am spending has brought me to this decision. It is not ridiculous, will have spent $7000 - $8000) and bought a 1978 C-10 long bed to now haul mulch, appliances, riding mowers used in rental housing business for $1,100. Soooo, not sure which way to go with the floor of the '67 C-10. I wanted to paint the floor and keep it as close to original look as possible. Thought the "Bed Mat" only would be a good option and painting the inside sides. Suggestions and best "bed mat" sources? Thanks to all! Novice at this-John
PS:How much interest is there as a "classic" is the replacement '78 C-10 long bed truck?

[tucsonjwt]

If by Bed Mat you mean just covering the floor, I got a used heavy floor liner (like LMC sells) for $45 at the local pick and pull. I also got a drop in Pendaliner off CL for $40. So, I will install the rubber bed mat to cover the numerous dents from hauling rock, then cover it with the drop in liner.

Some have recommended spay lining the bed and rails, then putting in a drop in liner over it. Sounds like the best of both worlds to me.

[Oldriginal86]

Have plastic drop in liners in two of my trucks and a bed mat in the '86. They both have molded in slots to put a piece of wood to keep things from sliding around. If the next owner of the trucks want to go back to a nice painted bed they can with a little rust repair and paint. Once the spray in liner is installed, there is no going back. I think your making a good choice. IMHO.

[Dranoman]

Hey Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback. The '78 C-10 I just bought has a spray coating in it and it looks real rough. I like the idea of the bed mat and then the liner on top so that down the road I can or someone else can replace the metal floor with a new or good used sheet and repaint. Like I said, this is all new to me and I am having a guy lead me, but he recommends the spray treatment and I am not in love with that approach. If I can reshuffle and clear out my garage, the truck will stay inside. At worst case I will build a "lean to" carport off the garage and keep in out of most of the weather that way.
Thanks, Dranoman

[Keith Seymore]

I have a factory bedmat in mine (since new) and painted the sides of the box with rustoleum (approx $6.00 expense). I figured for what Linex costs I can repaint the box several dozen times as needed.

Also - I've heard some guys say they use rubber mats from a TSC store. The actual use is for horses (or people) to stand on but can be cut down to fit the box and work nicely for this purpose.

K

[meatwagon83]

when i bought my truck it had a drop in liner and it left that day, you can see where it has rubbed the paint off the inside of the bed, and as has been said before i couldnt give the thing away, so i cut it into pieces and threw it in an open top down the street

[Dranoman]

Thanks Keith for the suggestion. I will look into the mat from TSC. Yours looks great!
Dranoman

[Jeepwm69]

I just always figured on getting a drop in plastic liner (under the rail) and then putting the rubber mat I have now on top of it to keep things from sliding around.

Keith, is that Rustoleum bedliner? I got some Duplicolor bedliner at Walmart that I painted my rear bumper on my Jeep with, and it didn't hold up very well at all.

[Keith Seymore]

No - just regular Rustoleum paint (semi-gloss).

K

[chevymadness]

Meh I would linex spray by bed but I'm probably going to throw some heavy duty rubber 2 inch mats that are from a tractor supply store lol I don't like the modern look for a 82.

[Gmc-76]

Too bad were so far apart...I have the plastic bedliner in pretty good shape, that I just pulled out of my 85'...and I would let you have it

[James McClure]

I did a body off restore a few years back and had the fellow who painted it for me spray the entire bottom of the truck, inside the bed and a narrow strip at the bottom all the way around the visable sheet metal on the outside. It has stood up well. I took the bed liner that was it it before and threw it back in over the spray in for extra protection. There are pictures in here someplace of what it looks like.

[GCncsuHD]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Also - I've heard some guys say they use rubber mats from a TSC store. The actual use is for horses (or people) to stand on but can be cut down to fit the box and work nicely for this purpose.

K

Keith, TSC does sell the horse mats, and they do work, but they also sell DeeZee brand custom fit mats for our trucks.

I bought two there a couple years back, one for my 78 and one for my 2000 F250.

I don't have any current pictures though, but it is custom fit with the fender openings etc. in the right place.

[chevymadness]

Originally Posted by James McClure

I did a body off restore a few years back and had the fellow who painted it for me spray the entire bottom of the truck, inside the bed and a narrow strip at the bottom all the way around the visable sheet metal on the outside. It has stood up well. I took the bed liner that was it it before and threw it back in over the spray in for extra protection. There are pictures in here someplace of what it looks like.

Yea my painter sprayed down my truck bed Aswell (no clear coat of course)not underneath the truck tho and I Highly recommend it.It protects against conditions and is just overall great it's stood up well for 3 years.