Finished Bed...Now to Color Rhino Lining or Not?

[5150]

Okay got the bed in to day. The guy that bought the Trazer from me works at a big fabricator here in town and cut the steel for me. I also only had 1 cross support left so he made 2 more for me out of some angled steel. Pretty cool to watch the computer cut the steel and drill the holes so they'd line up with the frame.

I used several carriage bolts to hold the bed in place. I decided not to go with welding it in just in case I ever wanted to take it out and wanted it to be easy.

Now the dilemna-Stopped by the Rhino Lining place to make sure I brought enough money and possibly make an appointment. The dilemna arose when I talked about color match. The school gave me a quart of the paint so I could do this. The guy at Rhino told me that the problem is that they mix the paint into the rhino mix and shoot it. They then go back over the rhino with the paint. He told me if I ever want to use the truck then that will be a problem because if I scratch the bed it will show that gray. I don't really plan to use the truck to haul anything, but that scares me if it gets scratched because it will look like crap.



Should I go with the color match (fine metallic silver) or do the traditional black or gray?


And before anybody come on and says that I need to go with Line-X because it's better-I can't because i have enough gift certificates to almost pay for the whole thing.

[68cajun]

I say go for black! If your gonna use it, it will save the bed.

[BubbaGreen]

If it were me, I would do black. Nothing looks better than black & silver together, makes for a super nice contrast.

[nu2-72]

I had not heard of mixing paint with any of the liners. I did not think that the chemicals would mix and cure but I am no expert.
I spoke with Line-X and they tell me that they can mix pigments with the liner to make a match. They do not recommend it however.They tell me that anything but black will oxidize alot. All of the makers advertise colors but none here want to sell it. Armor-Coat, Line-X or Rhino.
I have a buddy with matched Rhino and it looks terrible. He has a green Dodge and the green liner two years ago looks off white now.
I plan to do a match Blue in my truck but I want it that way. My daily truck is black.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Floor ? or the whole inside of the bed ?

If it's just the floor I say go BLACK

[70c10]

If you are not going to use the truck I would use silver paint (not liner coating) to match the body. A painted bed looks way better on a show vehicle! If there is a chance you will use the bed then go with the coating.

[Longhorn Man]

Black, and if you think you MIGHT install the wooden floor later, then just do only the floor and not the walls.

[Palf70Step]

I vote for black also.

[matthufham]

black, or wood but you're past that decision.

[4tiresngas]

Black. When I got mine in my Dodge (daily driver), the dealer recommended against doing color match. It said it would look great initially, but would fade and look like crap later on.

[4tiresngas]

Oh, also, I would just do the floor on the step. That way you can always put it back original if you ever decide to do so. Just my .02

[N2TRUX]

If your not planning on using the bed at all, paint it and put a rubber bed mat down. That looks nice and still allows you to hual an ice chect and lawn chairs to the local cruise spot.
If your dead set on using those gift certificates, go with the standard color of graphite gray. It's darker than your truck, but a lot closer than black. It looks like it would match the darker gray on your seats......

Look here- Rhino Liner

[mocwon]

Black and I'd think twice about Rhino. Toff and Line-X are better since they don't have the tendency to fade to a nasty gray color. At least the ones I've seen over the past few years. Toff is what I'm leaning towards.

[N2TRUX]

I think y'all missed this part.....

Originally Posted by yellow69

...And before anybody come on and says that I need to go with Line-X because it's better-I can't because i have enough gift certificates to almost pay for the whole thing.

[krue]

Go with black is my vote.

[5150]

What ever I choose I will be doing the ENTIRE bed.

N2TRUX-I thought about the seat matching possibilities also.

I seem to be getting a lot of votes on the black. I was worried that it wouldn't look good with the silver, but you guys think that it will.

I'm not going to use the truck to haul anything major but like N2TRUX said I don't want to be paranoid about putting a cooler and some lawn chairs in the back AND have the silver peel off.

[68lwb]

I had mine done in black, and it is so dark that if I don't keep it covered all the dust that settles in the bed looks almost like mud when I wash it if I don't take the time to scrub and hand dry the bed floor also. Definetly color match the bed liner. I am from Indiana, and we by no means get the good stuff here first, but I know Rhino is a good product and they have been color matching here for 10 years. Your truck doesn't look like something you plan to leave sitting in the sun, so fading shouldn't be an issue.

[ACES]

I would color match the bed. Do you just need more paint?

[86swb]

I would go with black. Just make sure you see the quality of workmanship the place does. I have seen some really bad spray jobs and if the bed is in the sun a lot, the black will also fade a little over time. If it was mine, I would go with the wood bed. If someone offered to even pay to have Rhino Liner in mine I would turn them down because I would rather have a better quality liner and that would be Line-X. and pay myself and it would be worth the $$$. JMO

[N2TRUX]

Sorry guys, I'm going to have to disagree with the crowd here. If you are talking about doing the entire inside of the bed, black is going to stand out like a sore thumb. Unlike a fleetside that has a lip of body color on top, a stepside carries the inside color all the way to the top. Your eyes will be drawn to the darker color instantly.

The way I see it you have about four options if you don't have it color matched-

A. Paint the sides and line the floor with gray.
B. Paint the sides and line the floor with black.
C. Line the sides and floor with gray.
D. Paint everything, get a rubber mat, and sell the gift certificates....:meatl:

[70short/step]

I would only do the floor black! Sides need to be silver!

[5150]

What about lining the sides with the silver rhino and then do the floor in black or gray?

Think that would look decent? This way you still see the silver but the floor which is what would take the most beating if I ever do use it for something.

[N2TRUX]

Most trucks I have seen that were color matched looked great at first. After a while the texture of the liner traps dirt and it gets darker looking especially on light colors. On a white truck I had I did gray in the bed. Even though it had a bed cover on it the gray collected dirt and looked darker after a while.

I keep a stack of moving blankets in my garage. When I go to a show in my 77 I tie everything down and protectthe painted sides with the moving blankets. So far it's worked for me....

[corn]

Geeeez Ken, I havent seen a bed that looks that nice in...well NEVER! I was wondering what to do with my step bed for a while now & after seeing that nice painted bed Id have to say Im thinking paint & a bed mat would be the best way to go. Can you buy a mat for a stepper or do you have to get a fleet mat & cut it down?

[86swb]

Hey Ken, would like to see more of that truck. That bed is alsome.