need to deal with the bed

[cali_surfer]

This post isn't really for me, but my father just bought a new truck a couple weeks ago. He wants to get a bedliner for it, but he's unsure what type to go with .... but doesn't want to use one of the poly slip in bedliners. What has everyone tried? Likes? Dislikes? What products should be avoided? He called the Line-X here in town and they quoted him 400ish for an over-the-rail job. The truck is a F@rd Ranger....... he's almost 50 and still hasn't wised up yet If he opts for something over than Line-X, he wants me to prep/install it because I'm pretty good when it comes to bodywork type stuff. Anyway, responses would really be appreciated. Thanks!

[greasemonkey]

My Speedliner over the rail was about that price and they did all the prep work. I like it, but mine is a daily driver that occassionally sees some hauling. It works great and still looks new after several months.

[Seke69]

yep Rhino lining is about $350-400 for chev S-10... tough as all hell, and increase the value of the truck. it's great for moving small things like coolers and whatnot 'cause they don't slip all over the place. if you're standing in the bed, and it's raining you still have traction. unfortunately if you have something heavy, like an engine sitting on a tire, you can't slide it to move it.

If you have the gear, it's pretty easy to do yourself, and since it's textured it's pretty hard to screw up.

clean it, scuff it with a gray scrubbie, wipe it down, wire tape, mask, spray...

[nightmare]

the spray in bedliners are better than anything else out there. i wouldn't have anything else in mine. i think it is well worth the $400 to have them installed. they do the prep work too.

[cali_surfer]

Has anyone heard of Zolatone ?? They sell it at my local autobody supplier. They have different color chips and it looks pretty tough. Anyone ever use it?

See, when he came to me and said he wanted to do something about the bed the first thing out of my mouth was Line-X. But he's a cheap SOB and is trying to find a cheaper alternative, if one even exists.

[landon4421]

I would say Line-x. I have a friend of mine that works for line-x and he dose really good work. I had my wifes 71 sprayed like two years ago and I am still happy with the line-x. Line-x can also do differant colors. But it will cost you a little more. But if he is a cheap-o then get one of thouse drop in liners and let the bed rust. You can also tell him that the selling price for a truck with line -x is going to be higher than one with out. thats my 02, Landon

[XXL]

Originally posted by cali_surfer
Has anyone heard of Zolatone ??

Zolatone will give you the texture but it won't hold up quite as well as the Line-X or other bed liner products. Zolatone is what you find sprayed in older trunks... that speckled semi-textured stuff. I've used it before. It's easy to spray and fairly inexpensive, but I wouldn't use it on a bed.

[John Fabris]

I would not waste time prepping the bed, as the Line-X dealer will do that anyway. That is part of the service as if they don't prep it, the warrenty would be void. Let them do the work.