Picked up my truck today, 2003 2500HD D/A ext. cab with std bed, and now it's time for some additions. I won't be using the truck for real heavy loading, mostly yard stuff and towing a travel trailer. I've seen the thread on spray on liners but am looking for some pros and cons on an insert type liner vs the spray ons.

Thanks,

Well once you spray the liner on it is there. The biggest disadvantages to the insert type of liner is it will wear the paint on the bottom of the truck and you could rip it. If you go with and insert look at the Penda SR. A very good insert but as with all inserts I would get them under the rail. If going with spray in then the choice of under or over the rail is purely up to you.

Drop in pros:

Strong
Inexpensive
easy to install

Drop in cons:

Warps
rattles
rubs paint
slippery
one color

Sprayin pros:

Excelent rust protection
strong
many colors to choose from
grips cargo
helps resale value
wont warp
lifetime warrenty

Spray in cons:

Twice as expensive as drop ins
permanent
not as strong as the drop ins

My 02 came with a factory installed GMC bedliner. I bought the truck used and it now has 32,000 miles on it. I took the liner out last week and was surprised to find the paint in great condition. I had a drop-in in an S-10 once for a few months and it wore the paint down to the metal. Not the case in the 02. There are about 3 spots where the paint is wore to a dull haze but not through. I was so happy I left it out. Now I just gotta get rid of it - anyone looking for one? It is taking up too much space in the garage.

Spray in definitely...I've had both and would never go back to a drop in.

I vote for spray-in as well.

I just got my truck sprayed by the local Line-X dealer today. It looks great and, while it's a little expensive, it's very durable.

Had my plastic drop in removed and Line-X sprayed on about 4 months ago - best money I've spent on the truck so far. I'm rough on the bed of p/u's & this stuff is holding up so far. Good luck with your decission.

Spray in definitely...I've had both and would never go back to a drop in.

I whole heartedly agree with this statement... Also besides the pros that have been mentioned for the spray in liners.. it also does NOT void your OEM paint warranty.

The drop in liners are also slippery, things will move around a lot. Its nice when you are loading because you can move it around easily, but when you tie things down and they end up moving its no fun finding dents behind that drop in liner.

I purchased a yard of gravel for my backyard when I had a drop in liner.. it took me a few hours just to get the rocks out from under the liner or they would eventually scratch and wear the paint down. Had to remove it half way, clean it out, then put it back. PITA

Spray in all the way. I personally like and chose Rhino, but there are a few others that are popular as well.

Having owned trucks since 1987 with drop ins and in 2002 the first truck I have had with a LINE-X spray in there is no way I would ever go back to a drop in........

Totally 100% without a doubt better.........

No worries...........just abuse the surface and it is as tough as concrete.

T:cool: NY

My vote is for spray-in. I've had both rhino and line-x and I like the line-x alot better. Something to keep in mind if you get a color is that they all fade. The line-x doesn't seem to be fading as much but it is too early to tell how it will hold up.

Another vote for sprayin

just food for thought here... i have a rubber mat on the floor of my truck, have been doing this since my fist truck. they are cheap and they keep stuff from sliding around, easy to take out to clean under, they are tough as nails too. i also have a flap cut in the middle for the gooseneck ball to come up through, when the ball is down, the flap covers it up an you cant tell its there.

I have had 3 Rhino's. Spray in only for me.

Get the line-x. Ive had Rhino, Line-X, and drop ins. The drop ins will wear paint and scratch the $hit out of your bed. The line-x seems to hold up to cuts an is a tougher material, it also looks awesome.

The only advantage to drop ins are that they are cheap and a little more dent resistant.

You might also consider a do-it-yourself spray/roll-on liner. I've used the Herculiner kit on my last two pickups, and it's reasonably good. As always, doing good prep-work is what matters. The first time I did it, I hadn't roughed the paint up enough and it never adhered right (had little flecks of the paint color showing through it in places). But I wised up the second time & it's worked great and held up well. One down-side, though, is that it's tough to get it to go on as thick as the Line-X or Rhino guys seem to be able to. There's no real warranty either. The big up-side: the kit at full price is like $80, but you can usually get it on sale for $50-60. Pretty cheap.

You've got all the pros and cons. I will just add that if you haul rock or concrete, go with a heavy plastic drop in (like the pendaliner). I had a spray-in in my prev '02 Dodge, and dented the heck out of the bed when we were hauling concrete blocks. My dads with the drop-in liner had no dents. Otherwise, I like spray in.

As for paint issues, I have seen trucks with poor spray ins that rusted under the material also, so they aren't foolproof. My current truck is spray in (Rhino), and I like Line-X better having owned both now.

just food for thought here... i have a rubber mat on the floor of my truck, have been doing this since my fist truck. they are cheap and they keep stuff from sliding around, easy to take out to clean under, they are tough as nails too. i also have a flap cut in the middle for the gooseneck ball to come up through, when the ball is down, the flap covers it up an you cant tell its there.

I went with a spray in plus a bed mat. May sound a little overkill, but I think it is the best of both worlds. Extra cushion on the bottom, sides are protected, flatter surface in case I sleep back there, etc. If you go with a bed mat, make sure to get a good one. I bought mine at a place that sells camper shells for $90. If you buy one at Walmart, they are flimsy and they may get your clothes black every time you crawl back there. I have done this on two trucks now and I love it. Best thing about a floor mat, nothing slides. You can put an Ice chest back there and it stays put.

OCDUNE

Thanks for the responses. It will help a lot in my final decision. A quick question though. The rubber mat sounds like a good idea whether I go with spray or insert. With the spray you still have the chance of dents in the sides, so if I get a good quality rubber bed mat, good rail caps and leave the sides alone, am I really missing much in the way of protection and/or function ?

line x all the way. I liked it so much I had my Johm Deere Gators done! If you are going to use your bed at all Line X is the way to go. I have used Rhino on work vans and now travel twice the distance to a line x dealer.

Last 3 trucks.. RHINO LINING, had drop in once, will never do that again, they warp and rub on the top bed railing. The spay-in stays with the truck, drop in, you might see a few on the shoulder of the freeway every now and again.

my uncle used to install Line X and stop..switched to a company called Scorpion Coatings. He mainly does truck beds, dump beds, snow plows the usual stuff. The cost is about $ 50.00 cheaper depending and the product can be color matched to your truck. Just get the paint code and paint pigment and away you go.

it's nice to have more than just a couple of colors available.

www.scorpioncoatings.com (http://www.scorpioncoatings.com)

just food for thought here... i have a rubber mat on the floor of my truck, have been doing this since my fist truck. they are cheap and they keep stuff from sliding around, easy to take out to clean under, they are tough as nails too. i also have a flap cut in the middle for the gooseneck ball to come up through, when the ball is down, the flap covers it up an you cant tell its there.

Bad thing about drop in's, if you have to cut any holes in for gooseneck or 5th wheel, it's gonna be a PITA to keep clean. Same for the rubber mat, but you CAN take that out to clean underneath, but if you have a 5th hookup, then you gotta take that out too....

Spray in. I also think Line-X is the best option.

Thanks for the responses. It will help a lot in my final decision. A quick question though. The rubber mat sounds like a good idea whether I go with spray or insert. With the spray you still have the chance of dents in the sides, so if I get a good quality rubber bed mat, good rail caps and leave the sides alone, am I really missing much in the way of protection and/or function ?

My last response to you would be if you use your truck like a company vehicle and by say this I mean tossing heavy objects like big rocks, cender blocks, logs, etc... then more than likely the rest of your truck will end being and looking just like you bed. The interior and the sides of the truck. If you do not care about the apperance of your truck than go with the dropin liner. If you care about your truck and or your property then get the liner sprayed over the rail and on the sides inside of the bed and also a bed mat. This great protection and still leave you with a nice looking personal truck.

One more vote for Line-X. Only drawback is that if you spill any oil or gas on it, it leaves a permanent stain. Now I use a thick rubber bedmat on top of the spray-in. Helps with protection AND easy clean-up...