Line-X vs __________

[EUREKA]

About to have my bed done and I've been "researching" quite a lot. My impression is that professionally applied bed liners, like Line-X or Rhino Liner, are FAR more durable and add FAR more resistance to dents and scratches than do-it-yourself products like Raptor Liner (although raptor liner seem to be significantly superior to products like herculiner which I've had bad experiences with)

 

If cost is not a concern, what is the best truck bed liner?

[ghetdjc320]

I’ve had rhino and bullet liner installed professionally and both failed by bubbling and delaminating. The pro level stuff is definitely the thickest and therefore the most dent/scratch resistant but I have yet to see a shop properly prep and old pickup bed for it. A tiny it if moisture will wick it’s way under the material and start working it loose. You can then pull it off in sheets. I couldn’t believe it myself but I was able to remove the entire tailgate liner in one continuous piece. Since then I’ve been prepping the beds and parts myself and have had far superior results. The 2 part liners I’ve used (Raptor and Hippo Liner) both have a much harder surface and form a much stronger chemical bond. They will not prevent dents as well since they aren’t thick and rubbery like Rhino or Bullet though. Imo the 2 part diy systems look a heck of a lot better if you spray them out yourself. 

[dante2]

Monstaliner is another diy bed liner with an orange peel texture. They have quite a few colors so you might be able to get close to your color. It's all in the prep if you don't do the prep none of them will stick good. I did the YJ back in late 2015 and still looks good. It's been out in the Oklahoma sun 6+ years now. In contrast the flares used to match the black on the door.

[87MJTIM]

Rhino liner - chipping and pealing after just a few months.

 

If I were to do it again, I would look for a different liner.

[ghetdjc320]

Iirc, a pro bedliner shop once told me that they get their product in big drums and heat it up to shoot it out. If there is no hardener element that makes a huge difference. 

[Parei_doll_ia]

I like Monstaliner. I agree that it's 2-part or nothing, and prep is everything. I sanded all of the base coat down with 120 grit, wiped the whole truck down with MEK and tack cloths, rolled on their 2 part epoxy primer, then the next day did the blue, then gray, then the bed. You have to have a rough, clean surface to get anything to stick. The hardest spots to get to are going to be where a failure starts. I spent probably 2+ weeks prepping and 3-4 days painting.

 

Ignore the Grom, this is just the 1st picture I have.

 

 

Close up behind these abs sensor plugs I made a while back.

[EUREKA]

My local bed liner shop does warranty their work, and they use a heated, two-part polyurethane. I definitely want dent resistance as my bed is going to see rough treatment.

On the other hand, I see you guys have gotten excellent results from do-it-yourself brands with proper prep.

 

Might end up coming down to how much free time vs cash I have when I'm ready to pull the trigger.

[Pete M]

try not to plug up the drain holes.   

[EUREKA]

1 hour ago, Pete M said:

try not to plug up the drain holes.   

I will, thank you for that tip!

[Pete M]

I'm talking about the tiny ones at the very front, not the big ones with plugs.    unless you really need the big ones for something.