pickup truck options

bfullmer · Sep 22, 2014

A truck is your main tool right?? I just got a new truck and need recommendations for steps--bed liners and tonneau covers--spray in bed liner is too costly $ 650 around here. It is a regular cab 8 ft box

glennster · Sep 22, 2014

I have a line-x liner in my truck . Spray on, have 180k miles on it holds up very well.

Tom from Buckeye Lake · Sep 22, 2014

You'll get many answers on this one

I vote for Tonno-Pro bed cover. They fold towards the cab in three sections. On and off in a couple minutes. My truck had the snap type and try as you might, it wouldn't snap during Ohio winters.

Mike (WA) · Sep 22, 2014

DON'T get one of those premade plastic liners that drop in. They neatly trap the water between the bed and the liner, and will rust out your bed in short order. Better no liner at all than one of those.

I'd get a cap (canopy), seal it up good, and forget the liner.

Ellis Kinney · Sep 22, 2014

You can buy 2 quarts of spray in bed liner and roll it in yourself. It doesn't look quite as nice as the factory job, but it does just as good. A good friend of mine negotiated with the dealer to spray his bed as part of the purchase price. Ellis

Ron-MO · Sep 22, 2014

I agree, either get a good spray in liner, good rubber mat, or none at all in that order. I have had 3 "rhino" type liners, and if you shop around and make sure to get a good thick coating (there is a thinner one that will flake off). The one I currently have in my truck is basically the same material as the original Rhino liner, but he left the franchise, and just buys barrels of the material and sprays in. They are pricey, but if you plan on having the truck a long time, it is a good investment. I had mine sprayed under the rails, then added the rail caps to protect the top of the bed rails, and makes a cleaner look as well. As for steps, go stainless, as I have seen too many of the painted or chromed steel steps rotted off the truck after a few years. I believe Lund makes a good aluminum step as well that some oem mfg sell for a lot more $$. No idea on the tonneau covers, but I have considered one as well. Just my opinion and experiences.

Gchase24 · Sep 22, 2014

I had both. Rhino liner sprayed in my prior pickup bed.Yes it was tough as nails.The only drawback was things slide around if not tied or strapped. I went back to a simple rubber bed mat and I'm pleased .Check out a Roll and Lock cover not sure maybe Roll N Lock. Aluminum and lockable.They have electrical operated or manual. Bought the manual. Love mine.

ss55 · Sep 22, 2014

Those thick rubber bed mats work well for me. When I trade trucks I keep them. They get a long second life as an anti-fatigue mat in front of a work bench.

chuck t · Sep 22, 2014

(quoted from post at 16:34:36 09/22/14) DON'T get one of those premade plastic liners that drop in. They neatly trap the water between the bed and the liner, and will rust out your bed in short order. Better no liner at all than one of those.

I'd get a cap (canopy), seal it up good, and forget the liner.

I have heard this for years. I have had 3 trucks with drop in bed liners; a 10, a 15 and another 15 year old trucks. I have not seen this rust problem. Have you ever personally seen this? I don't get it, they work fine. The spray in liners get dented and cut up

C.R. · Sep 22, 2014

My 2 cents worth, I have a rubber mat and a good fiberglass topper ,With ladder racks. Pros truck stays clean, easy access to the inside of the box . lockable ,makes a good camper, equipment inside topper stays dry and out of sight,dogs are contained but not in cab,long stuff can get strapped to the racks. Cons its hard to haul really BIG stuff like refridgerators and freezers and big upright compressors or pianoes,but thats why we have trailers.

MarkB_MI · Sep 23, 2014

I prefer the rubber mat. Stuff doesn't slide around, and it's easy to remove when washing out the bed. I hate plastic bed liners: stuff slides around and rocks get stuck in the grooves.

Fawteen · Sep 23, 2014

Another vote for the rubber mat. And yes, I HAVE had the drop in plastic liners and yes, I HAVE had the paint rubbed off and the bare metal rust. And yes, I HAVE had problems with stuff sliding around. Never again.

Haven't tried the spray in liner due to the expense.

I had one truck (an '88 Dodge Dakota) with the topper and it was some handy for protecting stuff, but limited what you could get in the bed and taking it off frequently was really not an option.

Currently, I have a '13 Tundra with a rubber mat and a folding hard tonneau. Best of both worlds: Dry storage for stuff that fits below the bed rails, folds out of the way (only covers about 3-4 inches at the very front of the bed when folded up) for carrying large stuff.

And, with the tailgate locked, it's relatively secure storage as well, as you have to open the tailgate to unlatch the top.

smallercrawler · Sep 23, 2014

I use a plastic, over the rails, drop in liner (BTW-never had a bed rust out) with a factory rubber mat from a previous truck on top of it. If I want "slide", I push the rubber under the tool box; if I don't, I just pull out the mat. Actually stumbled on this scheme when previous truck was wrecked and I needed a place to store the now surplus, relatively high $$, factory bed mat.

rustyfarmall · Sep 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 16:29:55 09/22/14) You'll get many answers on this one

I vote for Tonno-Pro bed cover. They fold towards the cab in three sections. On and off in a couple minutes. My truck had the snap type and try as you might, it wouldn't snap during Ohio winters.

DO NOT get the Tonno-pro. I had one. Never did like how it fluttered while driving, but that problem was solved when the cover exited stage left while on the road when a stiff breeze hit it. Broke everyone of those plastic cross beams.

AlanA · Sep 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 00:19:28 09/23/14) A truck is your main tool right?? I just got a new truck and need recommendations for steps--bed liners and tonneau covers--spray in bed liner is too costly $ 650 around here. It is a regular cab 8 ft box

Saw a Dodge here in N. Texas that the owner had gotten tire of Mesquite thorns trashing the paint after 3 weeks. He had THE ENTIRE TRUCK done w/ Rhino bed liner. Looked wicked, and laughed at scratchy things.

Alan

D beatty · Sep 23, 2014

For bed covers I would stay away from the one piece fiberglass that hinge on front of box.If you want to haul anything large you have to take it off truck and they are heavy to handle. The vinyl covers that snap all the way around the top of box are nice until the first time you have to roll it in cold weather.They are almost impossible to get snapped back on after taking off. As for steeps there are a lot of differant styles of steps out there. I have used Bulley steps on my 4x4 but they don't stand up to road salt very well.

Bill in IL · Sep 23, 2014

I like the hard plastic bedliners cause things do slide. Yes i have to strap things down but I can load and unload a lot of stuff by myself that I would not be able to move with no slippery plastic liner.

If you are going to put in the herculier DIY stuff it is a good product. I did the bed of my gator with it. Good surface prep is important make sure you scuff it well more than just the provided scuff pad. When they say a gallon and a quart to cover a full sized bed, they mean one thin coat it takes 3 coats in my opinion to get good coverage. When you figure 4 gallons of stuff and your labor you could have rhino liner sprayed in for not much more.

NNP · Sep 23, 2014

most of the newer trucks I've had, had the plastic drop-in liner.
The rubber bedmat that I've owned for a dozen trucks gets put in over it for the best of both worlds.
Also, handy for a quick and dirty load holder, or rain shield, or 'out of sight' load.
shove it under the rubber mat. It will slide easily under on the plastic.

pete 23 · Sep 23, 2014

Almost everyone around here has the rollup cover with Velcro along the side. I have it on now for 7 years. The Velcro is starting to not hang on as good but it gets rolled up almost every day and most days several times as all my tools are in bed. Also is wearing through where it covers the rails and the heavy black duck tape works pretty good. Heavy rubber mat on bottom. It had a plastic liner when I bought the truck and it now is a warped up ornament in the barn.

mkirsch · Sep 23, 2014

(quoted from post at 20:50:49 09/22/14) Those thick rubber bed mats work well for me. When I trade trucks I keep them. They get a long second life as an anti-fatigue mat in front of a work bench.

Wasteful. Mine is on its fourth truck. Started out in an '88 Chevy 2500 longbed, moved to a '97 Chevy 1500 shortbed (folded over up front), then to an '03 Chevy 1500 (still folded over), and currently to an '02 Chevy 3500 longbed.

timcasbolt · Sep 23, 2014

I like Power Step Running Boards from Amp Research. They are a much better quality than any others I've seen. For a tonneau cover, it's hard to go wrong with Extang. I've had a full tilt for 9 years, and it's getting old, but still pretty good.

redforlife · Sep 23, 2014

I like the step rails instead of the running board. The boards catch alot of dirt and hard to get it washed off of there. Better yet, if its not real high, I don't put them on at all. Only if needed and not just for looks to doll it up. As far as the bed goes, I do not do the spray in stuff. If you trade it off, the next owner might not want it - decreasing value and desireability of the vehicle. I would have to be another voter for the rubber mat.

ss55 · Sep 24, 2014

Maybe, but I like the extra anti-fatigue mats, and this way the new mats actually fit the new pickups. At $50-$75 new they are less than a tank of gas for the pickup and a drop in a bucket compared to the cost of a real anti-fatigue mat or the cost of trading pickups. Used bed mats still bring $15 at the local auction.

mj · Sep 24, 2014

(quoted from post at 03:30:26 09/23/14) I prefer the rubber mat. Stuff doesn't slide around, and it's easy to remove when washing out the bed. I hate plastic bed liners: stuff slides around and rocks get stuck in the grooves.

I agree with all of that 8)

D beatty · Sep 24, 2014

I have one of those covers that snap all the way around and if its below 60 degrees its hard to snap back on and 30s and below its imposible to get all of them to snap. It has been a good cover as for holding up. It was put on truck when new and the truck is a 1997 model.

VADAVE · Sep 25, 2014

Had a plastic drop in bed-liner; traps moisture and makes the bed rust faster.
Tonneau covers and caps are great for looks but limit how you put stuff in the bed and what trailer you can pull. As I write my 2500 sits out side hooked to a gooseneck flatbed--can't do that with a cover of any kind on the bed.
I also have running boards which I extended any other further out. That makes them much easier to stand on when entering the cab or putting stuff in the bed from the side.
A frame attached trailer hitch receiver is a must for a truck.
Just my 2 cents.

Eastsider · Sep 25, 2014

I have had three trucks with the spray in liner....I would never get anything else! The one drop in liner I had was slicker than snot...a rubber mat is decent, but the dented fender wells look like crap and reduce your resale value...the spray in liner is an investment that you get back on a trade or resale.
I also keep a "topper" or as some call it a camper shell on it at all times...protects everything, and if I REALLY need to haul something tall or that needs a shovel, I just hook up the convenient 5x10 trailer I have. As for steps, I really like the tubular style...easy bolt on and very sturdy. Get good splashguards for the wheel wells, and a hood protector...not really a bug shield.

pickup truck options

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Similar threads