When overlanding, you are looking for truck protection as well as storage capacity. A spray-in bedliner provides the protection needed while also allowing for building out your storage…and sleeping capacity.
The bedliner provides a protective surface for your truck bed. Most trucks come stock with plastic bedliners. The issue is that it is hard to mount decks onto them. Come in the Spray-In Bedliner.
The Spray-In Bedliner is an easy DIY fix to getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to liners.
What Is A Spray-In Bedliner In A Pickup Truck?
A bedliner is a material placed over the bed and sidewalls of the cargo space of a pickup truck. Camping gear such as storage boxes, tents, foldable chairs, and toolboxes are heavy loads. When you get them out of the cargo area, they tend to leave marks on the bed as you drag them. They also create dents and scratches on the sidewalls of the cargo area when you drive through bumpy roads.
Bed liners now come into the picture. Think of them as protective covers for pickup truck beds. They absorb the shock from impacts so that your truck bed is free of scratches and dents. It’s also like a piece of clothing you put on that will make the truck look neat and clean despite changing weather conditions and challenging terrain.
Drop-In Vs. Spray-In Bedliners
Bed liners can either be drop-in or spray-in. Drop-in bedliners are made from plastic and are molded to fit a specific model of truck. They are not as popular for overlanding as they allow for water to leak onto the bed and trap it there for rust to begin. Additionally, plastics are prone to breaking and warping. There are also other bed liners, such as bed rags and bed mats, but the most effective bed liner is the spray in.
A spray-in bed liner is simply a coat for your cargo bed. It’s made from a sprayable substance and can be applied via the use of a spray gun. This process is a simple, yet time-consuming DIY project. Or you can hire this out…I prefer the DIY route. Check out our current build here.
You’re probably aware of underbody coating for cars. Spray-in bedliners work the same as underbody coatings. They are the most expensive and time-consuming. They require preparation, patience, and expertise because you have to evenly coat the surface.
How well you apply the product will determine how well the coating adheres and how well it lasts. Spray-in will never fail you. They are the most effective bed liners among others.
What Does a Bed Liner Do For a Truck Bed?
There may be many kinds of bedliners, but they only serve one purpose, and that is to shield the cargo bed. The bed and sidewalls of your pickup truck’s cargo space are made either from aluminum or stainless steel.
One thing we all know about these materials is that they are prone to rust, scratches, and dents. Once a flaw occurs, it would then be difficult to return the cargo bed to its previously perfect state. UV rays from the heat of the sun can cause the paint on your truck bed to fade. Water and moisture from either rain or snow can cause the metal to rust.
Other pickup truck owners neglect the need for a bedliner because they see it as a luxury and not a need. When the rusting becomes severe and the truck bed becomes greatly damaged, only then will they realize the need for one.
Bedliners are a necessity. It can prolong the life of your truck bed, giving you a tough storage system for years anywhere you go on your overland trip.
Applying a spray-in bedliner is a tedious process. First, you prep the surface, and you do this by scuffing all the painted surfaces. Second, you clean the surface so that the bedliner adheres well to the cargo bed. Finally, you need to evenly coat the surface to create a perfect finish.
After all these efforts, spray-in bedliners promise to give you the best protection for your truck. It coats your truck bed completely. This creates an airtight and watertight seal. These features will protect the bed from moisture, UV rays, heat, and dirt that can potentially damage it.
Are Bed Liners Worth It?
A bedliner is an investment. You invest money and energy in installing it, so it’s not weird to expect something in return. An investment will only be worth it if it gives you benefits. Are spray-in bedliners worth it with the time-consuming scuffing, effortful spraying, and high price?
Despite the not-so-effective drop-in bed lines, are they still worth the purchase? First of all, any protection is better than nothing. Here are the other perks of installing a bedliner on your truck:
Protect Your Cargo From Damage
Do you want a cargo bed that is resistant to scratches, damage, dents, and rust? There’s only one solution to that, and that is to apply or install a bed liner. Since cargo beds are made from steel or aluminum, they are prone to rust and weather damage.
Dents and scratches will also happen when your cargo bumps onto the sidewall of the bed. Bed liners also act as shock absorbers, so your cargo does not get damaged from vibrations. They also keep cargo in place to make your cargo secure as you drive through bumps and shakes.
Extends the Life Of Your Truck
Rust is like cancer. Once it targets an iron-containing metal, it will build up a clan there and spread until nothing is left. Rust will not be a problem with bedliners. Your truck bed is also prone to dents, fading, and scratches from bed liners.
Because your truck bed is protected by a coating and no damage will be done, it will last for years. When you use a pickup truck for Overlanding, you want a cargo area that will secure all your travel gear for all your future overland trips.
Adds Beauty to Your Truck
A cargo bed that is smooth and has no ugly flaws is pleasing to the eye, and you’ll have this when you install a bedliner on your truck bed. A bedliner adds beauty to your truck bed. If you go for spray-in, you also get to choose from different colors.
For sure, you’ll have a cargo bed color that resonates best with you. Spray-in bedliners are available in the colors green, dark blue, brown, gray, and many more.
The Top 3 Spray-In Bedliners on the Market
There are tons of spray-in bedliners on the market. Which one should you choose? First, determine what you are looking for in a bed liner. Do you want a beginner-friendly product that is easy to apply? Do you want a product that offers more than it is worth? Of course, don’t ever forget your budget limitations. If you’re looking for suggestions, here are the top 3 spray-in bedliners that you might want to consider.
1. U-Pol Raptor Spray-In Bed Liner
The U-Pol Raptor bed liner is the best of the best. It is easy to apply and gives outstanding results. This product is beginner-friendly, which makes it easy for you to achieve an even coat on the entire truck bed. You also don’t need to apply wax afterward, which makes the job much easier.
The end result is a cargo bed that is stain-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and waterproof. The U-Pol Raptor lives up to its name because it can stand up to any weather condition and challenging terrain, keeping your cargo safe and sound.
Check the price on Amazon here.
2. Custom Coat Spray-In Bedliner
Now, if the first option is not for you, you have this second option. The Custom Coat bed liner is the second-best spray-in bedliner on the market. This product really stands out among the rest because it can give you different styles.
Whether you want a black coat, lime green, blue, purple, or red, Custom Coat has a spray-on for you. Not only that, but the Custom Coat spray-on also has 5 sizing options. The Custom Coat spray-on bed liner is great for minimizing road noise and vibrations.
Check the price on Amazon here.
3. Rust-Oleum Cargo Bed Coating Spray
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly spray-on bedliner, go for the Rust-Oleum coating spray. This product can also make your truck bed free of rust and scratches. It also helps in reducing road-noise, so you get your peaceful moment of appreciating nature while you drive.
But don’t expect too much from this truck bed coating spray. You need a few bottles to fully coat the truck bed. Others complain about the bottle being leaky and faulty. Just like with any other product you buy on the market, you’ll always get what you pay for.
Check the price on Amazon here.
Final Thoughts
So, to end this article, we again stress the importance of having a bed liner for your truck. It will protect your cargo bed from any damage, extending its life for years.
If you can afford more, go with spray-in bedliners because they are much more effective than drop-in bed liners. Aside from that, spray liners can easily be repaired. They are nonslip, custom-fit, and low-maintenance. Just make sure that you do the necessary preparations before you apply your chosen product.
Always remember that an overland vehicle is important to accomplish all your overland goals. You always have to go for things that can benefit your truck. That being said, a bed liner is a must.
