I called some shops around town looking for an under-the-rail bed liner today. The dealer wanted $260, on average they ran about $200. One shop had it for $160 and another for $138. I was thinking about going with the $138 one. But I was wondering, are there differences between bedliners (ie. thickness, material, quality, etc.)? I know spray-ons are pretty popular, but I'm not willing to pay $500 for it (I would if my truck was new). How bad can the bed of the truck bed after a few years with an under-the-rail bed liner? I live in so. cal. Doesn't rain too much down here.

 

I had an under the rail type on a previous truck and it worked well. The only thing I didn't like was trying to clean under it 'cause stuff always got in there. Not sure they protect things as well as a spray on but you make a good point when it comes to cost.

My current 2500 has a spray on and I really love it but it did cost a bit.

Either way you'll be happy. If money is the kicker buy a less expensive one and enjoy it. Heck, at a $138 you could wear one out, buy another, and another, and still pay less than some spray ons.

 

You might wanna PM Hoss... he's kinda like the 'resident bedliner expert'!

chaikwa.

 

When I bought my truck the dealer quoted a $ price for a Line-X spray in.
I called the local Line-X installer who quote me a much lower price for the same Over-the-rail, and also told me he does all the installs for that dealer.
It seems the dealer wanted to charge me ~$150 to have a lot Jockey drive my truck from the dealer to the installer and back again.

 

The spray in is actually worth the extra money, I know its expensive, but I had an under rail bedliner in one of my older dodge trucks and ended up having to have the entire bed repainted after two years. They are really hard on the paint. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

One school of thought is to do nothing to the bed except maybe put a piece of plywood at the bottom for the really tough jobs and then, just before trading or selling, putting in the cheapest brand-new bedliner you can find.

If I ever got the truck that I absolutely knew I was going to keep forever, I would get a Rhino or equivalent, but otherwise I just cannot justify the cost even though I think they are the best.

 

where did you find a place to do a spray in bedliner for $500 in socal??? Everywhere I've called wants $1000+!!!!!!!!!

 

Really? I live in Bakersfield. I called a Line-X dealer and the guy said $420 for the bed and and extra $80 to go over the rails.

 

I think Hoss recommends the "pour-in" style.

 

It has a great non-slip finish on it too!

I found one locally which is down in the $200s from what I was told, I think it was something like extreme liner. Rhino and Line-x cost to much IMO, I'm still procrastinating getting any spray in put in as I don't really haul that much stuff.

 

Yeah, I don't haul that much stuff either. By getting a bedliner I'm actually trying to cover up all the scratches in the bed from the previous owner.

The dilemma is...

1. Have a scratched up (or scratch free) bed w/ no bedliner.
2. Get a drop-in bedliner and have it eventually destroy your bed (so might as well have gone
with option 1 or 4 to begin with and saved some money).
3. Get a spray-on bedliner and never see the original bed again (thus, who cares
about "protecting" it).
4. Totally scratch up and destroy your original bed, then get a bedliner to make your truck
look cleaner.

 

I like the rubber mats. Doesn't mar any paint, things don't slide on it, and it's only around $70.00 for a heavy duty one. The only draw back is it doesn't protect the bed sides. otherwise I love mine.

 

Well...you might wanna check out my signature before you PM me. My bedliner will outlast any spray-in liner, but it's not exactly what you'd consider...well, normal.

 

I don't recommend Turboliner.
Mike

 

everything is expensive in california! i just got my '05 dodge shortbed sprayed with line-x...it was $379.00 + $75.00 over the rails!

i'm in texas, by the way.

also, if anyone wants a BRAND NEW "rugged liner" plastic bed liner, let me know...i never installed it, and it's just sitting in my garage. $100 and it's yours. fits full-size late model shortbed dodges. there are pics of it in the classifieds forum. my cell is (469)441-0314.

brad