You got a new pickup and want to keep it looking great. So you plan to install a bedliner. Do you chose a drop-in or spray-on bedliner?

Drop-in bedliners consist of a molded plastic insert to provide a protective barrier for the surface. Drop-ins are manufactured using precise, model-specific molds to ensure a "custom" fit and minimal vibration and movement as well as ultra-consistent material thickness and hardness. Most can also be installed without drilling holes in the truck body. A poorly fitting drop-in bedliner can fly-out on the road, vibrate or amplify road noise. If a drop-in vibrates and moves, it can damage the surface underneath scratching and removing paint so bare metal can rust. Rust and corrosion can also occur if the bedliner allows water to collect without draining. While quite durable, drop-ins can crack or be cut by sharp objects letting moisture get between the bed and liner.

Spray-on bedliners use a protective coating such as polyurethane that is sprayed on much like paint, only thicker. Properly applied, sprayed-on bedliners can provide durable watertight and airtight protection. By forming a permanent bond with the surface of the bed, the lining prohibits rust and corrosion as well as insulating against noise and vibration . Spray-on bedliners can be applied to any bed, so it could be your only choice if you have a pickup for which a drop-in is not offered. This is also the case if you want a color other than black since the spray-on materials come in a variety of colors, and can even be tinted for custom colors.

To properly install a spray-on liner, the installer must scuff or grind off the bed's original finish, which may cause severe damage to the truck's factory finish and defeat its corrosion resistance. This could have potentially expensive implications, especially if the truck is leased. Installation of a spray-on liner could be considered as "excess wear" bringing a penalty at the end of a lease. Installation could also void manufacturer paint warranties. Therefore, check carefully both lease agreements and warranties before installing a spray-on bedliner.

Spray-ons can vary widely in quality because they depend on the ability of installer. Improperly spraying can result in bubbles, voids and excessively thin spots. Some installers may cut corners to increase profit by applying materials too fast or using inferior and not enough material. Carefully check out the experience, ability and repudiation of spray-on bedliner installers. Likewise assure drop-in bedliners are manufactured by reputable companies.

Recently, testing commissioned by the Penda Corp. resulted in a side--by-side comparison between its Penda drop-in liners and competing Rhino Liner, Line-X and Fabick spray-on liners. A good bedliner has the following characteristics:

• Provides protection against abrasion, dents, caustic materials, rusting and corrosion. Testing involved dragging a concrete block over the rail edge of a tailgate until the flat body area was scuffed and the number of abrasions before paint damage was counted. The drop-in liner was 10 times more abrasion resistant than spray-on liners.. Testing conducted by Bjorksten
• Research Laboratories, Inc. measured the force required to produce a dent in the bed sheet metal.
• The drop-in liner provided 2 times the protection of leading spray-ons.
• Provides skid-resistance to keep cargo from sliding around in the truck bed. Drop-in liner offered 2 times the skid resistance of spray-on liners. Durable so the bedliner lasts years, even the life of the truck, while still looking good Testing by Bjorksten Research Labs., measured average vertical wall thickness of one unit of each bedliner brand. Drop-in liner provided 50% thicker sidewalls.
• Resist fading caused primarily by the suns ultra-violet rays. Testing , conducted by Union Carbide Corp., measured the loss of finish reflectivity after 2,000 hours of ultra-violet exposure (about 6 months exposure). The drop-in liner was 21 times more resistant to ultra-violet fading. The problem can be overcome with a UV coating that must be applied, and paid for, on an annual basis. This coating does reduce skid resistance.

Other characteristics include the ability to be securely attached, insulates against road noise and vibration rather than adding to it and comes with a warranty so there is someone who can correct problems, regardless of location, and pay for repairs or replacement.

There now a third choice - the BedRug fromWise Industries, Inc. in Old Hickory, TN. The BedRug looks like carpet and feels like carpet, but is all plastic. The plastic foam backing is molded to conform exactly to the floor ribs to creates a "knee friendly cushioned floor. Indeed, it makes a great sleeping surface for camping. The foam backing will not scratch the beds painted surfaces while protecting them from dings and dents. The BedRug foam will not dry out, crumble, dissolve, or dissipate in any way.

The waterproof, polyester marine grade carpet made up solid strand stain resident fibers is virtually imperious to stains from gasoline, acids, solvents, chemical compounds, and any petroleum products including transmission fluid and grease. Likewise, the closed-cell cross linked polyethylene foam will not soak up liquids. Spills of soda and even pet accidents will not penetrate the foam or carpet. They can be blotted up with paper towels or cleaned with soap and water from a garden hose or high pressure washer. Dirt, dust, scraps, or shavings can be vacuumed . Odors will not linger as long as all organic material is flushed from the carpet.

According to the company, installation is quite easy and once installed the BedRug fits like a glove. BedRugs are molded specifically to fit each model of each truck. Currently, they are offered for the Dodge RAM and Dakota back to 1986; Ford Ranger, F-Series and Explorer Sport Trac back to 1974; Chevrolet/GMC Full-Size and S10/S15 back to 1988; Toyota Tacoma, T-100, Tundra and Tacoma; and Nissan Frontier and Hard Body. Both short and long bed versions are available.