Why You Want a Truck Bed Liner

For many people, their pickup truck is their livelihood. Whether you use your vehicle for a personal business, like contract work, on the job for a construction site, or to drag your gear and family out of the city for some much needed respite, your truck has your back. It gets you where you're going safely, it secures and carries all your cargo, and it may sometimes even be a bed.

Whether your truck bed is full of gear, people, or the ingredients for a tailgater, you want to make sure your investment is protected. Because in the end, that's what a truck is, a large investment in your lifestyle.

A standard truck bed is often quite bare. The painted steel is exposed to all kinds of strain from moisture, mud, and your cargo. Sliding heavy objects with sharp edges along the flooring and climbing in and out can cause the paint to chip and peel. Once that peeling happens, your vehicle's steel is exposed to the elements, and thus corrosion. Unless you can get the bed repainted quickly, rust is going to start popping up, damaging the structural integrity of your truck bed. Stop the rust problem before it even starts, and get a bedliner for your truck. 

Bedliners don't just protect against rust. They also help limit how much your cargo shifts in your bed by providing a higher friction surface, They also add a more professional, sharp style to your vehicle, and they make cleaning your bed much easier too.

There are a wide range of styles, each with their own pros and cons. I'll give you a brief overview of each style and offer you some suggestions on which we think are the best.

Bed Mats

This style of bed protection is the least expensive, and also the least intrusive. Simply lay it out on the floor of your truck bed, and your paint and steel are protected from potential damage. Like all bed liners, Bed Mats, like the TrailFX Rubber Bed Mat, offer protection for your bed floor and help prevent cargo sliding around. They also help keep your cargo from getting scratched or damaged by the metal of your truck bed.

They are easy to install, simply drop the mat into your bed, and they can be taken out easily for cleaning. The biggest down side to a mat is that it only protects the floor of your bed, leaving your sides open and exposed. They also don't protect as well against rain, snow, and mud.

All in all, Bed Mats are an affordable, quick and easy solution to guarding your bed, but if you're going to be doing a lot of heavy hauling we recommend going up a step.

Drop In Bedliners

Drop In Bedliners are the perfect middle ground if you want affordable, durable truck bed protection and ease of use. Pendaliner is one of our best selling bed liners, on both Auto Truck Depot and Tonno Cover Depot. Pendaliner makes two styles of bed liner, an Over-Rail and an Under-Rail.

The Over-Rail liner provides better all around protection for your truck bed if you don't have rail caps. It drops straight into your bed, and the high density polyethylene curves over to cover the top of your rail. For those not planning to use their stake pocket holes for accessory mounting, you should consider this version, as it provides better coverage. 

Under Rail Bedliners are more versatile if you're someone who uses accessories like tonneau covers or truck racks, or if you have bed rails installed already. These covers are built from all the same durable polyethylene materials as the over rail, they give you increased friction in your truck bed to stop cargo from shifting, and provide complete protection for the inside of your truck bed. Plus, they can be taken out and sprayed down, making your vehicle cleaning much easier.

Spray Liners

If you are looking for a more permanent solution to truck bed maintenance, Spray Liners may be the way to go. Line-X offers a Premium and Econo polyurethane spray which have been engineered to fill every nook, cranny, and orifice of your truck bed to leave an even, weather and water tight seal with no drips or sagging. This style of liner tends to be more durable and long lasting than drop-in liners and mats. Of course, you loose the ability to remove it, but if your truck is always hauling rough cargo or you spend a lot of time out in harsher weather, these may be the liners for you.

The Others

There are some other options available as well. BedRug makes a series of truck bed liners that look and feel like carpet. They are constructed from a 3/4" closed cell foam floor that won't absorb moisture. It's shock absorbent, soft to the touch, and provides better protection for your cargo against scratches and other damage. They're perfect if you find yourself hauling a lot of furniture or other cargo that could be damaged by a hard liner.

If you're looking for something with a little more rugged style, we also carry Wood Truck Bed Liners. These liners are custom built from plywood for your truck, and coated in a heavy duty weather resistant stain that is designed to last for a long time and keep your bed liner looking great.

Whether you choose a Bed Mat, Bedliners, or a Spray Liner, you will be doing your truck bed a favour. Each have their own benefits and limitations, and I hope I've outlined them clearly for you.

To ask more questions, or to inquire about an order, feel free to get in touch!

Auto Truck Depot

107, 42 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta

Toll Free: 1-855-253-4330

Local: 1-403-253-4330

info@autotruckdepot.ca

www.autotruckdepot.ca

Get the Most Out of Your Truck Bed

There’s no denial that trucks are one of the most useful vehicles you can own. They can carry cargo, pull trailers, and ultimately, increase efficiency. One of the primary benefits to having a truck is the additional space of the truck bed.

There are many products available to help you maximize the use of your truck bed space, but why would you need these?

Let’s start with some examples of common issues you may run into and some available solutions.

1. Your truck bed is being damaged from hauling cargo

This problem is not only aesthetic, but can accelerate damage beyond repair. Nicks and scratches in the protective coating can soon result in the spread of rust.

Solutions:

Truck Bed Mats

Truck bed mats are easy to install, cheap, and provide protection to the bottom of your truck bed and tailgate. The only downside to these is that the sides of your truck bed remain exposed.

Plastic Bed Plastic Liners

Plastic bed liners are quick and easy to install and provide full protection of your truck bed. They are made of high-density polyethylene, so it will not chip, crack, or fade during even the most extreme weather conditions. The liner’s one-piece construction provides additional protection against chemical leaks, since there are no seams or cracks.

Truck Bed Spray Liners

Spray liners provide a clean, permanent solution for protecting your truck bed. The Polyurethane Spray is applied to every mould and curve, providing a watertight seal, and the ultimate protection. Spray liners provide a textured, non-skid surface, and with no loss of cargo space.

2. Your cargo is exposed to the elements

Covering your cargo and protecting it from the elements can be easy with a tonneau cover, and there are many types so suite your specific needs.

Solutions:

Soft or Hard Roll-Up Tonneau Cover

Roll-up tonneau covers are great additions to cover and protect the cargo being stored in your truck bed. They easily roll up, providing full access of your truck bed without removing the cover, and they look slick.

Soft or Hard Tri Fold Tonneau Cover

These covers provide exceptional protection, they look great, and are easy to use. The tri-fold design allows for easy access. Many of these models are also insulated to protect your cargo from extreme weather conditions.

Hard Top Once Piece Tonneau Cover

One piece covers are solid, they protect your cargo, and they are easy to install. Once installed, they provide easy access to your cargo. 

3. There’s no way to prevent theft

Solutions:

Tonneau Cover

Many Tonneau covers are designed with locking systems to protect your storage. Your cargo can be easily stored, locked and protected with the right cover.

Truck Boxes

Truck Boxes come in all shapes and sizes to meet your specific needs, and they are designed to hold and protect your belongings. Many of these boxes are designed with advanced locking systems and are constructed of tough aluminum. They come in all shapes and sizes to match any need.

4. Organizing your storage is difficult

Solutions:

Truck Boxes

Multiple lid truck boxes allow you to organize and store your cargo, provide security to your belongings, and provide easy access. There are many different box styles and shapes to suite your specific needs, and to help you organize your belongings. Many of these boxes are even designed to utilize and increase storage space, such as the Pork Chop Boxes, made to fit over your wheel well.  

Tool Boxes

Tool boxes are a great way to enhance your storage by providing a secure, organized space for tools and other belongings. Many of these boxes are designed to increase otherwise unused spaces, such as the Weatherguard Lo Side, which sits above your truck box, allowing for more storage beneath. The compartments in these boxes improve how you are able to organize your storage, and provide additional storage space.

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