Are you looking to add some protection to your truck’s bed this summer? It’s a great time of year to do it, before all the end of the year cleanup yardword in fall, and the harshness of winter. You may be thinking about a DIY bed liner solution, such as a spray-in bed liner. While that is certainly an option, it may not be the best one for you, or your truck.
While DIY often seems easier and less expensive, with bed liners, that is not always the case. A DIY bed liner solution has a number of inherent risks and downsides that can make other solutions more attractive. That’s not to say DIY options are entirely without merit, and for many (especially much older truck models) they are a good option. But is it the right option for you? Here a few things that you should be considering:
DIY Spray-In Bed Liners May Not Last
The first thing to consider is the longevity of your bed liner. Spray in bed liners that are done professionally can last a pretty good amount of time, although not as long as more durable truck bed liners. A DIY spray-in liner will typically not last as long as a professional one however, and can begin to see wear and tear damage in as little as a year if not installed properly. Imperfections when prepping your truck’s bed for the spray-in, improper coating or layering, smudges before the spray dries, these are all factors that can shorten the lifespan of a DIY bed liner. Nature can get in the way too, if you don’t have an enclosed garage to do your installation you can be in for a hassle. Leaves and other debris can get into the spray causing a huge headache to deal with, or a surprise rain cloud can set back your efforts entirely.
Improper Application Of A Spray-In Bed Liner Can Be More Expensive
Often times the reasoning behind using a DIY spray-in bed liner can be to save money, but that might not always be the end result. While we know that professional spray-in bed liner solutions can be more expensive, DIY options can be as well. While the upfront cost will more than likely be less expensive, the hidden price so to speak of a DIY bed liner comes in the form of maintenance and upkeep.
The first pitfall to the cost of a DIY solution is the obvious one, if you have never installed a spray-in bed liner before, you may run into issues which require you to redo the installation, costing more time and money. However, it is not limited to just that. As we mentioned before, spray-in bed liners may not last nearly as long as advertised if there are any issues with the installation. This can lead to the entire bed liner needing to be redone after a short period of time, racking up the cost. Otherwise, spray-in bed liners are more susceptible to wear and tear damage that can scratch the coating, again requiring touch ups or total overhauls of the bed liner.
DIY Bed Liners May Not Offer Full Protection
Another way that DIY spray-in bed liners can rack up the costs, and another downside in general, is that they do not offer full protection for the bed of your truck. While the liner will completely cover your truck’s bed if installed properly, that does not mean it completely protects it. Spray-in bed liners are good for preventing scratches and potential rust damage to your truck bed, however, they do not offer any additional cushioning and padding to protect against dents and impacts from items in the bed.
For a work truck, a couple dings and dents in the bed is not the end of the world. However, for the personal use truck, the one that you want to keep looking great for years and years, this can be a problem. Whether you plan to keep your truck for the entirety of its lifetime, or eventually look to resell it when upgrading to a newer model, dents can be quite a hassle. Not only are dents unappealing to look at, but they can significantly lower the resale value of your truck in the future. Another hidden cost to the spray-in bed liner.
Spray-In Bed Liners Don’t Protect Your Cargo
Lastly, DIY spray-in bed liners do not protect the cargo of your truck bed. While they prevent your bed’s paint from getting scratched up quite well, DIY spray-in liners do virtually nothing to prevent your cargo from moving around. One of the main benefits of the DualLiner modular bed liner system is our ZeroSkid® rubber bed mat. This skid-free bed mat not only protects your truck’s bed, but it also prevents your cargo from moving around, which protects your cargo as well.
If you plan to use your truck to move furniture, bring home new appliances from the store, or any other case you can think of where you want to make sure your cargo is not damaged, a spray-in bed liner may not be the best option for you. One bad pothole, one time you have to slam your brakes, one turn that is taken a bit too sharp, that’s all it takes to send your cargo skidding across the bed of your truck and potentially banging into the sidewalls. This movement of the cargo can not only cause the dings and dents we talked about earlier, but can also damage the cargo itself.
DualLiner is committed to bringing our customers the highest quality bed liner in the world at the best price point possible. Our interlocking bed liner technology offers full protection for your cargo with our custom fitted sidewalls and ZeroSkid® rubber bed mat. Not to mention, we back our bed liners with a true lifetime warranty. While the DIY option may be the best option for some truck owners out there, we believe that nothing surpasses a DualLiner in terms of quality and protection.
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