Do-It-Yourself Bedliners

[erod]

anyone have any experience (boy this seems like an open ended question) with do-it-yourself bed liners? i am looking to line a 01' F250 long bed work truck and would really like to keep materials around $100, any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated?

[Martyn]

anyone have any experience (boy this seems like an open ended question) with do-it-yourself bed liners? i am looking to line a 01' F250 long bed work truck and would really like to keep materials around $100, any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated?

I like Herculiner as an easy product to work with. I have only done small areas, but it goes on well with a roller.

The stuff smells very toxic, and if you read the warnings with all these bed liners I think you will conclude that after a single usage your DNA will be permanently changed.

If you decide to buy this produce please don't buy it at Wall Mart, I've never checked but the stuff could also be Made in China. Double whammy!

[Robthebrit]

There is also duraback, from what I can tell its identical to herculiner, it looks the same and smells the same. However this comes in lots of different colors which herculiner only comes in a few.

http://www.durabakcompany.com


Edit: It also comes in a smooth finish

Rob

[Shovel]

If you're speaking of single-can, roll on or DIY spray on... like Herc or Duplicolor..

They can be very good or very bad and the key component of a very good one is preparation.

Use the blue or green masking tape, and use a brand name like 3m. Cheap masking tape is pure evil.

Fully sand your surface with thick grit, 100 is good, 60 is better, 40 might not be thorough enough between the grits.

Fully clean your surface with Xylene. Outdoors. With goggles and a charcoal mask. outdoors.

If you're rolling it on, paint all the corners and concave angles with a brush first, then roll over it to keep an even texture.

Lay many thin coats, if you're using a stipple roller, the first coat may only cover 40%, the second coat may only cover 90%, the 3rd coat only 95%. 7 or 8 of these thin coats is superior to 2 or 3 hero coats.

Do not get any on your hootus.
it had to be said..

[erod]

great info guys, really appreciate it...exactly what i was looking for...thanks again!

[MaddBaggins]

floating around here somewhere is a pic or 2 of my rig. I used Durabak on the sides and hood. Make sure to use the UV stuff. It costs more but will hold up better.

[big sky trapper]

I have had good luck with the Plasticoat brand in a rattle can. About 7$ a can, 4-5 cans should do a long box. I used mainly on lower rockers of some of my camo paint jobs to keep the gravel around MT from beating them to death. I did the bed of my yoda with it as well. no real prep work other than a clean surface. Its seems to be a self etching kinda paint will dry with a finish similar to the name brand linings but not as coarse as the herculiner.

And being used in a truck bed touch ups are a breeze.

Dry's in about 2-3 hours in direct sun. cargo safe in a day or so.

[BogusBlake]

A buddy and I used Hurculiner on the tub of his Jeep.

Prep is key.

Also, that stuff stains your skin for weeks (not kidding).

[OverlandZJ]

I did the floor of my last Cherokee in Durabak, it took about 4 coats with a brush and roller to use the whole gallon. Held up well.

This is not the product you want if your going to be hauling and throwing alot of heavy steel items in the bed...it's too thin. I slid my Snap-On top box into and out of the Cherokee and peeled the covering off in a few spots. If thats an issue look into the pricier spray on linings.

I have another gallon i plan to put in my son's YJ at some point. erod, if we meet up on my trip ... my bud also has the Durabak in his YJ you can check out.

[CYi5]

I've done the inside of my samurai with Herculiner, gets a little tedious and by the end you will be asking yourself if all the effort really was worth the $400 you saved .

It comes out great, but make SURE you get the UV coating...the sun really does a number on roll-on liners if they are unprotected.