by Chris Lewis.
Trucks are strong and great for carrying heavy loads day after day. But after some time, you start to notice not everything about the truck is as good as it used to be.
A truck bed is without doubt the first thing that starts to show signs of wear and tear. The damages start small due to scratches, bumps, dents, paint cracks, etc. but then they start getting bigger. While this is enough cause to worry, it does not affect the overall performance of the truck. However, there is a need to maintain the truck to ensure optimal performance and a longer life span.
Not properly maintaining your truck can lead to overexposure of the worn truck bed to the elements. This can lead to peeling of the paint job, cracking, or rusting.
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To protect your truck's exterior, one important way is to buy a spray-on bed liner. Bedliner sprays are unique liquid sprays that harden after coating a surface. The coating forms a layer of protection on the surface of your truck which prevents scratches, dents, and other damages from reducing the usefulness and effectiveness of your truck. Not only does it make your truck more aesthetically appealing, but it also improves the lifespan of the truck.
First, let's talk about some of the best sprays on bed liners you can get for your truck:
First on the list is the U-POL Raptor Spray-On Truck Bed Liner. It claims to be one the best spray-on truck bed liner that offers great value for money.
The coating liner is tough and very resistant to the elements. Rain, snow, or damp air does not undermine the U-Pol Raptor liner's effectiveness in any way. The result is that the truck bed is protected from physical damages such as scratches, bumps, dents, while also being rust and crack resistant.
The liner is also thick enough to muffle the jiggling noise of loads being carried at the back of your truck. This means you can drive your truck without having to worry about the load at the back.
Despite being a top-quality product, it is quite expensive. Perhaps to make up for the pricing, it comes with a spray gun so you can apply the liner on your truck bed without breaking a sweat. The spray gun also makes spraying fast since you can cover a lot of ground in no time at all.
The liner sticks to your truck bed firmly without issues. One kit offers 4 liters of the liner which is enough to spray large trucks.
Pros
Cons
This custom Coat Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed liner is one of the products/items you get in a kit. The kit is quite expensive but the effectiveness of the liner makes it well worth the money you pay.
Alongside a can of the liner, you also get an easy-to-use spray gun. With this, you can easily apply the spray without too much of a hassle. The thickness of the liner means it also ensures smoother rides by reducing the vibrations of loads being carried by trucks.
One big drawback with most custom coats is that they do not last as long as regular truck bed liners.
Pros
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Rust-Oleum 248914 is versatile for use on truck beds, trailers, fenders among other metal surfaces.
As the name implies, it comes with special rust formula that ensures the protective liner is long-lasting. The spray bottle is designed at an angle that makes spraying quite comfortable without causing finger fatigue. The angled nature of the spray top also means you can easily reach hard angles on the truck without breaking much of a sweat.
Another thing we love about this spray is how easy it is to spray and how quickly it dries. The durability and adhesiveness of the liner mean you can spray it on any bare metal surface of the truck bed without having to re-spray after a few days.
It comes with a non-skid textured finish that is scratch-resistant, among other things.
When sprayed, the liner automatically conforms to the shape of the surface it lands on. This lets it reduce the noises and vibrations of the load on the road.
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Cons
This 16.5-ounce Dupli-Color TR250 Truck Bed coating aerosol is a versatile all-purpose protective coating for your truck bed. It comes only in black colors and is impact-resistant.
One of the things we love about it is that it quickly dries within an hour or two. It is cheap so it does come with a couple of drawbacks.
A drawback that quickly comes to mind is the relatively small size of the bottle. Just about 16.5 ounces means you will need a couple of bottles to completely cover a normal-sized truck bed.
Another issue you might experience with this liner is clogging issues of the nozzle which can lead to difficulty in spraying.
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NOTE: The product reviewed above is not for sale on Catalina Island.
As the name implies, the HERCULINER HCL1B8 Brush-On Bed Liner Kit is a combination of a couple of items including a truck bed liner tank. This kit ensures you have all the necessary tools you need to get started.
The liner itself is about 1 gallon in size. It also comes with rollers, brushes as well as an application brush so you can reach tight angles.
Unlike most truck bed liners on the market, this one is extremely easy to apply. it is very user-friendly since there are no advanced tools or technical knowledge needed to apply the liner. You can carry out the installation on your own by simply treating the liner as paint.
Another impressive feature about this liner is that it has applications. For instance, you can apply it to wood and it will stick! You can also apply it on concrete, certain plastic surfaces, rubber surfaces, PVC among others.
It provides a tough, textured finish on any surface that makes the surface look "like new" when dried.
Once applied, the surface becomes resistant to cracks, dents, skids, scratches, damp air, among others. It is even resistant to gasoline so you should expect whatever surface you apply it on not to catch fire.
NOTE: The brand explicitly states that it is not resistant to UV rays. However, this should not be much of a problem if properly maintained.
Asides from the heavy-duty liner tank, you also have 1 roller handle, 2 rollers, one application brush, 1 abrasive pad, etc.
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Although it is not high up on the list, you will quickly find yourself falling in love with the fast-drying liner in no time. It is ideal for fast fixes and the liner is durable to last over an extended period.
The PlastiKote 264 Truck Bed Liner is tough and offers great protection for the truck bed you apply it to. It comes in a 15 oz. DIY spray bottle. This means you can quickly get the job done without any technical knowledge.
The brand markets the product as being based on a unique formula that quickly toughens into a non-skid surface that does not warp, crack, rust, etc. The protective coating this liner offers is also gasoline resistant.
The non-skid surface also reduces the chances of cargo slipping while the truck is in motion. This helps preserve the paint job of the truck bed as well as reduces noises and vibrations when the truck is in transit.
The liner is made from a water-based formula which means it quickly dries.
NOTE: Although we only considered the 15-ounce bottle of this liner, it is also available in a gallon size for anyone who particularly enjoys the product and wants to completely cover a regular-sized truck bed.
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Of course, we have to round off the list with a liner from a company that has built a solid reputation for producing quality products.
Al's Liner Premium DIY Polyurethane Spray-On truck bed liner kit comes with every tool you need to apply the liner on your truck bed. You can even apply it on other surfaces asides a truck bed. It will protect the surface from most damages such as scratches, dents, rust, UV rays, etc. It is gasoline, oil, solvents, and certain chemical resistant.
NOTE: Apart from metal, other surfaces you can apply it on include wood, fiberglass, PVC, among others.
Another thing worth mentioning about this spray-on truck bed liner is you do not have to use the complete can of the liner at once. It works well to patch spots as well as it does if you completely cover the whole surface.
The biggest deal-breaker with this liner is that it only comes in one color (Black).
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To be candid, there aren't a lot of features to consider when selecting a liner for your truck bed. Of course, they all come with differences in qualities but there is only a fine difference between them all.
Essentially, you want a spray large enough for continuous usage. The spray should be able to coat surfaces smoothly without bumps. It should also be effective enough that it protects your truck bed from scratches, dents, and general wear and tear so it's always looking great.
That said, there are a few features you should look for when selecting a spray-on bed liner for your truck.
Fortunately, most spray-on bed liners on the market easily come out of the can when sprayed. That said, it is still important to check out how easy it is to use a spray. Since you are planning to add a layer of protection to your truck without professional help, it is only right that the product you buy comes with all the important tools to carry out the task. One easy way people apply the spray-on bed liner is with the use of a spray gun.
Some manufacturers even include an instruction manual to help you learn how the spray is used and what type of outcomes or results to expect.
The next important thing you want to consider is the color of the spray. You have to take special care to ensure the spray-on truck bed liner matches the color of your truck. Most spray-on truck bed liners come in a single color, which is k.
NOTE: How you apply the spray can also determine how the color turns out. For instance, if you constantly apply the liner on a spot more times than other spots, there will be a difference in the shades when you are done spraying.
The durability of a spray-on truck bed liner is simply the ability of the spray to do its job - which is to protect your truck bed. If it can't do this, then it does not offer any value for money and you should steer clear of it.
Hence, you have to make sure the spray can withstand damages such as scratches, dents, scrapes, bumps, etc. It should also have some resistance against the elements such as snow, rain, dirt, etc. Any spray-on bed liner that does not adhere well to your truck bed when and after applying it would offer zero protection to your truck or it's bed.
This is something that can greatly help you select the right product for you regardless of what you are buying. Of course, there are different ways you can find a review of a product. For instance, we compiled a list of the best spray-on bed liner and highlighted their features for you in our review section.
Another option is to check out reviews of the product on the Amazon landing page of the product you are trying to buy. You can't go wrong with knowing more about the product from others who already used it.
The quantity of spray you need is important to consider for two reasons.
First, it helps you determine the size of spray you will pick up at the checkout page of the product you want to order. Another reason is that it lets you decide if you have enough budget to meet your requirements.
You don't want to buy a spray that is not sufficient for all the coating you intend to do.
Add-ons are not so important to look for in a spray before buying it and for good reason. Add-ons do not often impact the performance of a product. However, it can improve the overall experience of using the spray-on truck bed liner.
Most of the time, the sprays come with extra products that they are sold with. This could include useful items such as gritting paper for smoothening surfaces, etc.
The benefit of checking if a product has add-ons is that it helps you save money. That way you don't have to buy them as standalone tools or items for use later.
Spray-on bed liners are priced differently for several reasons. This can depend on the size of the can, the brand, the color, or several other reasons.
That said, there is often average pricing to budget when in the market for a spray-in bed liner. This average cost is about $512.
The question really shouldn't be "which spray-on bed liner is the best?". Rather, it should be "is there a best spray-on truck bed liner?"
The simple answer is that there is no overall best spray-on bed liner. The choice is simply down to personal preference.
As a result, we reviewed the best on the market so you can see how closely they rank together in terms of utility and how much value for money they each offer.
The complete process of protecting your truck bed can sometimes take a day depending on the type of bed liner spray you are using as well as how much area you are spraying.
Most regular bed liner sprays usually take about 2 to 3 hours to be completed. Bed liners of color on the hand will require an extra hour to top of the number of hours it takes to completely spray bed liners.
U-Pol Raptor Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner 4 Quart Kit and Custom Coat Spray - Walmart Link
U-Pol Raptor Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit w/Free Spray Gun, 4 Liters - Walmart Link
Al's Liner Premium DIY Polyurethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit with Adhesion Promoter - Walmart Link
Herculiner HCL1B8 Brush-on Bed Liner Kit,Black - Walmart Link
Linerxtreeme spray on Bedliner Kit 3 gallon Black with GUN - Walmart Link
Rust-Oleum, Black Automotive 248915 32-Ounce Truck Bed Coating Quarts, Fl Oz (Pack of 1), - Walmart Link
U-Pol Raptor Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner 4 Quart Kit and Custom Coat Spray - eBay Link
U-Pol Raptor Black Urethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit w/Free Spray Gun, 4 Liters - eBay Link
Al's Liner Premium DIY Polyurethane Spray-On Truck Bed Liner Kit with Adhesion Promoter - eBay Link
Herculiner HCL1B8 Brush-on Bed Liner Kit,Black - eBay Link
Linerxtreeme spray on Bedliner Kit 3 gallon Black with GUN - eBay Link
Rust-Oleum, Black Automotive 248915 32-Ounce Truck Bed Coating Quarts, Fl Oz (Pack of 1), - eBay Link
Hauling heavy loads up and down with your truck is all well and good. However, you need to properly maintain the truck - and this is not down to only the engine but also the paint job. Without taking proper care of your truck it can quickly start to show significant signs of wear and tear. With the right spray-on bed liner, you can now protect your truck bed and improve its durability. Thereby ensuring your truck continues to perform well without having to spend additional money on repairs.
About Chris Lewis.
Chris Lewis is a passionate individual with a deep affinity for the world of automobiles. From a tender age, his fascination with cars was nurtured by his father, a seasoned mechanic based in the vibrant city of San Francisco. Growing up under the watchful guidance of his skilled father, Chris developed an early aptitude for all things automotive.
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