If you are one of those people in Texas who actually uses their pickup truck to haul things around, you probably would rather not end up with a truck bed that has dents or scratched paint. Moving a few tools or a small piece of furniture can result in unsightly damage to the bed of your truck. Stop-gap measures like wrapping your cargo in drop cloths are not a reliable solution. If you are serious about maintaining the appearance and quality of your truck, a decent truck bed liner is in order.
Truck Bed Liners: What are the Options?
While shopping for Houston truck bedliners, you will quickly discover that there are two primary options: spray-in liners and drop-in liners. Therefore, the first step to finding the right truck bedliner is to decide which style is right for you. Once you have narrowed it down to either a spray-in or drop-in liner, you can start looking at specific models, designs and colors. Should you choose a drop-in liner or a spray-on liner? The best way to figure that out is by considering the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Pros and Cons of Spray-In Truck Bed Liners
Like many truck accessories, including truck lift kits, spray-in truck bedliners have their pluses and minuses. A few of the advantages of spray-in liners include:
- No Shifting – Because they are sprayed right onto the panels of the truck, spray-on liners do not shift around while you drive. Therefore, dirt and debris cannot get beneath them to cause damage to the bed.
- Easy to Clean – Spray-in liners tend to be a breeze to clean, so maintenance is no big deal.
- Prevent Dents – Although they are thinner than drop-in liners, spray-on liners are still thick enough to help prevent dents and other forms of minor damage.
- Sleek Style – The smooth, seamless style of spray-on liners makes them especially popular.
- Lots of Options – Many colors and finishes are available, so finding the right spray-in liner option is easy.
Some of the disadvantages of spray-in truck bed liners include:
- Permanent – You cannot remove spray-in liners, so you better be happy with this choice.
- Professional Installation Recommended – You can technically install them yourself, but it is easy to make serious mistakes.
- Staining – If something like paint gets onto a spray-on truck bed liner, it is likely to be there forever.
- Not Very Thick – Spray-on liners are not as thick as drop-in liners, so they do not offer as much protection.
Pros and Cons of Drop-In Truck Bed Liners
Drop-in truck bed liners tend to be quite popular. A few of their pluses include:
- Easy to Install and Remove – Unlike spray-on liners, drop-in truck bed liners are not permanent. They are easy to install and just as easy to remove.
- Thick, Rigid Designs – Most drop-in liners are very thick and rigid, so they offer superior protection.
- Easy to Clean – Just hose them down and wipe them off to keep them looking great.
- Flexible Styles Available – If you do not like rigid liners, flexible designs are also available.
There are some downsides to using drop-in liners. A few include:
- Shifting – Because they are not permanently affixed, drop-in liners shift around and could possibly cause damage to truck beds.
- Rigid Designs Promote Damage – In the case of rigid drop-in liners, sand, dirt and other debris can get beneath to damage the finish on the truck bed.
- Other Damage is Possible – Depending on the material it’s made out of, a drop-in truck bed liner can be gouged or otherwise damaged.
Take your time and consider plenty of options when shopping for truck bed liners. The extra research you put into it will pay off well in the long run.