Is rust an issue with drop-in bedliner?

[Glen Baker LLC]

I stand by my opinion that the rust issue of drop-ins is overblown especially anywhere that salt exposure is a factor. The bed is going to rust out faster from the underside faster than from some boogeyman trapped moisture.

Absafricanlutely

Drop in bed liner no rust club.

The 2001 Tundra I just sold had a drop-in liner. Never saw any rust in the bed. My 2024 Maverick came with drop-in liner; I'm not concerned.

My 1992 F150 has a "Pendaliner" brand drop-in "thick" liner. All 8ft of it! Trucks been outside it's entire life. First 20 years with nothing covering the bed at all. Last 14 years it had a cap. Removed it for the restoration process and clean as a whistle underneath it. It will go back in it and stay there till I'm dead!

Sry, i find that hard to believe. My ram has had a drop in liner since i bought it new 17 years ago. No rust. I would hope fords beds arent that bad.

I had an 88 Chevy s10.had a drop in liner for years, no cover. Looked pristine when I removed it years later

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[Hootbro]

I prefer a spray in liner but the few times I had a drop in liner, I used a trick my Grandfather taught me of using a high density foam tape put down on the bed before the drop in line was installed. Put the tape strips over the wheel well arches and high contact point places. Cut down the rub through of the liner to paint area to pretty much nothing.

https://a.co/d/07kCIe89

 

[tiktokbrainrot]

I stand by my opinion that the rust issue of drop-ins is overblown especially anywhere that salt exposure is a factor. The bed is going to rust out faster from the underside faster than from some boogeyman trapped moisture.

Not if you get your vehicle treated regularly. An annual application of woolwax in the fall does wonders.

 

[OJJR]

I was thinking of getting Ford's drop-in bedliner when ordering the truck. I had read the drop-in bedliner can hold moisture and cause rust as compared to the spray-in bedliner. I will be putting a tonneau cover on the bed.

Here is what Google said:

Choosing between a drop-in and a spray-in bedliner involves comparing cost, protection, and cargo grip. Drop-in liners cost $140 to $400 and slip right in without prep, while spray-in liners cost $425 to $600 and bond permanently to the metal bed. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Drop-In Bedliners

• • Cost: Cheaper ($140 – $400).
  • Installation: Fast, requires no special prep or painting.
  • Pros: Absorbs hard impact hits well without denting the truck body; easy to remove and replace.
  • Cons: Can trap water, dirt, and moisture underneath, which causes rust; slick plastic lets cargo slide around; can vibrate, rattle, and rub off factory paint. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Spray-In Bedliners

• • Cost: More expensive ($425 – $600). [1]
  • Installation: Permanent professional application requiring surface sanding/prep. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Pros: Seals the bed completely against rust and moisture; textured surface keeps cargo from sliding; often includes a lifetime warranty. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  • Cons: Harder to clean out; permanent (cannot be easily removed if damaged); offers less protection against sharp heavy drops that can still dent the underlying metal. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

What did you get for your truck? Drop-in or spray-in?

Bought a new 150 sixteen years ago. Had the bed sanded and a sprayed in liner (the same color) installed. Absolutely no problem with it after all those years. My neighbor bought a new 150 two years later and didn't want to spend the extra money and dropped in one. When he took it out a few years later the bed was a rust bucket. Eiter spend the money now or spend it later.

 

[BillHanna]

The 2001 Tundra I just sold had a drop-in liner. Never saw any rust in the bed. My 2024 Maverick came with drop-in liner; I'm not concerned.

 

[tpollauf]

My 1992 F150 has a "Pendaliner" brand drop-in "thick" liner. All 8ft of it! Trucks been outside it's entire life. First 20 years with nothing covering the bed at all. Last 14 years it had a cap. Removed it for the restoration process and clean as a whistle underneath it. It will go back in it and stay there till I'm dead!

 

[Tim d]

Bought a new 150 sixteen years ago. Had the bed sanded and a sprayed in liner (the same color) installed. Absolutely no problem with it after all those years. My neighbor bought a new 150 two years later and didn't want to spend the extra money and dropped in one. When he took it out a few years later the bed was a rust bucket. Eiter spend the money now or spend it later.

Sry, i find that hard to believe. My ram has had a drop in liner since i bought it new 17 years ago. No rust. I would hope fords beds arent that bad.

 

[Brianx]

I had an 88 Chevy s10.had a drop in liner for years, no cover. Looked pristine when I removed it years later

 

[GlennBeer]

Drop in headliners can have fitment issues. Either the liner can be warped, or the bed’s sheet metal can suffer from build misalignment.

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