Is Spray-on Truck Bed Liner Waterproof? Know what is available. I found this a common question with all truck owners who often carry watercraft, boats or kayaks in the back of the truck. I did some research on Truck Bed Liner Waterproof to get the answer.
Is the bed liner spray waterproof and rust proof?
Most of the popular bed liners that are available for the truck beds are waterproof and also rust proof. How long they will last depends on the quality of truck bed liner you apply.
There are many types of bed liners and you can even make one at your home, but if you need a permanent solution and don’t want to bother about your truck bed, the spray-on liner is the best option. Other than making your truck bed waterproof it provides tons of other benefits, but don’t expect it to solve all your bed lining problems unless you apply the right type of bed liner from a reliable manufacturer. Spray-on bed liners are not simple to apply, because it needs some initial prep work and has to be applied by a professional. So, you can’t apply the spray-on liner at your home. However, if you need only waterproofing, there are other simple options available.
Table of Contents
Waterproofing Your Truck Bed With Spray-on Bed Liner
Professional:
Spray-on bed liners are essentially a painted coating which has to be applied in a paint shop using a spray gun. Since it is a coating, your truck bed has to be properly prepared to apply the spay. The truck bed has to be stipped down to the primer or base metal using a sander, then it has to be properly cleaned.
Sometimes a chemical cleaner is also used along with the grinding process. Then the liner is applied by trained installers in the shop. They make sure it is not overspray on the back of your truck’s cab, or on the fender. There has to be ample separation between your vehicle and other vehicles; in-fact your truck bed should be sprayed on in an actual spray booth with a separate ventilation system.
DIY:
You can also spray-on the truck bed at the convenience of your home using DIY spray-on and roll-on liners. For that also you have to prep the bed. Start by washing the bed with car wash soap and allow it to fully dry. Scuff the surface with 36 grit sandpaper. Then wipe off all the sanding debris and dust. You could also coat the bed with the adhesion promoter or primer as provided by the manufacturer.
The type of coating that is applied depends on the manufacturer you choose. Most coatings are polyurethane, which hardens when exposed to the atmosphere. There are other types of coatings too such as aromatic and aliphatic, among which the aliphatic variant are expensive because they don’t fade as fast as other options.
The spray-on bed liner creates an airtight seal that doesn’t allow water, dirt, sand or other loose material to make contact with the truck bed. Unlike drop-in liners, it is far most efficient but is also expensive. It can cost you as much as $1000, depending on the type of bed liner you install.
Having said that these waterproof bed liners also offer various types of protection and are available with a lot of other features that could be used to improve the durability and year-long performance as listed below.
Other Amazing Benefits
- Creates a water-tight and vacuum-like seal
- Moisture can’t get underneath a spray-on bed liner
- Doesn’t need to be tailored to the size of your truck bed
- Covers the entire surface of the truck bed without leaving gaps
- Protects against corrosion and rust from elements or most chemicals
- Reduces slipping and skidding with a textured surface
- Bonds permanently and dries in seconds for fast and easy applications
- Safe for potable water applications
- Offered in many great colors to match OEM specs or other custom choices
- UV ColorCoat stability maintains appearance even in prolonged direct sunlight
Some Cons of Spray-on Bed Liner
- They are not removable. You can’t take out your spray-on bed liner out of your old truck and drop it into your new truck.
- High-quality bed liners are expensive. Many opt to apply a low-cost coating and re-do it later if needed, hence they don’t worry about the warranty either.
- It provides no protection against dents and dings, unlike the drop-in bed liner.
- You can’t apply it by yourself. The installers must be trained who are careful and give attention to detail. However, there are DIY roll-on bed liners, but they are prone to damages.
Does It Fade?
As discussed earlier, the aromatic coatings fade whereas aliphatic coatings do not. Most spray-on bed liners are aromatic, which is why they are sensitive to UV light from the sun which makes them fade away in time. Whereas aliphatic coatings are not sensitive to UV light and are more color stable.
There are a few ways you can prevent the fading. You can apply products such as Rhino Shine on the faded liner to bring back its shine. You can also choose to have a UV top coat applied at the time of spraying on the bed liner. We advise you to check your UV coating every three years to make sure it hasn’t scratched.
If you are looking for a more permanent option, you could apply an aliphatic based product; it lasts longer and fades gradually. Another option is to simply take better care by cleaning your bed weekly using products that don’t contain any oil or harsh ingredients.
Can I Paint the Entire Truck Using Spray-on Bed Liner?
Yes, you can! For the last few years, it has become a trend among truck owners to spray the whole truck with bed liners. It not only protects your pickup truck from damage but also gives a course and matte-like finish. Initially, it only used to be all-black bed liners but now you can see tuck owners coming up with interesting colors and designs. However, before you spray your whole truck with bed liners, here are a few drawbacks you should be aware of.
First-of, this modification is not cheap; coating the whole vehicle may cost you around $5000. You also have to keep in mind that it’s permanent and you can’t just peel it off like other plastic dip coatings. You should also be aware that bed liners fade away, which means you have to apply a UV coating after the spray. Herculiner UV Topcoat is a great product to start with.
Can I Use This for Undercoating?
If you don’t mind the expense, it’s a great option to undercoat your truck chassis. It provides protection from snow and salt, protects from rock damage, chassis can be cleaned easily, contaminants such as grease and dirt won’t stick to the bed liner.
However, like the usual truck bed, it requires some prep work. First of the undercarriage should be clean and brushed off to make it rough, so it is better if your spray bed liner on a new truck. If you have an older vehicle and need rust repairs, it is the right time to do it.
Is the Texture Really Coarse or Can It be Made into the Texture You Want?
Bed liner texture can be both fine and coarse. It can be adjusted from the panel and air pressure. Lower air pressure provides a greater droplet to make the texture coarser.
What are the Other Types of Truck Bed Liners?
Truck bed liners are typically four types: spray-on, drop-in, bed rug, and bed mat.
- Most common bed liners are drop-ins; it’s made of plastic and is molded to fit securely on the inside of the truck’s bed. They are great for heavy loads such as bricks and woods because they absorb the shock. If you are in construction, a drop-in bed liner would be a cost-effective and a better option than spray-on bed liners. It typically costs under $600.
- Bed rugs are moderately priced and are more convenient. It lays flat on the bed, or customers can pay more to have the rug stretch up to the sides and onto the tailgate. Bed rugs require no drilling and are molded tightly so nothing gets underneath. It typically costs under $550.
- Bed mats are the most affordable option available. It is made from recycled rubber and will cost just under $100. You can roll it in and out of the truck bed and is good at preventing items from sliding around.
Product Recommendations (Truck Bed Liner Waterproof)
- Bedrugs & Drop-in Bed Liner – I recommend BedRug Bedliner for full truck bed and tailgate protection.
- Bed Mats – I recommend the popular Dee-Zee truck bed mat.
Related Questions
Is spray-on truck bed liner better than drop-on bed liners?
Yes, a spray-on bed liner is permanent and stays on the metal as if bonded, leaving no gaps for moisture, water, snow, or dirt to accumulate. Moreover, it makes your truck bed corrosion resistant and prevents is from weather damages. Drop-on bed liners are great at providing stability to the cargo but don’t give the range of protection a spray-on truck bed liner offers.
Can I install the spray-on bed liner on my own at my home?
Yes! but you have to specifically buy DIY spray-on or roll-on bed liners. They are not as durable as the professionally done spray-on bed liner. However, they are much cheaper than the professional alternative.
How much does it cost to install a spray-on bed liner?
For professional installation such as Line-X or Rhine, it will cost you between $750 to $1500. However, if you are using DIY spray-on or roll-on bed liners, it will cost you just over $200.
Conclusion
The first thing truck owners buy after their truck is a bed liner. A spray-on bed liner is a great option for added durability and performance to your truck, along with making it waterproof. However, before buying you should check out the various manufacturers of high-quality spray-on bed liners, such as LineX and Rhino.
You can also opt for DIY spray-on truck bed liners which we don’t recommend; however, if you are still interested you can look into brands such as U-Pol Raptor, Herculiner, Custom Coat, etc. They too provide basic protection such as waterproofing, rust resistance, slide resistance, etc. Be it a family car or to carry heavy duty items, a spray-on bed liner is a great choice to keep your truck bed protected from the items you carry and at all weather conditions.
With a wrench in one hand and a trucker’s hat on my head, I’ve been knee-deep in the world of trucks for over a decade. From tinkering in greasy garages to cruising down open highways, my life has been one big trucking adventure. I’ve hauled, repaired, and revved up more rigs than I can count, and now I’m revving up your truck knowledge with articles that’ll steer you right.
