I have heard varying opinions, but do trucks with plastic bed liners cause the bed to rust?

I had a bed mat on a previous truck and it did in fact cause some rust.

I do prefer the spray in bedliner, but since I already have the plastic version I may not do the spray-in.

Comments, suggestions?

 

Well the problem I've had with drop in plastic liners is that they move around in the bed a little bit. Over time of course this will rub the paint off the bed and expose the metal to the air and moisture. Another problem is that when water gets under the liner it stays there and causes rust. A rubber bed mat isn't quite as bad, but a spray in is the best protection out there. Just my experiences.

 

The only problem I've seen with the spray-in bedliners is that they don't offer the same protection against denting the inside of your bed with whatever heavy blunt object you accidentally drop in there. The drop-in kind, since in most places it isn't actually touching the metal of the bed, will absorb much more of a denting blow.

I'm going to go with the spray-in for my '03 Hemi when I can afford it! :P

 

I got the spray in liner from the factory so no chance of rust.

It was all part of the deal so I didn't have to save up for it.

I wouldn't get the lay in liner. I think rust could be a problem.

 

I just replaced my plastic liner after I took a peek underneath it to reveal some rub marks throughout the bed, mostly down to the primer, some bare metal. I plan on keeping my truck for many years to come so I decided it was better to handle it now before the problem just got worse.

The local Rhino Liner dealer did a beautiful job. They sprayed 1/4" thick on the floor and 1/8" on the sides. Seems pretty durable but I haven't really put it to the test yet. Lifetime warrenty against cracks.

If you plan on keeping your truck for a while, I highly recommend it.

 

Just for curiosity sake, how much did it cost?

 

Oh, it was free with the purchase of my truck.

 

I had my bed sprayed with Line-X today. It cost $429 for in the bed only, or $479 to include the top-rails which is the way I went. I had Line-X in my Ford for about 7 years before I traded it in for my Dodge. Obviously I'm a repeat customer, so I think highly of the stuff. Lifetime warranty, so I won't have to worry about anything going bad a couple of years down the road. I also put a lid on today so this stuff will last forever. The Ford was more of a work truck for me, the Dodge will be more of a play truck.

 

I paid $339 for a Rhino. They were offering a $50 "autoshow discount". Long bed, under the side rails.
It depends on the local dealer. The ad said add $50 for long beds and he only charged me $10 extra.