I just bought a 2017 Chevy Colorado, Z71, crew cab, 2WD. This will probably be the last vehicle I ever by, unless something really weird happens.

My intention is to put in a bed extender and some kind of hard cover for the bed. But first, I need a bed liner.

I welcome any and all input as to the type. Do I want spray in? Drop in plastic? Bed rug? What should I avoid? I will not be hauling anything regularly. This is not a work truck. Cost is a factor but not the prime consideration. I would like to hear your experiences and thoughts. I thank you in advance.

I've had both Rhino, in my F350, and LineX, in my F150, and would recommend either. I would not recommend a bed liner. They have a tendency to chafe the bed over time.
LineX is a little more slippery than Rhino.

Whatever you choose, pick an installer who has done lots of them.
The prep and application are keys to a long lasting finish.
Dave

+1 here. Bed liners can also trap water causing rust.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I have had many pickup trucks over the last 5 decades and I have tried about everything in my beds. My trucks had to work for a living. About everything from fuel drums to pallets of Portland and quite a few elk and deer have gone for rides in the bed. For a truck that has to work and regularly hauls, I found nothing better than a rubber mat to keep things from sliding. Plastic bed liners were the WORST for securing a load. Put on the brakes or accelerate and your load slides from front to back and side to side. Spray on bed liners were somewhat better to keep loads from shifting but things do move more than I cared for. The rubber mat atop a 4'x8' sheet of 3/16" steel kept things from moving the best. The sheet of steel was used for extra weight for traction and an added reinforcing of the bed for heavy loads that got dropped. The drawback of the rubber mat was things did not slide that needed to slide. Spray on liners and plastic liners were better if you had to drag out your load. An elk is a big critter and hard to drag around. It is easy to unload with a plastic liner though. Lower the tailgate and back up fast. Slam on the brakes and there it is on the ground. We unloaded other cargo the same way. If pallets are to be loaded regularly, the rubber mat was more trouble. So a person has to figure out what the purpose and how it is to be worked and make a decision. Don't want anything moving, rubber all the way but you will most likely have to physically pick up your cargo and remove it. If suitcases and groceries is the normal load then spray on works good. If your load regularly has to be unloaded by hand and physically drag out your load then the slick plastic is the way to go. These are my observations from decades of use.

I have a bed liner that came with the truck but I also put in a rubber mat so things don't slide around.

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Don

My landlord in NC looked under his drop-in bed liner on his late model PU and found a bunch of deep rust, but it was not kept covered.

Good luck with and enjoy the new ride.

Had over 25 new mostly loaded 4x4pick up trucks and the only thing I will use is a bed rug. I carry all sorts of things and the mat keeps it (for the most part) from slipping around. Rug does protect the the bed floor, but to be truthful I realy do not care about scratches and dents, like in the inside walls.

HECK its a truck, that get used for personal driving, snow plowing, hauling anything I want and pulling a couple different trailers. I used to use a cap but hauling bigger things like firewood and ATVs I prefer a role up cover. Never had a dealer at trade in time get upset by the inside of the bed and to be honest most do not even look anyway. Normally its not in that bad of shape as I tie down or otherwise secure cargo.

Rug is now on its 8th vehicle now, that included cutting it down a bit from Chevy 8' boxes to Chev 6'5'' boxes and now on its second 6' Toyota. Good investment over a 20 year span.Now that I'm retired I'm keeping my vechicles longer as I do not put that much mileage on.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

My 2016 Nissan Frontier crew cab ; came with a sprayed on liner......

I added a rubber mat for my knees (it's long enough that it extends over the tailgate when it's down) its also been great at keeping unsecured stuff from shifting.......

The bed also has rails (front & sides) /w movable tie-downs and I got a sliding bed divider to hold "stuff" securely.

Also added a ........ ARE Z Series cap........ gives the truck an SUV look.

After 9 months I like the set up ...... for trips to the cabin or hauling the oldest to college......

I've had line-x in my current truck for 10 years.No complaints.

...3/4 inch plywood...easy to acquire...easy to install...easy to replace...paint it if you want to...it will take heavy impacts and save the bed...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

Put a good liner in in 1998. Still there. Hauled rock, gravel, sand, mulch, logs, brush, dogs, groceries, luggage, toys. Truck is garaged and I have either the tonneau cover or cap on when just driving. If you don't look under the liner, you don't see any rust. It's a Ford with a steel bed, and anybody drops a load of bricks in it will be paying for the broken bricks.

My last two pickups came with factory composite/plastic liners and I prefer them to spray in jobs. People in the northern climates that catch a lot of road salt say the plastic liners will trap salt in and rust the bed but in Oklahoma we don't really have problems like that. I had a Rollnlock locking aluminum rolling cover on my Nissan Titan and really liked it but it was a little pricey at $1500 but I would worry about theft if I stored anything expensive inside a vinyl or fabric bed cover.

As mentioned, drop-in liners will trap dirt and water and you'll be dealing with rust issues in a relatively short time, depending on your location.

Spray-in liners are good, assuming you go to a competent installer. What spray-in bed liners don't do is ever get removed. They mess up or do a bad job, just buy a new bed. And I've seen spray-in jobs that were pretty awful, where the owners were trying to scrub it out, so it's not uncommon.

Stay away from the DIY spray-in bed liners. Bad news all around and even when installed right, they're both slick and thin.

Another thought when dealing with spray-in bed liners is that you need to talk to the installer to make sure he sprays only what you want. I don't like the tops of the bed rails sprayed, I think it looks terrible, so I have them spray to the underside of the rail and stop. Many installers will spray the top of the bed rail by default, which I wouldn't want.

If you are spraying a bed liner in, and are also putting a bed cover on it, you'll want to leave the bed rails alone, otherwise you might not get a good seal on the bed cover.

"Bed Rug" is the only way to go if your not planning on trashing the inside of the bed. I've filled mine with firewood before and then just vacuumed it out. I love mine.

In past have used Rubber Mat and salvaged carpet.

Three years ago bout a Silverado with RUGGED brand liner.
Slippery thing - took it out - never regretted the removal.

Now: Rubber Mat with thrift shop throw rug.

Also have 2x6s which fit the fender pockets to stop sliding cargo.

Bekeart

I agree with some of the above posters. Bed liners allow rust underneath and chafing, I went with the Rhino{there are others like it}. Love it.

Got a Rhino liner on my 2010 Ford Ranger. I've hauled a lot of metal and plastic five gallon buckets of paint, ladders, bags of cement, lumber, etc. and can tell you, it's not indestructible but it does keep things from moving around. I had another pickup with a drop in liner and things flew around the back, never again.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

For me, it's the spray in bed liner with a good rubber bottom mat on top of the liner. Just make sure you choose a reputable, reliable installer who uses a good product. Spraying in a bed liner is like getting a paint job. How well it holds up and looks after the fact depends on the preparation done before the liner is sprayed!

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So long ... Ken

LineX here and I recommend it highly.
But like sausage, you don't want to watch it being made.
Watching someone take a sanding wheel to my , then brand new Silverado, still gives me the willies.
They are bulletproof when finished and I put a 6'x4' section of plywood down when I want things to be able to slide. Otherwise, it's like they are glued down where you sit them in the bed.

brother made a rubber mat that can be rolled up and tied to the front of the bed or removed .. he bought a large piece and cut it to size after making a template for it .. looks really good .. he has a Dodge Ram ..

Spray liner. Period.

However there are some things to know about them. The factory one is robotically applied, so it's uniform in thickness, plus it typically costs less than the aftermarket, which is surprising. Factory applied is a $399 option which aftermarket will run close or over $500. Aftermarket top two brands are Line-X and Rhino. Both now have nationwide warranties, so if you move or the shop that did the original work closes, you're still covered. The Line-X is harder while the Rhino has softer feel to it. For a while, they were also offering them in colors, but I don't know it that's changed. The standard product will also fade to dark grey, but I think they also have an additional cost product that's not supposed to do that.

Unless you are doing an old truck or a beater, shy away from the DIY stuff, as it may work, but it will never look as good as the professionally done ones, especially if you do the paint roller version.

How much better is a spray in over other choices? One of the reality/test shows blew up a pickup truck with one in it and the bed remained intact. So they coated a wall with it and it actually held up to another explosive device. Tough stuff, for sure, and you don't have to worry about water getting trapped between it and the metal to cause rust, or a liner rubbing off the paint and causing rust too. The one thing to watch for though is they are only as good as the people installing them. They need to spend the proper amount of energy scruffing up all the surfaces to be coated to make sure the stuff adheres properly. Additionally, the guy spraying it has to take care to make it even and avoid thin spots which can wear through (ask me how I know about this).

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

About 20 years ago, I won a gift certificate in a fun pistol match to a local car supply company. I purchased what amounted to an oversized Rubbermaid mat that has fit the 8' bed of my pickups. I rarely haul much beyond target equipment, so my boxes don't get too beat up. The first truck had a tonneau cover, the second (and current pickup) has a capacity. I have yet to experience any rust under the mat. Most of what goes into the box stays put. The mat helps to "soften" the floor and helps my damaged knees when I am crawling around and helps when I camp in the back. Plus, the mat is in near original condition and ready for my next truck.

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Judge control not gun control!

I have only owned one pick up truck in my life and it was a short bed Ford F-150 back in the early 80's. I had a Dura Liner hard plastic liner installed as I wanted the bed to last. It was mostly used for home handyman projects but for several years when I worked for the Perini Corp., I used the truck on large construction sites.

One of my home projects was to build a tool shed using rough cut lumber purchased from a local saw mill. I was almost home with the load hanging out over the tailgate (due to the short bed) to gain some extra length. I stopped at a stop sign leading out to a routed highway where a 90 degree right hand turn was required. Traffic was rather brisk and after waiting for what seemed like hours a small opening occurred. I stepped on the gas while making my right turn and the entire load slid out of the truck and landed on the highway. The pile was almost unchanged and was stacked as neatly on the ground as it had been in my truck.

I stopped, backed up to the pile and a nice guy in a panel truck stopped, pulled in front of me and came back and helped me reload my truck one board at a time. The drivers that passed in the fast lane were not very happy. We loaded the truck back up in record time and I was off again in a flash.

Tied down, the load might have stayed put but I was not experienced with pick ups and believed in gravity.

Other than that, the liner performed as expected whether hauling mulch, sand or dirt and rinsed out cleanly. With the tail gate closed, things will still slide if not tied down but won't usually end up on the highway.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Two words - Spray Liner!

My Rhino liner is 20 years old! The color match has faded but that's OK. I've got a lifetime warranty on it so I'm thinking of taking it back for a refresh this summer

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Really? U saw it in Wikipedia?

I have Liner X spray on and it's heavy duty only 1 little chip in 15 years use

Sent from my SM-S975L using Tapatalk

I have a velcro rug that came in my 08 Ram. It has needles from 3 or 4 Christmas trees ago, elk blood stains that don't come out and protects my knees when I crawl back in it. It gets removed and stored when I pull the 5th wheel but the velcro seems to stick OK so far. I have had the truck 5 + years.

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Front sight and squeeze

I had Line-X do my Tacoma 10 years ago. I like it, no issues or problems. If I buy a new truck someday, I'll probably have Line-X spray that one, too.

Sure, stuff will slide around a bit, but that's going to happen with a bedliner or without a bedliner. Loads need to be secured.

Based on the above ...... good quality heavy rubber mat. Think I paid $65 or so for the one in my F150.

I've had both and prefer spray in. My current truck is a 2006 which I bought when it was 10 years old ;it has held up well. If I ever buy a new pick up I will take the box off and spry the bed and underside both with Rhino Line-X or the like. I tend to buy ten year old pickups and keep them until they are dead.

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Jim in Iowa

2015 F150 Lariat: Bed Rug (~$450) and BackFlip hard cover (~$700). Mine is more of a "Texas Cadillac" sort of truck, seldom used for heavy hauling. But when called upon, the liner and cover were easy to install, are easy to work with (i.e. modify for bed-filling loads) and easy to clean. So far I'm happy with both. -S2

My first spray-in liner was a Rhino...held up well but turned an ugly gray....then when I bought a new Silverado some years back the new kid on the block was Perma-Tech spray in liners...the body shop that was the dealer for them said it would not fade..and had a lifetime warranty...in 9 years I had that truck it kept its color I'd guess about 90%...I miss that truck

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witty signature goes here

Just got a 2016 Silverado and the only thing to deal with on price wise was a bed liner. I was lucky enough that the Truxedo tonneau cover from the F-150 transferred the Chevy. With the bed covered it gets better gas mileage on the highway. Larry

In 2007 I bought my Silverado new. I put a bed rug and a hard flat cover on the bed of truck. When we were wintering in AZ we packed it with many items. Never used truck for moving or hauling stuff. Bed rug looks like new. Will transfer it to next truck.

I think it is better to get a bed rug .

I've had all 3. I definitely prefer the spray in liner. Mine is Line x.

I have been using stable mats in my last 2 trucks. Cheaper usually 30 buck or less, thicker and normally do not flap around. Downside is that they are heavy and are not made to fit the bed. I haul firewood, a lot of it, in my 2016 aluminum Ford F150. No dents. These are not perfect but they satisfy my needs. My latest one is grooved and definitely not slippery.

And there you go. I've used this method for years and it works well. Not as slick as a bed liner but you can still slide things on it. I also put two inch holes in each corner of the bed to aid in drainage. When one side gets too beat up I flip it over. And like PR said you can paint it if you like.

DW

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"NUTS"

Plastic bed liners are an invention of the devil!

Spray liners are good, but expensive.

A rubber mat is my favorite, and a lesser expensive option. If it's left out in the sun regularly, it will deteriorate; not to the point of being unusable, but to where it will leave a black stain on things that contact it. Parked inside, this doesn't seem to happen. Items in the bed WILL NOT SLIDE AROUND on a rubber bed mat.

Like I said in my post #7 I have over 20 years with one rubber mat and it is not deteriorated. Truck is outside 24-7 but is normally covered with a role up bed cover. As you say things do not slide around, but I tend to tie down (Ratchet straps) and/or use expandable cargo bars to maintain most cargo.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

I will agree with most above, stay away from the plastic bed liners. They hold moisture under them, they get "hot spots" under them and wear the paint off and they pretty much suck at hauling most things because they are so slick.
If cost isn't a major factor just go ahead and get Line-X or Rhino. There's not really a down side to the spray in liners, if you keep them out of extended direct sun they stay nice looking forever. I've got Line-X in my truck, with a rubber mat on top of that.

I have 3 Rhino liners. I bought them in 2000, 2006 and 2013. I would not have a new truck without having one installed. I have taken them back when I damaged them and their lifetime warranty has always been, watertite.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

Everybodys bed liner needs will depend on the intended usage of the bed. Given the fact that the OP's got a brand new truck and he intends to use the bed for light duty I'd be reluctant to spray in a permanent liner. I've got a rubber bed mat with a 3/4" piece of plywood with a rubber mat on it. The plywoods cut to clear the wheel wheels the gate can be lowered and the sheet can be pulled out to access stuff in the front of the bed. The bed is covered with a tonneau.

I've seen a removable bed liner take flight and have seen quite a few laying on the side of the road. For me, they are never an option. I have a sprayed in bed liner on my 2010 F-150 and it looks as nice as the day I bought the truck.

Update: We drove from Salt Lake to Vegas this past week and counted four of those drop in bed liners in the median along the way. Why anyone would buy one is beyond me.

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Join the NRA today

When I was restoring my Ranchero in 1991, Rhino had just been introduced.
Had it done in Jacksonville, FL. That shop really laid it on.
Whole bed is 3/16 thick indestructium.
Hauled everything under the sun and it still looks great. If it starts to grey with age, Rhino sells a refresh coating that works well.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Plastic bed liner came with my Toyota Tundra 17 years ago. Don't know a brand cuz it just has Toyota molded into it.
Never lost a load on the highway nor has it flown out. What am I doing wrong?

Take it out of the garage and drive it sometime!

PS my first Toyota Tundra had a snap-in liner and I never had a problem, course I threw the mat on top of it to keep stuff from sliding around!

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

In a previous life I sold new Ford trucks from Ranger through cab and chassis as big as you could get without a CDL. Of course I've owned quite a few also. I've had great luck with Rhino lining. One piece of advice, make sure the guys doing yours have a good amount of experience doing it. I have seen some real botched spray in jobs. Don't be afraid to ask who's doing yours when you drop it off and ask them how long they've been there (used to be two guys working together back when I was having multiple done a week).

Spray in Liner and BakFlip hardcover work for me.

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God spelled backwards is dog.

I guess I don't really see the point of expensive spray in bed liners. If you throw in a bunch of scrap iron or large rocks it's still going to dent the bed and scratch and scuff the spray in liner, why is that any better than the factory paint job? At least with the factory paint when you go to sell the truck you can buy a couple of cans of Dupli-color paint and spray the bed and it will look pretty good. My factory composite liner on my Nissan Titan was 10 years old when I sold the truck. I bought a jug of Armorall and moped it all over the bedliner and it looked darn near like new and I sold the truck for top dollar.

I also have the Bed Rug , really very happy with it, had it over 3 years, looks like new, not too hard to install, easy on the knees if you need to crawl in and out of the bed