Thinking About A Spray-On Truck Bedliner? Think Again

Friday, March 1, 2002

hanger cn esi me as Cttewd atl an ii rf 7 rood Ne woot ™ ‘i tee, knit i % heed. Thinking About A Spray-On Truck Bedliner? Think Again (NAPSA)—If you own a pickup truck, you likely value its power and practicality, as well as its appearance—andyou'd like to protect that appearance from the wear and tearall trucks receive. If any of the above is true, your truck is a good candidate for a bedliner. A bedliner, by definition, is a product designed to protect the truck “box” from dents, scratches, corrosive materials and otherelements that could undermine the durability and value of the vehicle. Leading bedliner manufacturers have attacked this challenge through the development of very strong, high-density polyethylene “drop-in” inserts manufactured from vehicle-specific molds. This ensures a precision fit and seamless construction for total protection of the truck body surface. “Spray-on” bedliners are paintlike formulas that are applied to the interior of the truck bed. They are susceptible to dents, abrasion, UV-induced fading and other potential damage—and they’re significantly more expensive than drop-in liners. “Both types of bedliners—dropins and spray-ons—are widely available for any light truck, but that’s where the similarities end,” said one truck accessories dealer. “If you’re really concerned about protecting the truck and getting the best value from a bedliner, the only true solution is a good dropin model.” Many truck owners who have opted for spray-on liners already have learned that lesson. In fact, the process required to install a spray-on—the dealer must first grind the factory paint from the bed surface—is reason enough to look for other options. This step alone could void the vehicle’s paint warranty. In addition, spray-on liners provide just half the dent resistance of drop-in units. And when you do dent a spray-on liner, you are denting the truck’s sheet metal. A drop-in liner, on the other hand, is engineered to absorb the impact of heavy loads, preventing damage to the bed surfaceitself. Spray-on liners also are 10 times more susceptible to abrasion than drop-in units. When the spray-on liner is scratched through to the bed surface, the truck owner must return the vehicle to the installer for a professional repair— often at an extra cost. “Some spray-on bedliner companies promote the appearance @ and skid resistance of their products more aggressively than the durability,” said Tom Anderson, director of engineering for Penda Corporation, a leading manufacturer of bedliners and other truck accessories. “But consumers have learned they can achieve the same or better appearance and much better skid resistance from one of the new generations of drop-in liners. Plus, they’re getting a product that’s going to stand up to heavy loads and hard use.” In addition, premium-quality drop-in liners, such as the new Pendaliner Skid Resistor”, are far less expensive than most spray-on liners. They also come with comprehensive nationwide warranties and include built-in features like tailgate cup holders and slots for load-securing boards. “A light truck is a big investment and a bedliner is an important tool for protecting that investment,” said another accessories retailer. “If I were concerned about truly protecting the truck bed, I wouldn't consider a spray-on.” Bedliner manufacturers urge consumers to visit www.bedliner facts.com for more information on how to select the best bedliner for any light truck.

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