Keep Drop in Liner or get Line-x/Bullet

[mustang marty]

We had a drop-in liner in our '02 Tacoma and we loved it for the 17 years we owned it.

Our 2019 Ranger has the Ford factory Toughbed sprayed in liner.

Just some observations.....

• Sliding finished lumber against a spray in liner scratches the lumber because of the rough spray in surface. Not true with a drop-in liner.
• If you get something like pine sap on the spray in liner (we live in a pine forest, hauling limbs is a regular thing) it's next to impossible to clean it off. Cleaning stains off a drop-in liner is easy.
• Sweeping out a drop-in liner after hauling a load is a piece of cake compared to a spray in liner.
• For folks that live in a 4-seasons location, another thing I liked about the drop in liner... if you drive in the snow and snow is in the bed, when it melts the liner holds the water and it doesn't leak onto the garage floor. There is no good way to plug the drain holes in the 2019/2020 Ranger bed.
• I do like that I no longer have to fish tie down straps through the liner to get to the bed tie downs now.
• Stuff sliding around in the drop-in liner was never an issue. I always secure whatever load is being hauled.

I do agree with the benefits of a drop in liner , had one in my old ranger . Living in New England my ranger makes many trips to landfill with leaves .. Now I put plastic tarp over the Line X . And still had to hose out the bed .

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[TheKracka]

We had a drop-in liner in our '02 Tacoma and we loved it for the 17 years we owned it.

Our 2019 Ranger has the Ford factory Toughbed sprayed in liner.

Just some observations.....

• Sliding finished lumber against a spray in liner scratches the lumber because of the rough spray in surface. Not true with a drop-in liner.
• If you get something like pine sap on the spray in liner (we live in a pine forest, hauling limbs is a regular thing) it's next to impossible to clean it off. Cleaning stains off a drop-in liner is easy.
• Sweeping out a drop-in liner after hauling a load is a piece of cake compared to a spray in liner.
• For folks that live in a 4-seasons location, another thing I liked about the drop in liner... if you drive in the snow and snow is in the bed, when it melts the liner holds the water and it doesn't leak onto the garage floor. There is no good way to plug the drain holes in the 2019/2020 Ranger bed.
• I do like that I no longer have to fish tie down straps through the liner to get to the bed tie downs now.
• Stuff sliding around in the drop-in liner was never an issue. I always secure whatever load is being hauled.

Excellent points, been my observations as well.

Would like to add that a drop in liner protects the bed from dents and dings. Also if you ever haul anything like dirt, mulch, or rock good luck transferring that out with a spray in.

 

[Mandelbloom]

All very good points ! I will put some thought into it no reason to be in a rush given I have the drop in ?

 

[Ranger Chaser]

I just got the Bullet spray liner, looks good!

 

[lawrench]

I personally went with Line-X. When I was looking at the Ranger I was going to buy, I seriously thought about Ford's spray in bedliner. And then I saw this video:



I did not want a drop in bed liner because it will cause rust and other issues as it may trap water between the bed and the plastic.

But whatever a person decides, there is not a judgement on my part and you should not worry about what others may say. Make your decision based on your needs.

 

[HenryMac]

But whatever a person decides, there is not a judgement on my part and you should not worry about what others may say. Make your decision based on your needs.

Well said, make your decision based on your needs and based on the quality of the trucks paint. Some folks say the Ranger paint is so bad the drop in liner wears through it in a few months.

I had a factory drop in liner in my '02 Tacoma. Used it for 17 years... zero rust.

I personally went with Line-X. When I was looking at the Ranger I was going to buy, I seriously thought about Ford's spray in bedliner. And then I saw this video:

As to that video... consider who it was made by / with and if they have an agenda. Enough said.

Good - Better - Best.......

• Good - Drop In
• Better - Factory Spray In
• Best - Line-X

For 99% of the folks buying a Ranger... the factory applied spray in liner will work great and never be an issue.

 

[chasvs]

So my truck came with a drop in liner, it does not have the 12v outlet(I dont think where would it be) so I think they put it in after wasn't on the invoice.

Anyhow is it worth removing that and paying for the spray in if I already have it?

If so I can get Line-x standard for 475 or bullet for 425

Truck lives in the garage and has a tonneu cover I dont think I need to spend the extra for the UV protection.

Thanks for the advice!

Line-x all day long!

 

[Mandelbloom]

I just got the Bullet spray liner, looks good!

Looks great!!!

 

[Sam]

Go with Bullet Liner, you won't be disappointed. Much superior product then Line-X. It's a nicer looking product and very durable liner. I ve had mine since Oct 2019 with no issues and it still looks like brand new. Bullet put a special coating over top so it doesn't get that dull look.

 

[Mandelbloom]

Cool thanks did you get the “premium “ liner or the standard ?

 

[Randall E Meredith]

Thanks technically I didn’t pay for the drop in so it makes it easier to swallow . Truck was a loaner for a short time so guess they put it in .
Anyone ever do Bullet ?

I have the bullet and I'm happy with it.

 

[mustang marty]

I personally went with Line-X. When I was looking at the Ranger I was going to buy, I seriously thought about Ford's spray in bedliner. And then I saw this video:



I did not want a drop in bed liner because it will cause rust and other issues as it may trap water between the bed and the plastic.

But whatever a person decides, there is not a judgement on my part and you should not worry about what others may say. Make your decision based on your needs.

Have Linex in new Ranger only gripe tough to get loam or leaves totally out . Funny had 90 Ranger till last year with drop in liner , never any rust scratches or dents . That is 29 years ! Do not believe the story of rust under the old school liners .

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Have Linex in new Ranger only gripe tough to get loam or leaves totally out . Funny had 90 Ranger till last year with drop in liner , never any rust scratches or dents . That is 29 years ! Do not believe the story of rust under the old school liners .

Hi Marty,

We did a bit of research at Ford on these bed liners and found that there was a bunch of crap under the liner but the bed paint was intact. Took a bit of work to clean up but no visible points where the paint wore through to the bare sheet metal.... However, I have to say it was a limited study so there may be incidences. Based on this, I always recommend to just leave the drop in in the truck when you sell it. Not worth the hassle to clean and polish the bed paint....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[WVmanowar]

Ok thanks .. is the Line-x really better than Bullet ? The claim is Bullet is improved version of Line-X

The inventor of Line-X sold the company. He later invented a new formula and started a new business called Bullet. Not sure about comparing the two since the application depends on the dealership and not sure whether the Line-X formula was changed/improved.

Some times a dealer will sweeten the deal by giving you the spray-in bed liner for 'free'. I think you get the power receptacle in the bed with the drop-in liner. Truck Dealers normally work with local spray-in liner dealers and feed them business. It's worth the ask, especially if you can get the power in the bed.

 

[micl9]

I went to Bullet via the dealer - after the fact. The advantage was Bullet picked up my truck at the local dealer and brought it back. Saved me trips and logistics hassle of going to the other side of town.
Like I said before any of the big 3 spray in companies is probably fine, which one is closest, which one has best reviews, etc.
As the for the factory spray. I cant say on Ford, but my Frontier lasted 12 years with 1/3 that open to the sun and was just fine. One thing I don't like about the Ford liner is the put that Ford logo wart on the front wall - I see that eventually getting crushed, as I assume its a hollow piece of plastic. Not a bad idea to add the logo, but why did they make it stick out so far!?

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