DIY Bedliner Advice Needed

[Remo]

I'm considering applying bedliner to my rocker panels and the bottom of the doors to help ward off rust before I have to deal with another harsh winter here in New England.

I know people here have used DIY bedliner before, so please provide me your insights.

What I'd like to here:
Brands (Herculiner, Rhinoliner, Monstaliner, Rustoleum, etc....)
Methods (Roll/Brush, Aerosol cans, spray gun, etc...)
Results (What you'd do differently, what worked/didn't work, etc...)

I want to keep things EASY and cheap, but I want results that I will be satisfied with for years. My main goal is to stop/prevent rust on the rockers and doors. I want bedliner in black to match the trim on the truck. I need something that is durable and long-lasting. Thanks in advance!

 

[nvycrmn]

i herculined my entire cargo area. i used the roll/brush on application. the kit cost around 80 bucks. biggest thing is PREP.....PREP, PREP, PREP! i cannot stress this enough. application is easy. do one coat, not too thick. let dry for 2 hrs, then apply another coat. i would probably do this about 3 coats or so because i still need to do one more coat on the cargo area. there are pics in my albums if you want to take a look. it looks good, holds up well, but i am not sure how it will do as an exterior application. by this i mean i am not sure if it will fade with the sunlight or not, or how well it would do in a car wash/pressure washer situation. because it is textured, it is harder to make it look super clean once it gets dirty because you cannot wax it, but you could probably spray on some tire shine and call it good. anyhow, this is where i stand. i thought about doing the same thing as i am moving back to iowa this year so my truck will start seeing more snow/ice/salt than used to (FL truck). let me know how it holds up if you decide to use this product. good luck.

 

[panda24619]

a lot of us use rusto rattle cans. i used mine on my steps sides, and most plastic pieces so far. have lots to do still. i put it on my tow hooks and hitch too. prep is going to take the longest. clean the areas you want done. clean them good! then tape off everything you dont want bed lined then go to town. i got this stuff on my paint and let it dry for a few weeks. but with a lot of window cleaner as lubricant, an old rag and a little elbow grease it came right off. not a scratch.

 

[walnuts4x4]

cheap way would be use rustoleum bedliner.... and then some clear coat over it..... clean body with dawn soap to remove grease and grime and then let it dry before you paint it.... but the best way to do it is look into the RAPTOR bedliner kit...it needs a compressor to spray it but it is awesome... and a lot cheaper than rhino-liner..

 

[Remo]

I don't care too much if it fades over time, strength and durability are my prime concern. What do you guys think are the top 3 brands in that respect? Also does application method matter all that much (roll/brush, spray)?

 

[walnuts4x4]

read this....... rustoleum bedliner FTW.....

http://www.f150online.com/forums/ap...eum-spray-bed-liner-rockers-bumpers-done.html

 

[TheGuyWho]

read this....... rustoleum bedliner FTW.....

http://www.f150online.com/forums/ap...eum-spray-bed-liner-rockers-bumpers-done.html

Thanks for that!

 

[2000eb]

i would use powdered tide if you dont have wax and grease remover. powdered tide does not leave and residue. i worked at a paint shop and a paint store in the past and thats what we always recommended. works awesome as a final prep. then dont touch the areas to be sprayed with your fingers. there are natural oils on your hands. i have seen a freshly painted car that had a wrinkled hand print in it more then once

 

[panda24619]

i would use powdered tide if you dont have wax and grease remover. powdered tide does not leave and residue. i worked at a paint shop and a paint store in the past and thats what we always recommended. works awesome as a final prep. then dont touch the areas to be sprayed with your fingers. there are natural oils on your hands. i have seen a freshly painted car that had a wrinkled hand print in it more then once

ive seen that too. all the pros that ive seen only touch paint IF and only IF they have to with a white glove. not sure if its clothe or latex. but not with their bare hands.

 

[Soldier777]

I am out in the rockies and we get some pretty crazy weather. My truck looks as good as it did the day I sprayed it. I used rustoluem rattle can for the whole thing. that stuff is extremely durable, Check my album if you want some pics

 

[nvycrmn]

here is how the herculiner looks...

http://fordexpeditionforum.com/album.php?albumid=113&pictureid=1029

 

[Remo]

Thanks, guys.

 

[Remo]

Alright, I think I'm going to tackle this project this weekend. Here is the plan...
Remove running boards (temporarily)
Sand rust spots on rockers/doors to bare metal
Clean/Prep Metal
Mask off area to be painted
Prime Metal
Apply Rustoleum Bedliner (rattle can) to rockers and bottom of doors (inside & out)
Reinstall running boards after fully cured.

Am I missing any steps? Also, here is my materials list: 2 cans of bedliner, degreaser, pb blaster (to get the running boards off), primer, blue masking tape, newspaper for masking.

Any last minute advice would be great. Wish me luck! Thanks!

And of course, if I go through with this, I will try to get some pictures for you guys. I know how much we all love pics here.

 

[Soldier777]

Sounds like you got everything you need.... my only advice is take your time. All painting always comes down to prep. Oh and just watch out for over spray thats about it. have fun!!

 

[walnuts4x4]

only idea I would say... a coat or two of clear over the bedliner... I am going to be doing my dad's brushguard on his grandcherokee... will do a write up with pics if I remember...

the idea of clear over it is more protection and would allow the bedliner to last longer...

 

[Remo]

I made some progress on this project over this long weekend. So far, I have completed the inner-bottoms of all four doors. I sanded all the rust out with a wire brush and an angle grinder--some of it was really, really bad. I got down to bare metal in most spots, but I'm worried about any rust that is deep inside the seam that I couldn't get to. After that, did a ton of masking, two coats of rusty metal primer and two coats of bedliner. It looks pretty good so far--definitely an improvement from before. I'm skeptical of how well it will hold up and if it will even help stop the rust. But if it just gets me through another year or two without major rust, I will be pleased. I'll keep you all updated as I make progress and put some pictures at the end.

 

[Remo]

More progress today. Pulled the running boards off. Truck looks so much taller now. I like the look, but doubt it will stay that way for several reasons -- such as practicality and the fact that they hide rockers.

Majority of the rockers only had some bubbling and surface rust which was good news and will be an easy fix. But one section completely rotted through. I have a hole on the rear/passenger side about the size of a quarter. I'm bumming. Not sure what to do now.