Bed Liner with Topper Cap

[Kevin S]

Hey All,

I have a 2020 Ranger SuperCab (6’bed).

I have a topper/cap on order now and it should be here any day. Even though the bed will not be directly exposed to weather I’d like to have some protection on the floor, walls and gate for when I haul firewood etc.

I considered a spray or roll-on coating however I’m thinking that those rough surfaces may make it hard to sweep out splinters, chips and bark after a load of wood. I also considered a drop in plastic liner. Since I’ll have a topper on the truck I’m not so concerned about rain and snow getting under the plastic liner but am leery about debris slipping under at the back of the bed near the tailgate.

I’m open to all thoughts and suggestions.

Thanks

 

[sheep herder]

Drop in bed liners also make it harder to sweep out the bed.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have a topper on my '85, I will be doing a roll on bedliner with a rubber mat.

For ease of cleanout... you could do both?

I had a drop in in my truck for YEARS, like 2002-2019. It did get some stuff under it and mouse nests in ahead of the wheel wells but it caused no harm to the bed. I had a over the rail drop in (which doesn't work with a topper) so it had more room between the liner and bedsides than a under the rail.

Right after I pulled it out, I did clean up the mouse nests before I took the pic.

 

[Sharky]

do the spray in liner, you will be glad you had it done

 

[Roert42]

The only thing I ever liked about the drop in liner is they usually have slots in the side, near the tailgate, to put a 2X6. easy way to keep stuff from sliding around, especially if you have some kind of cover where you can't easily get to the nose of the bed.

I always liked bed rugs, but they are kinda shitty w/o a cover because it takes a couple days to dry. Could do one of those and just pull it out and shake it off when you need to clean.

 

[HenryMac]

Drop in bed liners also make it harder to sweep out the bed.

True, it will be harder than just the painted bed surface BUT it's much, much easier to sweep out a bed liner than it is to sweep out a sprayed in bed liner.

That's my only complaint with spray in liners... it's like freaking sandpaper, everything sticks to it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

True, it will be harder than just the painted bed surface BUT it's much, much easier to sweep out a bed liner than it is to sweep out a sprayed in bed liner.

That's my only complaint with spray in liners... it's like freaking sandpaper, everything sticks to it.

One reason why I am keeping my rubber mat.

Reason number two is crawling around on a truck bed kills my knees and the more cushion the better. And with a topper there is no other way to get to stuff at the front of the bed...

 

[HenryMac]

The only thing I ever liked about the drop in liner is they usually have slots in the side, near the tailgate, to put a 2X6. easy way to keep stuff from sliding around, especially if you have some kind of cover where you can't easily get to the nose of the bed.

The factory 2019/2020 steel bed has a 3" wide indentations on both sides in the back. Just right for doubled up 2 x 8's.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The factory 2019/2020 steel bed has a 3" wide indentations on both sides in the back. Just right for doubled up 2 x 8's.

View attachment 54180View attachment 54181

Only took them frigin 36 years to figure out they can do that in Rangers too...

 

[Dirtman]

I've had a drop in liner in my truck for 11 years now. I know people have horror stories about them but my bed looks brand new under it. If you get a proper fitting liner (mine is the factory ford one) they fit so well that you wont get debris under it. I pulled mine out for the first time in 2018? And my truck is a 09. There was maybe a half a cup full worth of dust/dirt under it. I absolutely love my drop in liner.

Only downside, stuff does slide around more than the spray on style, and the ridges in it are raised alot so its uncomfortable to lay in the bed with no sorta of coushin. Neither of which are big issues.

 

[Roert42]

Ford factory bed liner, I assume it was in there since 2003. All kinds of trash, leaves, and fur? under there.

Some of that rust is from the cloth heat shield on the bottom, but the paint is completely trashed all over the place.

 

[HenryMac]

Only took them frigin 36 years to figure out they can do that in Rangers too...

Do F-series truck's have them?

I've had a drop in liner in my truck for 11 years now. I know people have horror stories about them but my bed looks brand new under it. If you get a proper fitting liner (mine is the factory ford one) they fit so well that you wont get debris under it. I pulled mine out for the first time in 2018? And my truck is a 09. There was maybe a half a cup full worth of dust/dirt under it. I absolutely love my drop in liner.

Only downside, stuff does slide around more than the spray on style, and the ridges in it are raised alot so its uncomfortable to lay in the bed with no sorta of coushin. Neither of which are big issues.

I agree. The ridges though strengthen the floor of the truck be dramatically.

View attachment 54186View attachment 54187

Ford factory bed liner, I assume it was in there since 2003. All kinds of trash, leaves, and fur? under there.

Some of that rust is from the cloth heat shield on the bottom, but the paint is completely trashed all over the place.

To be fair... what's the rest of the truck body panels look like? Better or worse than the bed?

I've driven mid-sized trucks since 1985 as my daily drivers. I owned an '85 GMC and (2) Tacoma's all of which had factory slide in bed liners, none ever had rust issues. BUT I've always garaged my vehicles.

It looks like whoever owned yours Ranger before you road it hard... and put it up wet.

 

[Curious Hound]

I’ve had 2 F150’s with bed liners. No rust issues with either one. Both were under the rail type.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Do F-series truck's have them?

At least since 1997, my '02 has them. My '85 has stampings to lay boards flat to support plywood over the wheel wells and that is it... so they halfway had the thought.

My drop in was in since 2002, I cut/drilled holes in for a rollbar too.

FWIW the floor stamping for a 2011 is the same as an '83. Note newer trucks are still stamped for dual tanks, which was not an option after 1988. I do think something changed with the steel, the bed floors seem to rot worse than older trucks.

 

[Roert42]

To be fair... what's the rest of the truck body panels look like? Better or worse than the bed?

The fender on the bed and cab corners are pretty rough. The truck also has 250,000k miles. The frame is pristine though.

I can’t 100% attribute the rust to the bed liner, but there spots where you can clearly see the bed liner rubbed through the paint.