Need to fix damage from drop in bed liner

[baxtej44]

Had a drop in bed liner in for the life of the truck, so that adds up to 21 years.


It's not even near as bad as I thought it was going to be, and I'm going to have to guess that my grandpa (the only owner besides me) never cleaned underneath the liner either, so it's in even better shape than what was expected.

As you can see, nothing major IMO. I want to take care of the rub spots before they turn into rust, and take care of the rust spots so they don't spread.

I think it's too cold to do a roll in bed liner (we are less than 50 usually right now), so i was looking to maybe create artificial bed caps with black paint maybe? The paint that converts rust to metal or whatever?


I don't know what would be best. I need like detailed instructions and materials lists though! Never done any type of this stuff before.

 

[atvkid4eva]

if you want to put a "do it youself" bedliner then there are brands such as herculiner and i believe dupont makes a kit they are sold at local auto parts stores or summit racing sells them also, but they come in a kit with all the tools needed to do one bed..from experience they are not going to last as long as a professional bed liner such as line-X but they will if applied properly protect the bed pretty well and look decent..just follow the instructions..i would do it in a heated garage or wait until the temperatures are around 60-70 or whatever the kit lists as the desired temps...and FYI you lucked out big time on your bed being that clean under the lay in bed liner since water likes to sit under there and rust the bed really good...trust me i found that out on my 97'..good luck. -Bobby

 

[baxtej44]

if you want to put a "do it youself" bedliner then there are brands such as herculiner and i believe dupont makes a kit they are sold at local auto parts stores or summit racing sells them also, but they come in a kit with all the tools needed to do one bed..from experience they are not going to last as long as a professional bed liner such as line-X but they will if applied properly protect the bed pretty well and look decent..just follow the instructions..i would do it in a heated garage or wait until the temperatures are around 60-70 or whatever the kit lists as the desired temps...and FYI you lucked out big time on your bed being that clean under the lay in bed liner since water likes to sit under there and rust the bed really good...trust me i found that out on my 97'..good luck. -Bobby

yeah i planned on doing herculiner or something of that sort eventually, but unfortunately, i waited too long and it's too cold.


if i do decide to do like a truck bed liner in a spray can, will it come out bad since it's cold? i do not have access to a heated garage



and thanks, yeah idk how I got so lucky with my bed.... i'm in nebraska too, so we do have rust problems.

 

[strvger]

next time you're at wal-mart of one of the auto stores, just pick up a can and read the back. i'm bettting it's a little too cold really. w've had temps in the low 20's already up here.

 

[flyingbrick]

That one hole looks pretty nasty, I'd tap it down with a hammer and then at least for the winter i'd take a scotch-brite pad to take off the loose paint around the holes, and get a spray bomb of Rust-Oleum thats close to the trucks color and hit it up just to cover it.

And IIRC your truck had a cap, thats why your bed looks so good no water got to the liner in the first place.

 

[baxtej44]

That one hole looks pretty nasty, I'd tap it down with a hammer and then at least for the winter i'd take a scotch-brite pad to take off the loose paint around the holes, and get a spray bomb of Rust-Oleum thats close to the trucks color and hit it up just to cover it.

And IIRC your truck had a cap, thats why your bed looks so good no water got to the liner in the first place.

you think even since it's cold it would still be okay?

and ya but i figured water would still get in through the gap... who knows! but i'm lucky i guess either way haha...


any way to get the closest color with rustoleum? or just find a light grey/silver spray and deal with the results?

 

[scott5640]

yours lookes better than mine does, i spray painted mine so its even worse

 

[sparkdic]

For a temporary fix your best to just deal with the closest match you can get for now and when the weather breaks in the spring go back over the the rust and do a good spray-in liner. I wish the bed of my 97 was that nice when I took the liner out.

 

[baxtej44]

looks like i will do what is suggested...


what about the part of that one hole that has a split coming from the hole?


would i have to fiberglass that? what about using a silicone sealant on the holes and then spray painting over it?



also, it's considered bad to leave those tie down square holes open like that? or what else can I do with them? i know you can buy the tie down ones... but i don't want to spend a lot, and i'd prefer to leave them if nobody thinks it will do any lasting damage.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You outta get a topper, then nobody would know the holes are even there.

That may be why your bed is so clean too... the topper that used to be on there. My bed isn't rusting out from my drop in, but the liner keeps the paint rubbed off of the bed... which also keeps rust from forming. I am kind of stuck with it until I repaint the truck thanks to a rub on the ouside of the bed like you have.

also, it's considered bad to leave those tie down square holes open like that? or what else can I do with them? i know you can buy the tie down ones... but i don't want to spend a lot, and i'd prefer to leave them if nobody thinks it will do any lasting damage.

Don't worry about them, they are open inside to drain freely.

 

[baxtej44]

You outta get a topper, then nobody would know the holes are even there.

That may be why your bed is so clean too... the topper that used to be on there. My bed isn't rusting out from my drop in, but the liner keeps the paint rubbed off of the bed... which also keeps rust from forming.



Don't worry about them, they are open inside to drain freely.

i hated my topper lol... it looked like a grandpa truck (weird that i bought it... FROM MY GRANDPA)

gonna get a scuff pad (are they marketed as "scuff pads" by 3m?) and some silver rustoleum paint and hope for the best


scuff pad and maybe some 300 grit sand paper and some duplicolor adhesion promoter?

 

[flyingbrick]

You should not need the sandpaper, just the scuff pad and paint, when you do paint it wait for a warmish day, and grab a hair drier to warm up the area before/after painting till dry. I'd not bother trying to patch the holes in the bed till summer, just the one that is pulled up, tap it flat with a hammer before scuffing.

 

[baxtej44]

You should not need the sandpaper, just the scuff pad and paint, when you do paint it wait for a warmish day, and grab a hair drier to warm up the area before/after painting till dry. I'd not bother trying to patch the holes in the bed till summer, just the one that is pulled up, tap it flat with a hammer before scuffing.

sounds great... i will probably take a few pictures and let you guys know how it goes.


hair dry it on a warm'ish (as warm as it's gonna get in october in nebraska haha) day for a couple minutes or so you think? what about a heat gun? will that bubble the paint of anything? it would be alot quicker if i can like somehow spread the heat so it's not so focused

 

[flyingbrick]

I've seen too many people mess a nice pant job with a heat gun, I'd use a hair drier as you just want the bed sidewarm and then keep the heat on it for 10-20 min to make sure the paints good and dry before you move on to the next spot. Yes it a PITA cause you'll freze well doing it but unless you have a highshcool with an auto shops class it will give you the best resualts.

 

[baxtej44]

dang.... 15 min of using a hair dryer on just one spot? :-/


and no my high school doesn't have a shop unfortunately.


i wonder if a local place would let me borrow a shop for a bit if they are heated... worth calling and asking?