Should I Rhinoline or bed rug?

[ywen]

So I just acquired an 03 Tacoma Xtracab.. Planning on building it up to be a mobile camper with a camper shell.

The truck currently has a plastic drop-in liner which sucks.. it's loud and it's scrapping paint off of the bed. That will definitely go. However with a shell, should I still get the bed sprayed? Or will a Bed Rug be sufficient(for traction purposes) given that the bed will be out of the elements.. Are there other significant benefits of a sprayed bed vs a Bed Rug when a shell is over it? Thanks

 

[Switch]

So I just acquired an 03 Tacoma Xtracab.. Planning on building it up to be a mobile camper with a camper shell.

The truck currently has a plastic drop-in liner which sucks.. it's loud and it's scrapping paint off of the bed. That will definitely go. However with a shell, should I still get the bed sprayed? Or will a Bed Rug be sufficient(for traction purposes) given that the bed will be out of the elements.. Are there other significant benefits of a sprayed bed vs a Bed Rug when a shell is over it? Thanks

If you are going with a shell, I think it makes more sense to do a bedrug. If you do go with Rhinoline, make sure they don't spray over the top of the bed sides which would affect shell fitment.

I had a berug on my 04 taco and it was great.

With my 06 I went low budget - I just used durarib mats from the home depot ($18 each). Two for the bed and one for the tailgate. I've got them on 1" of carpet padding for extra insulation for winter camping.

I used velcro to sick one mat to the tailgate:

 

[Wes Craiglow]

LOVE my BedRug. I do have my Taco topped and platformed for sleeping/storage. When I'm back there, the BedRug helps makes things nice and warm by insulating all sides of the bed thoroughly. Even prior to building the platform, though, it was wonderful to sleep on due to its thick padding.

Finally, it looks great, just like I want my truck to. When folks look back there, all they see is carpet, much like a fancy RV would be. I get a ton of compliments.

Pre-platform:

Post-platform:

​

BedRug was one of the best investments I've made for my truck.
Hope this helps! Good luck!

 

[TangoBlue]

Rhino or Linex. You'll want to haul something at some point that will gouge or leave stains or residue that a mat or rug will not protect against from damaging the bed or permanently staining or tearing the rug. You can always place a rug or mat in the bed for comfort and take it out to haul what trucks are meant to haul. My Linex wears like iron for the last 8 years and if it gets dirty I hose it out. If I need comfort, like sleeping in the bed, I throw down a mat. My 2 cents...

 

[jim65wagon]

Rhino or Line-X first, Bed Rug (or just a rug) second. The Rhino/LineX will stop the rust from happening with the already scarred paint.

 

[ywen]

good points about having the spray-in liner regardless..

Given that I'll primarily use it for camping, perhaps a fancy linex or rhino (price difference between the two?) is not needed. Is there a cheaper spray-in alternative?

For the spray-in method. Do I need to repair any existing rust on the bed first? Or will the spray coating effectively seal it out and terminate the rust?

 

[TangoBlue]

That's my primary use too, camping and wheeling, which includes hauling a lot of gear, fuel, lubricants, tools, spares, etc. Then there is the secondary and tertiary uses of hauling mulch, tools, building supplies, appliances, etc. Don't kid yourself - that bed will see more abuse than a Rubbermaid Action Packer and a sleeping bag.

There are many OTC products that you can apply youself, either roll-on or spray-on if you already have the tools. However, you get what you pay or... I have never seen a home application beat the quality application or durability of a professionally installed spray on liner. I say again... I have never seen a DIY product beat the quality of a professionally applied warrantied product. The DIY products inevitably scratch or wear off from gear placed in the bed or eventually bubble up and flake off in patches.

Not that there aren't some applicators of dubious skill, but if you pick an applicator with a quality reputation, you will enjoy years, if not a lifetime of protection.

Like I said, I have 8 years with my Linex and its withstood a lot of abuse from cinder blocks to fuels and chemicals and it cleans up with little effort and still looks great. But that's my opinion and experience - I'd rather pay for it once than go back and do it over again.

 

[7wt]

LineX, no questions. I had mine done under rail just before I stuck a Leer on it. I wished I had it done over the rails because the cap junked up my bed rails a bit. The LineX looks awesome and is stout as it comes. However dirty it gets, it just hoses off with no trouble. I will be taking my truck back to the LineX guy and have him tape it all off again to shoot the bed rails and tailgate to cover up what damage the cap did. Hereza pick of the day it was done.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

OK, Linex, Rhino-Coat, something else?

Which is better and why?

 

[7wt]

LineX is more durable than Rhino. Rhino never fully cures, always stays a touch pliable. It also dries out and fades a bit over time which leads to peeling and chipping. LineX goes on like hot road tar. As soon as you truck comes out of the booth it is ready for a full work load.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

LineX is more durable than Rhino. Rhino never fully cures, always stays a touch pliable. It also dries out and fades a bit over time which leads to peeling and chipping. LineX goes on like hot road tar. As soon as you truck comes out of the booth it is ready for a full work load.

OK, good to know. About what does a full-size bed (8') run?

 

[NothingClever]

Post-platform:

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That's a strange place to put your ERB .

 

[Youngunner]

I have some brand i can't remember, cheap local small town job (they didn't take off the tie down loops in the bed prior to coating). It looks like boiling tar, but is freakin indestructible! Line-ex is nice, but it feels too sand-papery to me. I'm getting a bedrug soon because the dogs just don't like being in the back without a blanket down or something soft. Plus it will look great with a new flippac!

Do both!

 

[7wt]

OK, good to know. About what does a full-size bed (8') run?

For the most part they keep the prices set. I think mine was like $375 out the door or something. Since they are a franchise thing, I am pretty sure you can find good deal if you poke around long enough. Honestly, for me it was worth every penny. I just wished I did it a lot sooner and over the rails. BTW, there is NO taking it off. It's a part of the truck now.

 

[jim65wagon]

My Rhino was done in 2002, it was the first thing we had done to the truck. $350 dollars, under the rail (like 7wt's LineX). It's mostly under a tonneau cover so it has not faded. Rhino is rubbery and pliable. Mine has not peeled, but, I have cut into with a shovel (unloading sand). I wouldn't hesitate to get Rhino again, but I would get whichever (LineX or Rhino) is available in my area.

On a side note; have the installer pull the bed bolts before they spray it! We elected to cover ours, then we had a deer destroy a rear fender. Consequently, the bed had to be unbolted. The body shop had to cut the Rhino and peel it off the bolts, and the fill around the bolts doesn't quite match the old liner...it's still functional, just ugly.