Relining Your Truck Bed? Keep These 5 Tips in Mind
Relining your truck bed can be done by just about anyone. It can be a tricky task but it can also be a lot of fun and end up looking great if done correctly. There are so many options available for customization of truck bedliners.
There are a few things you should know if you plan on beginning a do it yourself truck bed relining project.
- Having a successful bedliner spray gun during your relining process is very important. Make sure that the bedliner spray gun is designed to not chalk or fade the lining of the truck. Reflex and Gardit spray are very strong and can prevent slipping cargo, damage and dents to the truck, and absorb impact.
- There are two types of spray on bedliners: oxygen-catalyzed and chemically catalyzed. The spray gun for bedliner relining should be used to apply polyurethane/polyurea coatings.
- As far as price in concerned, spending about $40 per gallon for reasonable quality, and up to $250 per gallon for the highest quality products, as of 2014. The high-quality products typically have UV protectors, Kevlar reinforcement, and anti-slit additives like Teflon.
- Before the relining process begins it is important to prepare your truck bedliner as best as possible. Covering the rest of the truck so the paint does not ruin the exterior color of your truck should be done first. Make sure that there is no old paint or remaining rust on the truck bed and then you should sand away any corrosion or rust spots with 150-grit sandpaper.
- Applying only one coat of paint will not be enough to properly reline your truck bed, although many people believe that’s all that is needed. Once you apply the first coating of paint, it is wise to let that completely sit for about six hours. After the six hours are up and the pain has completely set and dried, then begin applying the second coat of paint.
There is a lot more that goes into relining your truck bed than you might have originally thought. Be sure to use the correct bedliner spray gun, clean off the entire bed before you begin the spraying process, and do the necessary research beforehand so that you can have the best possible result and the truck of your dreams.
