The Correct Way of Applying Spray on Bed Liner

Most people prefer to have a pickup truck because it’s more versatile than a standard car. A pickup truck is a ”muscle car” that can transport light materials and most heavy tools and items easily.

If hauling cargo is your primary purpose for investing in a pickup truck, you should think of the best protection for the truck bed before it suffers from dents, scratches, and rust. Over time, these minor damages can become serious issues like peeling, cracking, and rust.  

Best bed liner option

Although more expensive than other bed liners, a spray-on truck bed liner is your best option. Many types are available in the market, one of which is Durabak for trucks, made from polyurethane and available in several colors. 

A spray-on or spray-in bed liner coats every exposed metal of the truck bed, creating an almost permanent tough, non-skid coating that resists UV rays, different weather conditions, water and other liquids, dirt, debris, and rust. 

However, it needs a professional to apply the coating, although it pays to know the proper way of applying the coating to maximize its protective properties. 

Preparing the truck bed

Hiring a professional to apply the spray-on bed liner will give you the best result. They have the required training and equipment for the job. It is an excellent idea to know how the supplier makes the truck bed ready to receive the spray-on bed liner. 

• Remove all the accessories. Remove the truck’s tailgate. Clean the truck bed thoroughly by vacuuming or sweeping the debris and dirt from the bed. See to it that the drains and holes are clear before you scrub the bed with mild detergent and water. Scrubbing will remove the petroleum, wax base residue, and oil coating the truck bed’s surface. Leave the truck bed to dry completely. 
• Put tape on specific areas. Mask off the areas that do not need any coating. Do the same for the tailgate. Cover every drain hole with tape and seal them. 
• Roughen the truck bed surface. Some professionals remove the previous coating to ensure that the surface is bare so that the coating will adhere to the metal surface of the bed. Some will spray over the painted surface after scuffing it. Scuffing means creating texture on the surface using sandpaper. This ensures that the spray-on coating will firmly adhere to the surface without bubbles.
• Clean the truck bed. Because you scuff the surface, sweep or vacuum the truck bed once again to remove debris, dust, and paint particles. Make sure you pay attention to the corners and seams where dust collects. 
• Apply primer coat or rust converter coat. Coat the uncovered and bare areas of the truck bed with the primer and leave it to dry. Remove drips and paint splashes with acetone. Allow the acetone to sit for a few minutes before wiping the surface with a clean cloth. 
• Apply the bed liner coating. After ensuring that the truck bed is clean and dry, apply the bed liner with a brush or spray gun. The first coat will take five to six hours to dry. Allow the first layer to settle within that period before applying the next layer. 

You can appreciate how much more it takes to protect your truck bed. But the result will allow you to use your truck without incurring serious damage to the bed of your truck.