Pickup bed linings

[BogMonster]

What are people's opinions on these spray on pickup bed treatments, or indeed anything else good for coating working pickup load areas with?

I've been looking at Protectakote but also wondering about using stuff like normal undershield/stone chip, or the sort of bitumen-rich waterproof roof paints that you can buy, as a cheaper option (and an option that can be found locally, which would be helpful).

I've now got a Ford Ranger crewcab for a little workhorse but carting full 45 gallon fuel drums etc in the back is going to take its toll sooner rather than later and there is already a fair amount of rust in the bed from the previous owner, it had been worked fairly hard and the paintwork has quite a lot of minor damage. The drop in bedliners seem to cause more corrosion than they prevent as far as I can tell (trapping water underneath and chafing the paint through with vibration) so I wondered what else might be a good idea - I have treated all the rusty spots with Kurust (magic stuff) just debating what to splat over the top of that...

Ta

[Astro_Al]

Mr Monster, I was just thinking about this for my Mog. I've used Protectakote quite a bit and it wears VERY well. It needs a good key to the metal otherwise it tends to strip off (i.e. stays in one piece rather than wearing away).

One point though is that the little rubbery chunks don't let you slide stuff around too easily - which might be a pain in a load bed.

I'm thinking a slippy-ish surface (possibly wood!) with more tie-downs than you can shake a stick at is better than a high-friction surface like P'kote (shame cos I have a large can of it sitting on the shelf).

Its good paint. I dunno. Watching with interest...

Al.

[Mark]

Have you looked at the likes of Rhino Liner? from my research a while ago they were expensive and could only be applied by the retailer, but give you a smooth surface (rather than a grippy one) which would seem better for loading stuff in and out. There were only one or two people in the UK doing it, so getting it done near you could be a challenge...

[BogMonster]

There were only one or two people in the UK doing it, so getting it done near you could be a challenge...

Yeah that would be a problem....

I don't know what I think on the slippy vs. sticky debate, my inclination is that a grippy bed would be better as it would stop stuff sliding around but I don't know. A sheet of marine ply liberally soaked in exterior wood preservative is another option I had considered, but it doesn't get away from the problem that 1) I still need to paint the bed with something or it'll rust, and 2) it'll still trap water underneath.

The rubbery chunks sounded quite appealing to me too

[David Sparkes]

Google 'Fascinating Finishes' and you will get an Ebay store which markets a zillion different paints. That gives you an overview. Either Search within the shop for chassis, or follow the link http://preview.tinyurl.com/2o865u for a small tin.

Scroll down and read the description. I've used this on a chassis and it 'looks' tough, almost as though it has very small chunks in it. However, I've yet to abuse it.

Fascinating Finishes is the marketing name for Kingstonian Paints of Hull (UK), so in this case if you 'Ask Seller a Question' about a paint suitable for a loadbed in the condition and circumstances you describe you are likely to get an intelligent response (also based on the response to a question I asked).

MY assessment is that this would be a suitable coating for what you have, which would in turn stand up to the vibration scuffing caused by the piece of Marine ply which I also think is essential.

It has crossed my mind that a 'Chassis paint' might be justified as something your employer would buy for general use, thus 'saving' on the 'at cost' shipping charges that FF mention for purchasers outside the UK.

The discussion about 'sticky or slippy' is based on what your normal carrying practice is.

1 - Chuck bits in and hope they haven't flown out of the top by the time you reach jouneys end (Sticky).

2 - Always tie or net everything down so it can neither bounce out (light items), nor slide across and either burst the tailgate latch, or throw the vehicle sideways into the ditch (Slippy).

Cheers

[OilIT]

You can buy it off the shelf in the usa - the shop i bought my milemarker from had it on the shelf - and from memory they did international mail order as well - see

bed liner

or speedliner do a similar thing - but can be applied by specialists only (I found one in exeter area) - the beauty with them is that they can make it any colour you like - i have a sample in front of me which is in bronze green - as i was going to get the back of the vapour project (sorry S2a) done if and when i ever finish it.

A mate of mine in canada has his pickup beds done in it - and they take a real battering but seem to be very tough - over there you can state how much rough or smoothness you want.

Oilit

[BogMonster]

It has crossed my mind that a 'Chassis paint' might be justified as something your employer would buy for general use, thus 'saving' on the 'at cost' shipping charges that FF mention for purchasers outside the UK.

Thanks, it is for me not my employer though - living out in the sticks we have to cart fuel to the house in 45gal drums, though I do use it for work as well.

I lean towards "sticky" on the basis that a rubber mat in the back of any vehicle I have had has always been essential, even though the drums etc are ratcheted down they can still move a bit.