Truck accessories guide

As trucks have become more expensive and nicer to look at their owners have become more interested in keeping them looking good.  The most important truck accessories for your truck bed are those that will protect it from scratches and dents while providing a non-slip, shock absorbing surface.  A custom fit liner will offer much greater protection as it is designed specifically for your truck.

Truck liners can be divided into:

Spray on

If you get this done professionally then the entire process should take two to three hours and dries in a matter of seconds.  First the truck bed will need to be lightly sanded to allow the lining to be installed.   A spray gun is filled with polyurethane and the liquid is sprayed directly onto the panels.  Advantages of the spray on liner are that they look good, are relatively cheap and are easy to clean.  However, they don’t offer as much protection as some of the other types of liner and so are probably a better option for people who mostly require them for domestic use, rather than heavy use.

Drop in

You can buy drop in liners that are custom made for your truck and this is advisable as a poorly fit drop in will move around the truck bed scratching what they are supposed to be protecting!  They are easy to put in, remove and clean and are generally made of toughened plastic.  These truck accessories are particularly good for preventing the dents that could be caused by heavy loads.  You can buy liners that just protect the bed itself as well as some that come up and protect the side walls as well.  Though appearance wise drop ins aren’t as good as spray on liners, they are up to 10 times more damage resistant.

Bed mats/rugs

These are heavy duty extruded plastic mats with an adhesive coating on the underside to stick to your truck.  You will need to clean your truck thoroughly before installing the mat as otherwise dirt between the mat and bed can cause scratches.  The more rubberised nature of the mat, compared to a spray on or drop in liner, means that they are more slip resistant to the other types.

Truck bed covers

Truck bed covers come in many forms from soft and lightweight, which can be rolled up, to retractable and folding solid covers, which give greater protection.  These truck accessories can all be bought from any good truck dealership.