How to Apply a Bed Liner

A bed liner protects your truck's bed from scratches, dents and rust.

A truck's bed can get dented, scratched up or rusty, even if it is not used for hauling items. The best way to protect your truck's bed is to cover it with a bed liner. The two most common bed liners are the "Drop-in" and the "Spray-on" bed liners. If you want to save money on installation, you can insert the drop-in liner or paint the spray-on liner yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber hammer
• Painter's tape
• Screwdriver
• Paint roller
• Paint brush
• 80 to 120 grit sandpaper
• Acetone
• Rubber gloves
• Cloth
• Bed liner paint
• Paint stick

Instructions

Install a Drop-in Bed Liner

1. Purchase a drop-in bed liner for the make, model and year of your truck. The bed liner may be new or used.

2. Remove any tie down hooks from the truck's bed. Sweep out the bed of your truck and then hose it down to remove any dirt. Let the truck's bed dry.

3. Place the bed liner onto the bed of your truck. The bed liner will only fit in one direction and should cover and fit the back and sides of the truck's bed securely. Be sure that the square holes in the bed liner match up to the square holes on the trucks body located on the side rails.

4. Use a rubber hammer to tap the plastic fittings into place, into the holes, securing the bed liner to the truck bed.

5. Twist on the screw-on fitting caps over the holes. Some bed liners may offer pop-in fitting caps that you may tap into place with a rubber hammer.

6. Lay the tailgate down and attach the single sheet of the bed liner to the tailgate. Be sure that the screw holes line up from the bed liner and the truck's tailgate. Screw the bed liner to the tailgate into the designated screw holes using a screwdriver.

Spray-on Bed Liner

1. Remove any rubber plugs or tie down hooks from the truck's bed. Sweep out the bed of your truck and then hose it down to remove any dirt. Let the truck's bed dry.

2. Scruff-up the entire truck bed with sandpaper, use 80 to 120-grit sandpaper. Do not rush this step; be sure to go over the entire bed, including the corners and sides.

3. Wipe the truck bed with a cloth and acetone while wearing rubber gloves. The acetone will remove loose paint and dirt.

4. Tape off the edges of the truck to prevent the bed liner paint from getting on areas you do not want painted.

5. Mix the bed liner paint with a paint stick and paint the corners and edges of the truck with a small paint brush.

6. Paint the remainder of the bed with a paint roller, including the tailgate.

7. Let the paint dry at least two hours and then repeat Steps "5" and "6" at least one or two more times. The bed liner usually requires two to three coats.

8. Replace any plugs or tie down hooks while the last coat is still drying. By doing this while the paint is still sticky, the plugs and tie down hooks will have a firm seal to the truck. Do not place any items in the truck's bed for at least 24 hours.

References

• Ford Trucks: Installing a Do-It-Yourself Bed Liner
• Bed Liner for Trucks: Truck Bed Liners