Truck Bed Mats - 3 Tips to Choose One
Any truck needs protection for the bed or over time hauling will take it's toll.
The toll is rust and corrosion caused by scratched paint and dings and dents.
So if you intend to haul anything in your truck bed, consider some type of bed liner.
There are several choices for covering a truck bed.
Why choose truck bed mats and how do you select mats that will work for your application? Heavy Duty Hauling? For casual hauling most any liner will work.
For heavy hauling heavy mats are just what you need.
Examples of heavy hauling are jobs like hauling a few concrete blocks or firewood or rocks or construction equipment or tools.
Any of these loads can severely ding and scratch bed paint.
Without bed protection, damage is guaranteed no matter how careful you are.
An inexpensive heavy rubber mat will absorb anything you throw at it and last for a long time.
Plus a heavy mat will cushion blows to eliminate most dents.
If after the mat is torn and worn, just pull it out and slide in another.
Another option is a reversible carpet mat with rubber on one side.
These mats are workhorses too, but the carpet is harder to clean and more likely to hold grease and grime.
But carpet is good if you need a non-skid surface and is very cushioning.
What About Weather? Rubber will stand any weather, but make sure your bed drains are open so water doesn't sit under the mat where corrosion can start.
Most carpet mats are ready for any weather too.
However a carpet if it stays damp is again a place for corrosion to start.
So make sure your bed drains well and remove the carpet liner to dry when you can.
Carpet bed mats or bed rugs are especially great for use under camper shells or under tonneau covers.
Any application where you may be down on your knees on the truck bed is a fine place for carpet.
A carpet bed rug combined with a tonneau cover is just like having a gigantic trunk.
Is A Bed Liner Better? What about a spray on bed liner? A spray on liner looks great and the professional liners are very tough and guaranteed.
But heavy duty hauling can ding and gouge a liner too.
The spray on liner advantage is the thickness of the liner puts a lot of material between the cargo and the truck bed surface.
It takes a deep gouge to get to the bed.
But who wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a bed liner and then beat it to pieces.
A bed mat makes sense even if you have a nice spray liner.
The mats can be sacrificed to prevent heavy damage to your beautiful and expensive liner.
For heavy duty hauling, a bed mat is a great way to protect your truck bed.
Mats won't cost much and will work in any weather with any load.
They even protect expensive spray on liners.
The toll is rust and corrosion caused by scratched paint and dings and dents.
So if you intend to haul anything in your truck bed, consider some type of bed liner.
There are several choices for covering a truck bed.
Why choose truck bed mats and how do you select mats that will work for your application? Heavy Duty Hauling? For casual hauling most any liner will work.
For heavy hauling heavy mats are just what you need.
Examples of heavy hauling are jobs like hauling a few concrete blocks or firewood or rocks or construction equipment or tools.
Any of these loads can severely ding and scratch bed paint.
Without bed protection, damage is guaranteed no matter how careful you are.
An inexpensive heavy rubber mat will absorb anything you throw at it and last for a long time.
Plus a heavy mat will cushion blows to eliminate most dents.
If after the mat is torn and worn, just pull it out and slide in another.
Another option is a reversible carpet mat with rubber on one side.
These mats are workhorses too, but the carpet is harder to clean and more likely to hold grease and grime.
But carpet is good if you need a non-skid surface and is very cushioning.
What About Weather? Rubber will stand any weather, but make sure your bed drains are open so water doesn't sit under the mat where corrosion can start.
Most carpet mats are ready for any weather too.
However a carpet if it stays damp is again a place for corrosion to start.
So make sure your bed drains well and remove the carpet liner to dry when you can.
Carpet bed mats or bed rugs are especially great for use under camper shells or under tonneau covers.
Any application where you may be down on your knees on the truck bed is a fine place for carpet.
A carpet bed rug combined with a tonneau cover is just like having a gigantic trunk.
Is A Bed Liner Better? What about a spray on bed liner? A spray on liner looks great and the professional liners are very tough and guaranteed.
But heavy duty hauling can ding and gouge a liner too.
The spray on liner advantage is the thickness of the liner puts a lot of material between the cargo and the truck bed surface.
It takes a deep gouge to get to the bed.
But who wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a bed liner and then beat it to pieces.
A bed mat makes sense even if you have a nice spray liner.
The mats can be sacrificed to prevent heavy damage to your beautiful and expensive liner.
For heavy duty hauling, a bed mat is a great way to protect your truck bed.
Mats won't cost much and will work in any weather with any load.
They even protect expensive spray on liners.
