Spraying on the bedliners finishes the look of a truck, probably better than any other bedliner option. Especially now that the color of the bedliner liner can match the paint on your truck. However, bed liners have several problems. If you are considering getting a spray eyeliner or if you already have one, here are some ideas to consider.

Permanent may not always be best. Sure, it’s a bonus to get a liner that lasts as long as the truck, especially with a lifetime warranty. But that by no means means that you will get a coating that cannot be damaged. Look, the warranty just means the siding will be repaired.

Repair means a new spray with all the hassle and time invested that goes with it. And in the meantime, you drive a van with a damaged liner and maybe there are chances that the box will get damaged too. The real key to spray coating durability is the thickness of the coating. That means the lining material can tear and wear out and the damage may still not make it to the bed.

Another thought you may not want to think about is how that liner gets onto the truck. The only way the coating paint will stay is with proper surface preparation. That means the paint is sanded very aggressively. Everything but is destroyed before the liner layer is applied. Imagine this. You get this new truck with the factory paint coat neatly applied and then you pay this guy to grab an air sander and sand the paint pretty much. Then you spray a coat of paint on it.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s just a painful thought. That’s what it takes to get that “permanent” coating.

Damage to truck beds also occurs as more than just scratches. Dents can do more damage than actual scratches. Certainly dents take more to repair than a few scratches. Dent protection is another way that siding pays for itself. Aerosol coatings generally add almost a quarter inch to the thickness of the bed. That layer includes rubber texture material, as well as fast-setting paint. That thickness absorbs shock and prevents damage.

For its appearance, a sprayed eyeliner may be unbeatable, but for protection, a cheap alternative avoids some of the problems incorporated with the spray.

Cheap rubber mats provide better protection from impacts and are easily removed. With permanent coverings, the really nasty transport makes your bed dirty and you have no choice but to clean it or leave it a mess. But with temporary liners, it’s an easy task to slide the mat in or out when you need it or when you don’t.

Another consideration with spray on bed liners comes when you get the price tag. A professional coating costs you a lot. That is a real reason to look for other options or at least to carefully protect the siding if you already have one.