Pickup Bedliners and Accessories: What to Know Before You Buy

Pickup trucks are becoming a regular sight on UK streets, with sales and registrations almost doubling within the last decade. The vehicles are chosen for their versatility with loads of different sizes, commendable off-roading capability and robust 4WD drivetrains, and as lifestyle necessities in leisure activities like camping and fishing.

Part of this appeal is down to usable space, particularly with large beds capable of swallowing anything from building materials and recreational essentials to pallets and dirt bikes. Beds easily handle tall and oddly-shaped items that don’t fit in cabs, simplify loading and unloading and provide multiple customisation options with additions like durable pickup bedliners, tonneau covers and practical accessories including sliding trays, toolboxes and tie-downs. For most pickup owners, bedliners covering the length and width of the bed are the most common upgrade, providing protection against scratches, dents, rust and daily wear.

Why Do You Need A Pickup Truck Bed Liner?

Bedliners combine practicality, protection and affordability. They shield the metal underneath, absorb impact and friction in routine loading and unloading, and ensure the paint retains its factory sheen. By taking the brunt of daily use and abuse, a dedicated pickup bedliner prevents minor scratches and dents from becoming permanent eyesores, especially for commercial owners who use their vehicle on a regular basis.

Protecting Truck Beds Against Damage

Regularly loading heavy equipment, building materials, tools or camping gear can leave a truck bed covered in scratches, dents and gouges. Over time, factory paint may chip, exposing the metal underneath to rust and corrosion.

A thick bed liner adds a protective layer that helps absorb impact and resist abrasion from heavy loads. It can also shield the surface from rain, snow, moisture and prolonged UV exposure, while offering added resistance to fuel, oil, cleaning products and other harsh chemicals.

Providing Convenience and Safety

The textured or rubberised surfaces in pickup bed liners improve traction and ensure larger equipment and boxes don’t slide within the bed, or damage the sidewalls. This stability is the practical reason why bedliners are common upgrades with contractors and outdoor enthusiasts. Gear stays exactly where you put it, regardless of road or weather conditions. That same textured surface also makes cleaning and maintenance simple and fast.

The metal in pickup beds is notorious for collecting road debris, dust and grime – contaminants that are hard to remove once embedded, even with consistent scrubbing and harsh cleaning agents. In comparison, bed liners require a simple hosing down, saving time and effort that can be redirected elsewhere. For owners driving on poor-quality roads or frequently venturing off-road, the dense padding additionally provides sound deadening, preventing vibrations and loose gear bouncing around.

Retain Your Pickup Truck’s Resale Value

Damaged, rusted or scratched bed surfaces negatively impact resale value. The small initial outlay for a decent pickup bed mat or liner pays off manifold, limiting flaking paint, sidewall dents and severe damage to bed floors, and reducing potential repair costs. Buyers are willing to pay more for a pickup that has been routinely maintained and requires no repair work in the cargo area.

Common Bed Liner Types

Buyers have multiple options with different benefits and at different price points.

Drop-In Liners

These are pre-moulded pieces of reinforced plastics or rubber, tailored to the exact dimensions of the bed. They’re an easy DIY install, taking at most 30 minutes and no specialised tools. Drop-in liners are preferred for their high impact resistance, making them ideal for heavier and larger cargo, and high chemical resistance against automotive oil, petrol, diesel and common workshop chemicals. With comprehensive bed coverage, including the floor, sidewalls, tailgate and wheel wells, drop-in liners offer extensive protection without impacting the use of factory tie-downs.

Mats

Rubber and carpet mats are more affordable alternatives to dedicated drop-in liners. They’re easy to replace and maintain, and their non-permanent design can help manage moisture and dirt that may otherwise contribute to rust.

Common materials include natural or recycled rubber for resistance to abrasion, impact, chemicals and UV exposure; rubber-polymer blends for improved heat and chemical resistance; and marine-grade polypropylene carpet for strong water and rust resistance.

Their main drawback is limited coverage, as mats typically leave the wheel wells, sidewalls and tailgate exposed.

Spray-on Coatings

For permanent bed protection, consider spray-on coatings. Usually made of a polyurethane, polyurea or a hybrid mix, the coatings are sprayed onto pickup beds in multiple passes and layers using high-temperature, high-pressure undercoating (Schutz) guns.

The coatings bond to the metal and harden into a permanent barrier. They provide maximum rust protection by creating a water and airtight seal, preventing water and dust ingress. Compared to both mats and drop-in liners, spray coatings benefit from non-existent shifting or rubbing, and won’t vibrate, move around or slide against the paint.

The grippy, textured surface matches rubber when keeping tools, equipment and gear in place. The only downsides are the higher costs, varying coating quality and finding reputable installers.

When to Replace Existing Bed Liners?

Many manufacturers omit factory bedliners from base and mid-range trims, reserving them for higher-spec models such as the Ford Ranger Wildtrak or Toyota Hilux Invincible and Invincible X.

Whether factory-fitted or aftermarket, bedliners should be replaced once they show clear signs of wear. Look for cracks, fading, peeling, rust spots, trapped dirt or poor alignment. A liner may also need replacing if it interferes with the tailgate or no longer helps keep cargo securely in place.

Key Buying Considerations

Choosing the right pickup bedliner comes down to how you use your truck and the type of cargo you usually carry. Spray-on coatings are best suited to drivers who want maximum durability, water resistance and a seamless finish. Although they’re the most expensive option, they’re well suited to trucks used regularly for off-road, commercial or heavy-duty work.

Drop-in liners offer a more affordable choice for moderate use, such as weekend trips, DIY projects or transporting camping gear, tools, sporting equipment and building materials. For lighter loads and tighter budgets, mats are the most economical option, while still providing good grip and helping reduce cargo movement.

Side rail coverage is another factor to consider. Under-rail liners leave the rails exposed and can be a practical choice if you plan to install a tonneau cover. Over-rail liners extend around the rail edges, offering additional protection against scratches and impact.

Finally, make sure the liner is designed for your exact make, model, cab type and trim. A precise fit helps avoid exposed areas, while professional installation can improve both performance and longevity.