A good test for any bed liner is a 55 gallon barrel filled with
fuel or other liquid. Anyone haul 55 gal drums on their spray on bed
liner?
My truck (not a DAK yet - QC to be purchased soon), has a 1/2
inch rubber mat in the bed. Along with being thick, it is given
strength with cords through the rubber (like a tire). These mats can
survive years of abuse by sharp objects and I would think nothing of
dropping a metal tool box, corner first, onto it (well, I wouldn't
want to hurt the tool box). I got the mat mainly because the rubber
would prevent things from sliding, not to protect the bed.
But, after 10 years, even my mat is showing signs of wear
(mainly from the weather). It is drying out (as rubber always does)
and I imagine eventually, it'll start to crack and loose
effectiveness. When? Perhaps another 5-10 years, but it will
happen. Clearly, 15-20 years of life on a rubber bed mat is just
fine. But, if you put spray on rubber in your bed and expect to keep
your truck for 15-20 years, then expect that you will have to
completely replace the bed liner some day. For most people, this
probably doesn't matter.
I'm not sure I feel that confident about a 1/8th inch thick
layer of spray on rubber. Hopefully someone can tell me otherwise.
The rubber mat is the best choice except that it doesn't cover the
sidewalls and wheel wells. Hence, I'm looking at the spray on stuff
when I get my new DAK. Lifetime warranty or not, if I keep my truck
long enough, I'm expecting that I'll have to have the bed re-done,
or I'll have to put up with a lot of repair work. Or, perhaps I'll
put a 1/2 inch rubber mat on top of the spray on stuff.
By the way, the rubber mat still scuffs the paint. But, since
the spray on bed liner requires removal of the paint in the first
place, either way, your going to scuff the paint. :-)
Mike
_________________________________
Michael Lohmeyer
(408) 573-8400 x104
mike@akhara.com
San Jose, CA
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