How to Install a Bed Liner in 4 Easy Steps
When you're carrying heavy cargo, chances are your truck bed will get scratched. Good thing you can place a bed liner for protection and load support. So it's important to have any kind of bed liner, be it carpet, mat, plastic, or roll-on. Should you still need to add one to your truck, here is a guide to help you out. This installation may take about 30 minutes or less to finish.
Required skill level: NoviceNeeded tools and materials:
Cleaning the truck bed
The surface of the truck bed should be thoroughly cleaned with dish soap using a soft-bristle brush to get rid of dirt and grime. After removing any debris on the bed, hose it down to rinse dirt and soap residue, and then let it dry. If your bed lining kit includes a scruff pad and liquid liner, you can gently scrub the bed surface to help the liquid liner to effectively stick to the metal bed.
Installing the bed liner
You can ask a friend to help you lift the bed liner into the truck bed after putting the tailgate down. Make sure that you align the wheel flares over the wheel wells and the bed liner holes with the truck bed side rails. But if you chose to have a roll-on bed liner, you should cover with masking tape the light fixtures, latches, locks, hinges and other areas you don't want to apply lining liquid on. Once done, apply the liner liquid on the truck bed using a paint roller and brush.
Securing the fittings
If you used a liquid truck bed lining, you just have to let it dry before taking your truck out for a ride. Otherwise, carefully place the plastic fittings where they should be, and use a rubber mallet to tap them to avoid damaging your truck. Once the plastic fillings are properly placed, tightly screw the fitting caps.
Testing the installed bed liner
After securing the holes on the bed liner, it's time for you to check whether it's properly fitted on your truck bed. To test it, pull the bed liner back and forth or try to lift it up. If it doesn't come loose, your bed liner installation is a success.