The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Bed Liner Insert- For occasional use

Though I am ready for a serious restoration (level II-ish) I do want to use my 52 pickup for occassional use and occasional light hauling. Is there a temporary bed liner available to insert when hauling to protect floor and sides?

Or is there another trick available?
thanks, brad

I've seen some guys use a rubber bed floor liner cut to fit. I plan on doing something similar.

cut a piece of foam backed short nap carpet to fit the floor - don't haul gravel

Bill

I'm glad you asked the question. I've been trying to figure it out myself. The foam backed carpet and rubber mat ideas are fine as far as they go, but they don't protect the sides.

I was thinking maybe a sheet of plywood for the floor with rubber strips to line up over the bed strips to protect the wood (mine bed wood is finished like an oak floor), then plywood sides with rubber backing to make the sides and tailgate covers. I guess using hinge hardware to connect them to eachother and the floor piece would do the trick, but it might be a chore to put it all in and take it out.

Anything hard, like plywood will still rub the bed strips, bed sides, tailgate, etc.

What are you planning on hauling?

A rubber bed mat is a good start, augmented by some shipping blankets for bulky items.

Hauling yard brush, use the rubber bed mat and throw in a heavy, old school tarpaulin , of the canvas style. Then throw the brush on top.

Least thats what I have done.

Hope that helps.

I don't have any specifics in mind for hauling. These come to mind, though: piece of furniture, boxes, plants from garden store, the barby, bicycle, bags of mulch, fishing gear, etc.
Keeping some good moving blankets handy is a good idea. And, some carpet or rubber mat.

Was hoping somebody made a ready to use liner or folding liner with sides out of vinyl or something else easy to install and put away.

Thank, Brad

My buddy last night said to me-'I've never seen you haul anything in your truck' as I pulled some stuff outta the bed. I've spent yrs straightening/painting this thing.

Told him that it's just not much of a truck if I didn't haul stuff in it. Might as well drive a car. JMO.

Have you ever thought about having the inside of the bed powder coated. Probably wouldn't be cheap, but should hold up well.

Don't know if powder coating won't chip. I powder coated my mirror arms and license plate brackets and both are chipped.

Get spray on bed liner for the sides, i have it on my truck and works great, you can also roll it on.

I had a buddy that cut and sewed carpet to fit the sides and floor. The sides and bed were one piece and the front was a separate piece to keep the number of seams down. He used a lot of magnets to keep the carpet on the sides, something like 8 per side and 6 on the front. Trying to remember if he used any on the floor. I don't think so. They were strong enough to keep the carpet in place and it didn't shift but they didn't damage the paint.

I use a piece of indooor/outdoor carpet I cut to fit the bed floor. It protects the floor when I need to carry anything. I am careful not to carry so much as to damage the sides and tailgate. I use a Ford 250 to carry big catchier stuff. I like the idea of magnets to hold it down except my bed strips are stainless.

I like that idea of fold out carpet liner and stg magnets to hold in place. hmmmm. All four sides could be hinged to fold out, and the folding sides would make for easier storage. Brad