Protect Your Truck: Bed Liner or Bed Mat?

Truck bed protection is a crucial investment for drivers who want to improve the lifespan of their ride. With a little help from TrailFX, find out how truck bed liners and truck bed mats take care of this need.

Next to its towing capacity and handling, a truck bed is probably one of the most common non-engine items buyers look at when buying a truck. After all, it’s where drivers store everything from tools to camping gear to a big score of supplies and snacks from Costco. Trucks are built to take a beating, but throwing heavy and bulky items into the truck bed on the daily can cause unsightly dings and scratches. Plus, moisture can build up over time and potentially rust out the bed. Adding a truck bed mat or truck bed liner protects the bed and helps maintain its lifespan.

But adding truck bed protection is more than just throwing a rug with double-sided tape down and calling it a day. Both mats and liners have qualities that suit different types of truck owners. Read on to find out the benefits of both products.

What’s the difference between a bed mat and a bed liner?

While both provide bed protection for your truck, there are some notable differences between bed liners and bed mats. Mats cover the truck bed’s floor and keep cargo from sliding around in transit. They also protect the truck’s finish from dings and dents. Several mats come custom-molded for a snug fit, with a textured underside that leaves room for airflow and drainage. This feature prevents mildew and reduces rust buildup.

Truck bed liners also protect a truck bed, but offer a more beefed-up defense since they cover the walls and wheel wells. Most liners feature a durable construction made from a polyethylene composite. Like truck bed mats, liners fit snugly since they’re made to fit specific makes and models. The design allows airflow underneath the liner for moisture evaporation.

Both categories keep truck cargo from rolling around and protect against dings and dents in the paint finish. And, both versions combat moisture to avoid rust buildup over time. Bed liners are generally more expensive, but there are a few other pros and cons worth examining.

Use the helpful breakdown below to determine whether a truck bed liner or truck bed mat is best for you.

What’s Right For You?

The most significant difference between truck bed mats and bed liners is the price point. Mats are generally cheaper than liners, so drivers on a tight budget can use a mat to protect their truck bed without breaking the bank. But for shoppers willing to spend a few extra dollars, a liner can add some more protection that will help preserve the lifespan of their truck.

Here are a few other factors to consider when choosing between liners and mats.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Truck bed mats are usually removable, so drivers can pull them out and easily hose them off after mud or dust builds up. Truck bed liners are a more permanent solution, so unless drivers have a pressure washer, they’ll need to hop up into the bed to scrub it off with a bristle brush or mop.

Installation

Installation on a truck bed mat is an easy process that generally takes about an hour. Most mats come with an adhesive like backing tape, so all a driver needs to do is clean the bed and line up the mat with the shape of the bed for full coverage. Some mats don’t even use sticky backings. Instead, they employ rubber cleats similar to a floor mat. In this case, installation takes minutes — and you have the added benefit of easily removing the mat when you need some extra padding for garage tasks.

Depending on the model and fitment, truck bed liners can be a much more involved project. Some versions feature pre-drilled holes that line up with access points on a truck bed, while others require some drilling. Even for seasoned DIYers, it’s generally better to leave this job up to a professional install shop. It’ll save on extra headaches and give you some local support if anything goes wrong with the product down the road.

Lifespan

Mats typically do not have the same lifespan as a truck bed liner. So, while they might be cheaper upfront, there’s a chance that a driver will purchase multiple mats over time. When shopping for truck protection, this is something to consider with overall costs. If that truck is being used in challenging conditions like at construction sites or on rugged overlanding trips, spending the extra money on a liner is worth it.

Bed Coverage

Truck bed mats are like an area rug in a house—they only cover the flat surfaces. Coverage is limited to the central, flat part of the truck bed. Meanwhile, bed liners have the added benefit of protecting the truck’s walls, wheel wells, and tailgate. Much like the rest of the factors mentioned here, choosing between the two options hinges on application. If that truck hauls mostly light-duty gear like sports equipment for soccer practice and odds and ends from the store, a truck bed mat does the job. Suppose the truck is hauling gear that’ll easily ding up the walls and wheel wells though, such as lumber, piping, bags of concrete, or maybe an ATV. In that case, a liner is probably the better option since it’ll guard the entire back of the truck against damage.

Drivers can also narrow down which option they need simply by reassessing the truck they’re driving. For example, if you’re zipping around town in a brand-new, $50,000 F-150 with several years of payments left, a durable liner with a long lifespan is worth the investment. However, if you’re driving an older truck with only a year or two of life left in it, a truck bed mat easily does the trick.

TrailFX Has it Covered

Truck equipment and accessories manufacturer TrailFX is a solid option for drivers looking to add some protection to their truck beds. The manufacturer makes both truck bed liners and truck bed mats, including a unique “vintage” mat series. Vintage TrailFX bed mats boast a 3/8″ thick, 100% U.S. recycled rubber construction. Sticking with the throwback theme, they also have a woodgrain etched surface with raised panels for a finished look to match vintage restorations or spruce up new trucks. The flat, anti-skid surface will not crack or break and keeps cargo in place, while the grooved back allows drainage and proper airflow underneath.

The Traditional TrailFX Bed Mat is made of 3/8″ thick high-strength Nyracord that also won’t crack or break and withstand impact from items like landscaping tools or heavy cargo.  TrailFX Bed Liners sport a thick ribbed construction that can stand up to heavy wear-and-tear and bad weather. And like the TrailFX Bed Mats, these liners are manufactured from model-specific molds for a secure fit that allows airflow underneath for moisture evaporation.

Sold on upgrading to a truck bed liner? You’ve got one more decision to make: drop-in or spray-on? Click here to learn more about the difference between the two.