Is The Truck Bed Coating Waterproof? (Full Details!)

Last Updated on December 26, 2022 by Leepu Da Maxim

Yes, in most cases the truck bed coating is waterproof as well as rustproof. There are quite a few types of waterproof coatings available that you can choose from like rubberized coatings, polyurethane coatings, and epoxy coatings. You can also use the spray-on and it is one of the cheapest options for truck bed coating.

Key Takeaways

• Using spray-on provides an additional layer of protection against rust and water
• Rubberized coatings are made from a rubber-like material and they also provide protection against rust and corrosion
• Polyurethane coatings are easier to apply compared to rubberized coatings and they have a smoother finish
• The drop-in coating can absorb the impact thus providing additional surface protection

Coating Type and Cost

Types Of Coatings	Cost
Spray-on	$750-$1,500
Drop-in	$600
Bedrug	$550
Bed Mat	$100

What Are The Benefits Of Spray-On?

One of the most common options for properly coating a truck bed is to use spray-on mode. You could also completely coat a truck with this spray-on to increase the benefits. So, you will get additional protection against various damages that may occur on the surface layer of the truck.

In the same way, your vehicle will have a matte and rough appearance. Without a doubt, it is an excellent complement for a large number of truck drivers. Moreover, until a while ago the color black was the only design available on the market. Today, you can find different colors and designs and choose the most appropriate one according to your personality.

Beyond that, you must know some impediments you might encounter during this procedure. On the one hand, we have mentioned that you may need about $1,500 to acquire a high-quality coating on your truck bed. However, completely lining the entire truck will of course cost you much more.

In this case, we are talking about approximately $5,000 to coat the entire vehicle. So, it is also important to consider that this is a permanent procedure, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on your perspective. You will not be able to get rid of this coating once it has been applied.

Main features:

1. It gives a nice design

2. Provides an additional layer of protection

3. Many designs to choose from

Main Advantages Of Spray-On:

1. Perfectly compatible with all truck boxes

2. Protects against rust and water

3. Provides an airtight seal

4. Permanent and highly efficient coating

5. Easy and convenient installation

6. Prevents corrosion of some elements such as snow or salt

Some Disadvantages Of Spray-On:

1. Requires a high budget for a high-quality coating

2. No protection against shocks or dents compared to other methods

3. It is a permanent coating and cannot be removed

4. Installation requires professional labor as well as specialized machines

Is It Possible To Use Spray-On Coating For The Base Layer Of The Vehicle?

As mentioned, you will need a fairly substantial budget to be able to apply a high-quality coating. If you have the right budget you can apply a base coat on your vehicle. In this way, the truck chassis will benefit from the advantages obtained here.

In particular, this additional protection can be useful for a large number of climatic conditions and difficult environments. Some of these may be:

1. Rock damage

2. Snow damage

3. Mild or severe salt damage

4. Slight deterioration due to dirt or grease in general

While all of this damage may be minor or time-consuming, it can eventually damage your vehicle’s chassis. The most damaged vehicles are trucks that have to travel long distances over a year. So, if you are one of these drivers, you will benefit from applying a general coating.

In this way, you will be able to drive through different environments and weather conditions. So rocks, stones, and snow won’t be too bad for your truck’s surface. In other words, your vehicle will have an extra layer of protection for a long time.

You will also notice that your vehicle’s chassis can be cleaned more easily and quickly. This means that dirt in general or grease adheres at a much lower level with the coating. This is why it is a very useful component for a large number of truck drivers.

You need proper preparation if you want to do a good job of applying this coating. You must get the undercarriage rough before you start. To do this, you must brush and clean this whole area efficiently. If you can apply a coating on a new truck, then this will be more efficient.

However, it could also be a good opportunity to perform this procedure on an old truck. In this way, you will be applying excellent repair and rust protection. It is also possible to extend the life and full integrity of the old vehicle chassis.

What Is A Drop-In Coating?

In simple words, it is another coating that is also quite well known these days. Here, a smaller budget is usually required for the coating spraying method mentioned above. Here, it is an option that is simply dropped onto the truck bed. Plastic of different qualities is used to manufacture this option.

This means that the cost of this option depends on the quality of the plastic used. So, an intermediate option may cost you approximately $600 to cover the truck box. Here again, it is necessary to use specially designed plastic.

The goal here is for this coating to have the same dimensions to cover the exact interior of the truck box. That is why it is simply an option to be dropped on this part of the vehicle. In turn, you can get a set of benefits or advantages over other types of coatings:

1. This coating can absorb the impact

2. Provides additional surface protection

3. Affordable option compared to other coatings

This is why it is one of the best options for trucks used in construction. You will notice that you will be able to transport and load wood or bricks without damaging the truck box at any point. Also, it is one of the options with an accessible cost and a very simple installation procedure. You will not need much time to apply this coating.

What Is A Bedrug?

When we continue to analyze different types of coatings that are available on the market, this method is another one. As such, bedding can provide a range of benefits compared to an appropriate cost. These are other options chosen by a large number of truck drivers.

Besides, it doesn’t take much time to install this option. For one thing, each driver has the option of placing this liner flat on the truck bed. Also, if the driver has a larger budget he can choose to cover the sides and the tailgate of the truck. Of course, in this way, extended protection is obtained in that part of the truck.

On the other hand, we can mention some main features to describe this coating method. Thus you can choose the most suitable one for your type of truck:

1. It requires a budget of approximately $550

2. Molded and adjusted to truck bed dimensions

3. No truck modifications or drilling required

What Is A Bed Mat?

Here, the last most common type of covering is bed mats. In particular, these options are also highly chosen by a large number of drivers who do not want to spend too much money. It is interesting to note that only about $100 is required to obtain a recycled rubber-forming material.

In particular, this option gives you the ability to transform the surface of your truck bed into a non-slip surface. In this way, it will be much more convenient to transport certain large or small objects. The installation process only takes a few minutes.

You only need to unroll the rubber on your truck box to cover the areas you think are convenient. Finally, you will also be incorporating additional protection for the surface of the truck’s chassis. In short, this is a quick and economical solution that will allow you to solve some of your problems.

Professional Or Do-It-Yourself Truck Bed Waterproofing?

As is often the case with other procedures carried out on a vehicle, here you have the possibility of choosing these two alternatives. On the one hand, you will need a larger budget if you want to apply a professional-level spray-on bed liner. Of course, you should not only pay for the materials but also consider the labor in your budget.

Beyond that, you get the highest level of results. In this respect, it may be more convenient, as the life span of the coating you wish to apply is longer. Of course, this will be much more convenient if you want to use your truck for a lot of trips over a year.

You also can do this yourself after purchasing the necessary materials. Of course, the costs here are much lower, although you may not get all the benefits of a professional level. Therefore, here it is not only necessary that you have the materials, but also that you know the exact procedure.

References:

https://www.rustoleum.com/pages/homeowner/faqs/truck-bed-faqs/

https://www.harborfreight.com/124-fl-oz-black-truck-bed-coating-60778.html