Making my (truck) bed, what are my options?
Nakedness is embarrassing. It’s time to make up your truck bed. Let’s look at your options.
Bare Bed
Pros: Cost nothing, you don’t have to lift a finger.
Cons: You have an embarrassingly naked bed. Do you not care about the children? Also, not functional. Stuff will slide around your bed, your bed will get scratched, dinged and abused. Shame on you.
Rubber Bed Mat
A piece of heavy rubber pre-cut to fit the contour of your bed.
Pros: It’s inexpensive and keeps things from sliding around your bed. It does a good job of protecting the surface of your bed.
Cons: It doesn’t protect the sidewalls of your bed.
A Bed in your Bed
Really! You can actually put an inflatable bed in your bed and sleep in it. Best if combined with a camper shell (see below)
Pros: Great for camping and outdoor activities. Save on hotel bills.
Cons: No air-conditioning. You can look silly if you don’t have something covering you like a camper shell.
Drop-in Bed Liner
A form-fitting plastic liner that fits snugly into your bed.
Pros: It’s cheap. It’s a quick way to cover up dings, dents, and a generally ugly bed.
Cons: It’s not very grippy and stuff will slide around. Also, because it just sits on the surface of the bed and is not adhered to the bed, it can scuff up your bed over time.
Spray-in Liner
Polyurea coating of your truck bed that protects your bed against scratches and dings.
Pros: Permanent protection that adheres to your bed. Protects the entire bed. Requires no maintenance.
Cons: It’s permanent. Can fade over the years when exposed to the Texas sun.
Bed Cover
The most popular form of bed protection. Available in different materials and functions. Covers your entire bed.
Pros: Protects your belongings from the elements. Keeps prying eyes from seeing the contents of your bed. Solid bed covers provide security of your belongings. The many different models allows you to choose a look and function that fits your lifestyle.
Cons: Can be more expensive than the previous bed options.
Truck Cap
Sometimes called a camper shell or a truck topper. Can be made of fiberglass or aluminum and can be paint-matched to your trucks paint color. Several different models of modular caps are not available for most trucks.
Pros: Expands the storage space of your bed. Provides security for your belongings. Can add additional storage and functionality on top of the cap.
Cons: Higher price than other options. Can reduce rear visibility.
Tool Box
Bed storage and security for tools and belongings. Come in different configurations and a few different color options. Usually aluminum, but sometimes steel. Can be combined with several of the options above.
Pros: Easy add-on for additional storage and security for your belongings.
Cons: Often requires that you climb up in the bed or climb the side of your bed for full access.
Bed Drawers
Popular addition to work trucks. Provides security for belongings and tools combine with easy access via pull-out drawers. Many come with tie-downs allowing for additional storage on top of the drawers. Available in plastic, aluminum, and steel.
Pros: Convenience and security.
Cons: Upper end of the price range. Takes up most or all of the space in your truck bed, limited in it’s functionality.
Pickup Outfitters sells and professionally installs all these options for your bed. Each part purchased and installed at Pickup Outfitters comes with free warranty assistance and a lifetime installation guarantee.