You and your truck work hard, whether you rely on it for commercial and industrial use or home and outdoor activities. After investing in a truck of any size, you’ll want to do everything you can to preserve it for “the long haul,” and make sure it stays safe and reliable. A durable truck bed coating is one of several popular choices for maintaining and protecting the working surface.

Truck Bed Protection Explained

There are two basic categories of protection for your truck bed. One is a spray-on protective coating; the other is a solid, drop-in bedliner. The pre-formed, drop-in liner seems like a simple solution, and it will provide bed liner protection for a period of time. The downside is that an airtight fit is rarely possible. This often results in small gaps that trap rain and humidity, leading to serious damage to the truck bed and faster rust build-up. They can break and become loose, and the edge is easily snagged, which would displace it.1

The second option is a specially formulated, spray-on liner that avoids the problems of an ill-fitting pre-formed liner. The truck bed liner spray is made from a form of liquid resin, providing a permanent liner that lasts the life of the truck. It can’t be moved or broken, forming a perfect seal. This becomes a kind of second skin that will always look fresh. Many truck owners note that they offer better grip and less likelihood of heavy items sliding around in the truck bed, a common problem with slick drop-in liners.2 In the past, spray-in liners carried a higher price tag than most drop-in versions, but today there are many more options for spray-on bedliners at competitive prices.you

Why Your Truck Bed Needs Protection

Your truck bed needs protection whether you rarely use it or you use it for daily transport of equipment, gravel, and other abrasive workaday materials. An open truck bed is exposed to rain, snow, road salt, and dust, as well as intense heat and sun. If you live or work near the ocean, your truck bed is exposed to salty air, which speeds up deterioration dramatically.

The paint job is a thin coating, not made for handling long exposures to the elements. Heavy use will inflict scratches and, over a period of time, they will lead to rust. Protecting your truck bed against scratches, dents, abrasion, and rust will not only keep it looking better, it will help maintain the value of your vehicle.

How to Choose the Best Spray-In Liner for Your Truck

A reliable supplier, like Scorpion Coatings, makes a variety of fast-setting, high-quality polyurethane spray systems. There are varied truck bed protection options suited to different uses, all containing no dangerous VOCs. They offer options like custom color and texture choices, from smooth to rough.

A spray-on liner formulation using the strength of aliphatic, aromatic blend polyurea combined with acrylic blends will give greater stability, resistance to abrasion, and consistent performance in all weather and chemical environments.

Commercial/Industrial and More Uses for Truck Bed Liner Spray

The special formulas devised for truck beds are adaptable to many more uses, like protecting the body of a car or boat, or on commercial trucks.

Spray-on liner coatings have been specially developed and formulated for specific industrial and commercial uses. Here are some examples:

Fire retardant – A self-extinguishing additive uses a formula that exceeds FAA standards. It is applied to fire and rescue vehicles, as well as aircraft interiors and storage tanks. This important feature reduces the chance that first responders may risk damage to their own vehicles and greater danger in hazardous situations like putting out fires and other disasters.
Zero biological growth – Adding a special EPA-approved element to a low free-carbon formula makes the coating ideal when bacterial control, mildew, and mold are of concern. Free carbon is a source that can increase and aid the spread of unwanted biological growth. This formulation is used in ambulances and public shower facilities, such as those found in labs.
Green formulation – This uses a hybrid blend of natural oil polymers. Considered ideal for coating steel and wood, it can also be applied to aluminum or fiberglass.
Marine coatings – It is wise to protect the hull of your personal or commercial boat with a spray-on marine coating for protection against harsh conditions, especially in cold, icy winters. Ice causes abrasion and can lead to impact damage. Once your surface is compromised, sea water corrosion will lead to rust, which causes drag, in turn leading to higher gas consumption. A proper marine coating can give you increased speed by up to 20%, with a 12% savings on fuel. Marine coatings are effective on most surfaces, including metals, fiberglass, and wood.

How to Source a Spray-On Liner

Most spray-on liner applications are best sourced through a professional applicator in your area, where you will be more likely to have a perfectly applied, long-lasting result. A shop will be able to perform the prep work that ensures your truck bed surface is in ideal condition to receive the truck bed liner spray.

A newer option for truck bed protection comes from Scorpion Coatings, in the form of easy-to-use DIY kits for individuals, available online and in retail stores, in response to growing demand. The spray on truck bed liner kits include a spray-gun, prep tools, and accessories, plus additives and window tint. They can also be customized with specialty coatings for heat and noise reduction.

How to Become a Professional Applicator of Spray-On Coatings

A protective coating system like the one supplied by Scorpion Coatings uses simple spray equipment, compressors, and ingredients for the coating. Kits are available through regional distributors or from the corporate location. You can start with different sizes and quantities, depending on the volume of work anticipated, ranging from 2-gallon size to 99-gallon bed liner kits for large volume needs, and more.

A manufacturer like Scorpion provides guidelines for standards of safety in any facility authorized to apply their coatings. Applicators should have an adequate air compressor system, and use powered exhaust fans with filter to capture airborne particles. Workers should wear a half-face respirator with chemical cartridges, eye protection, rubber/latex gloves, and a painter’s suit to protect skin and clothes.