Joined
·
2 Posts
Just purchased a 2022 Big Horn Lonestar. I was wondering how I wanted to protect my bed. i plan on getting a tri fold flip back as a cover. Trying to decide between Liner, carpet liner, or mat.
Bed protection recommendations
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Joined
·
520 Posts
I've had it all: nothing, drop-in liner, spray-in liner, carpet, and mat.
I had carpet when I had a cap. With a cap I never had water in the bed but I've never had a tonneau that fully sealed (soft tri-fold, hard tri-fold, or fiberglass "lid"). They all allowed water into the bed to varying degrees so I would caution you about getting a carpet. Weather resistant or not, once the carpet gets wet on/in/under it, it takes awhile for it to dry (at least that was my experience).
My favorite combo was bed liner, rubber bed mat, and a soft tri-fold. I wanted to have a non-slip surface so stuff didn't shift around back there when I drove and I was only looking to protect things from the brunt of the weather. I didn't care if some water/dirt/dust got in there, it was more important to me that it didn't fly out of the back on the freeway and I could remove the cover in a couple of minutes (or re-install it) and toss it in my garage when I needed to.
Some of it will come down to budget for what's worth it to you but my RAM was the first time I had a spray-in bedliner...now I'd never do anything but a spray-in.
Just my .02
I had carpet when I had a cap. With a cap I never had water in the bed but I've never had a tonneau that fully sealed (soft tri-fold, hard tri-fold, or fiberglass "lid"). They all allowed water into the bed to varying degrees so I would caution you about getting a carpet. Weather resistant or not, once the carpet gets wet on/in/under it, it takes awhile for it to dry (at least that was my experience).
My favorite combo was bed liner, rubber bed mat, and a soft tri-fold. I wanted to have a non-slip surface so stuff didn't shift around back there when I drove and I was only looking to protect things from the brunt of the weather. I didn't care if some water/dirt/dust got in there, it was more important to me that it didn't fly out of the back on the freeway and I could remove the cover in a couple of minutes (or re-install it) and toss it in my garage when I needed to.
Some of it will come down to budget for what's worth it to you but my RAM was the first time I had a spray-in bedliner...now I'd never do anything but a spray-in.
Just my .02
I had the gator hard tri fold cover on my last Ram, I will be Getting another one for my 22.
Joined
·
30 Posts
I've always had the hard shell drop in liner, because the trucks I’ve had came with it.
IMO - Hard drop in bed liners offer the best in dent, scrape and puncture resistance.
They are easy to remove and replace, if needed.
But will abrade the paint where it sits.
Water can collect underneath if you don’t have proper drainage.
I have a sloped driveway so drainage is not an issue for me. Plus ya know… Arizona!
I had a Pace retractable bed cover before that rolls into a box that took up the front bed space making the very short bed of the Quad cab even shorter. Plus it rattled a lot!
I currently have the BAK Revolver X4. And I have been VERY happy with it and the BAK company.
I had originally bought the X2. And after a few years in the Arizona sun, the vinyl top covering had began to pull back at the edge near the tail gate. I contacted BAK, they made a warranty replacement of the complete roll top, even included shipping. But they didn’t have the X2 roll top available so they sent the X4 instead. It has several design improvements from the older model, nicer fit and finish.
It fits with the factory bed rail protectors from RAM.
Though I did have to notch the corners of the tailgate protector where it closes up aginst the rails the cover sits into.
It’s as flush to the bed rails as you can get. A smooth solid surface for a clean look i wanted.
Its a rigid cover so it provides a bit more security than other types.
It rolls up on TOP of the bed so it doesn’t steal inside cargo space. And the cover itself can be removed in a few minutes without tools if necessary.
IMO - Hard drop in bed liners offer the best in dent, scrape and puncture resistance.
They are easy to remove and replace, if needed.
But will abrade the paint where it sits.
Water can collect underneath if you don’t have proper drainage.
I have a sloped driveway so drainage is not an issue for me. Plus ya know… Arizona!
I had a Pace retractable bed cover before that rolls into a box that took up the front bed space making the very short bed of the Quad cab even shorter. Plus it rattled a lot!
I currently have the BAK Revolver X4. And I have been VERY happy with it and the BAK company.
I had originally bought the X2. And after a few years in the Arizona sun, the vinyl top covering had began to pull back at the edge near the tail gate. I contacted BAK, they made a warranty replacement of the complete roll top, even included shipping. But they didn’t have the X2 roll top available so they sent the X4 instead. It has several design improvements from the older model, nicer fit and finish.
It fits with the factory bed rail protectors from RAM.
Though I did have to notch the corners of the tailgate protector where it closes up aginst the rails the cover sits into.
It’s as flush to the bed rails as you can get. A smooth solid surface for a clean look i wanted.
Its a rigid cover so it provides a bit more security than other types.
It rolls up on TOP of the bed so it doesn’t steal inside cargo space. And the cover itself can be removed in a few minutes without tools if necessary.
Joined
·
1,427 Posts
I like the spray in rubber bed liner combo myself. The rubber bed liner helps prevent things from slidng, helps out your knees if kneeling in the bed, and the spray in protects the sides.
Tri Fold cover are convenient, but the vinyl ones take up 1/3 your bed space when folded over. And sometime the straps have a tendency to loosen up in windy condition. That's why I went with a soft cover rollup. It keeps the bed fairly dry, I'm not worried about theft because I don't store anything in it worth stealing, and it had minimal intrusion into the bed area
Tri Fold cover are convenient, but the vinyl ones take up 1/3 your bed space when folded over. And sometime the straps have a tendency to loosen up in windy condition. That's why I went with a soft cover rollup. It keeps the bed fairly dry, I'm not worried about theft because I don't store anything in it worth stealing, and it had minimal intrusion into the bed area
Joined
·
50 Posts
Purchased the bed package with my 2020. Spray bed-liner and Mopar Tonneau cover. Yes, it does take up 1/3 of bed when folded up. Very easy to remove and install (usually only takes me 5 minutes).
I am very happy with the factory sprayed liner and a RAM rubber mat.
I installed a tonneau cover and a BedRug one week after purchasing my brand new 2012 Ram Sport and wouldn't use anything else. I've had the hard plastic drop-in liners in previous trucks and after removal the paint was rubbed off everywhere. The BedRug is easy to just hose off when it gets dirty and dries quickly and, it has a layer of foam under it to cushion items being hauled not to mention protecting the surface of the bed. The one I purchased has the Ram Head logo on the front end of the bed and looks great! Eleven years later the thing still looks new. I love it!
About a month ago, I bought a Paragon cover to replace my trifold for my 2017 2500. It is easy to install. There are videos on you tube on how to install it yourself. We pull a 5th wheel travel trailer, and I would have to remove the trifold to pull the trailer. With the Paragon, it just folds into the bed of the truck, up by the cab. That way, when we get where we are going and unhook the trailer, I still have my cover to pull back over the bed of the truck. Works great. I got the double locking. I don't know how much it cost, but you can have it painted the color of your truck. I just got the mat black finish. So far, I am very happy with it. And it is made in America in Wisconsin, and it is made of aluminum. Also, free shipping.
Great question. I'm following for ideas too. I have the 2022 RAM Big Horn.
Joined
·
566 Posts
I have a hard tri-fold and the bedliner that came with the truck.
I go through the carwash 3-4 times a week (I have a membership), and have just a little water getting in over the top of the tailgate. It’s not much and is almost all evaporated by the time I get home (6-7 miles).
I go through the carwash 3-4 times a week (I have a membership), and have just a little water getting in over the top of the tailgate. It’s not much and is almost all evaporated by the time I get home (6-7 miles).
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
