I just purchased a used 2010 F150 Ingot Silver. Should I go with a spray in bed liner or a plastic insert.

 

Personal preference, I like drop ins.

 

I'd go spray in, plastic drop in's tend to shuffle around and scratch your bed up. I realize it is a bed, but spray on has a much cleaner look. After all, think how much money you just spent on your truck, why treat it with a "cheap" drop in.

 

i say spray in, drop ins can collect water underneath and cause rust

 

Probably should have supported my selection a little. FYI, I'm a project manager for a large commercial construction company.

Drop Ins:

Pros:
More impact resistance (drop a heavy load in your bed and it keeps the bed itself from getting dented.
Removable/Replaceable (and cheap)
Won't mar/scratch your load as much
Better drainage due to the ridges, keeps your load dryer and lets it dry faster
Doesn't get dusty and fade as much as spray ins

Cons:
Scratches up the paint underneath a little (may lead to rust in some areas)
Loads can slide around

Spray in:

Pros:
Holds the load in place
No chance of rusting underneath
Some are spot repairable
Can be color matched

Con's:
Can mark/scratch up the load
Cannot be removed
Gets dusty/dirty due to texture
Hell on your knees
Can't slide a load in your bed.
Minimal impact resistance

 

Well, I've had mine about 5 months now, and it came with the drop in. I really didn't see any problems arising-until I hauled a load of dirt. When I went to clean it, I had to put the tailgate down and mud ran under the tailgate mat and the actual bed liner. I plan on getting a spray-in one in the next year.

 

I installed the Dualliner in my 2010 5.5 ' bed and it works and looks great. I highly recommend it. Hard plastic form fitting sides with a thick rubber mat that's great for protection from dents and slippage.

 

Drop in's are okay. Mine rattles around on dirt roads, didn't do anything to protect the bed. Still have dents and tons of scratches in it. I've had water pooled to my toolbox (as in 6 inches deep) in it and everything slides around. Personally I prefer spray in liners. There was an experiment a few years ago with Line-X liners where a stick of dynamite was detonated under the bed. The bed was still intact after the explosion. The military did some successful testing on using similar liners to help absorb the concussion from IED's. They are just as impact resistant because once cured, the liner will bend under extreme stress (such as an explosion) but then rebound as soon as the shockwave dissipates.

 

Never knew that! That's pretty sweet. Yeah, spray in is the way to go. They look nicer and protect better

 

my 2 biggest hates about the spray in. I have scratched so much stuff from moving in the back of my truck.
I still prefer it because i dont move much, but if i was always loading and unloading my bed i would probabaly thing twice about a spray liner.