A do it yourself bed liner costs just a fraction of what you pay for a spray on bed liner. It looks much the same but is thinner and less durable. Based on our experience it makes a very useful finish especially on an old,cheap truck. Here are tips for getting it done.

1. Clean carefully.

Truck bed paint will not stay on top of grease and old wax. That means you should carefully clean the bed before you do anything else. Do not sand before cleaning. Sanding drives the grime into the surface. Use a regular auto grease remover or acetone. Wipe it down good and then wash carefully after the cleaner.

2. Get extra paint.

One gallon won't really cover a full size truck bed. Get at least another quart. When you consider that professional spray liners take about 5 gallons, don't skimp on the material. Extra paint makes for a thicker coat and one less likely to show damage.

3. Sanding rough.

After cleaning and washing the sanded surfaces, you sand. Get serious too. This is no time for any kind of fine sanding. What you want is a very coarse finish using very aggressive abrasives. The rougher the surface the better the stick. So sand away to get a really coarse surface.

4. Masking.

Use plenty of masking tape and paper. There's a good reason for that. This paint wants to stick and you want it only where you want it. Anywhere else creates a terrible mess. So cover areas where you want no paint to save a mess later.

5. Finishing with truck bed paint.

Putting the paint on could not be easier. The thick paint covers well and levels as it dries. That's why a rolled on coating settles to look like it was sprayed on after just a few minutes.

Of course you can put on liner paint with a brush too or you could even spray it on yourself. Then again, you can buy spray cans and use it that way too. But know that you really can't tell it was rolled on or brushed on either. Spraying it on does little to make it look better.

A do it yourself bed liner looks almost just like a much more expensive spray on bed liner. Especially for an older pickup with some real bed damage, this is a cheap way to improve the looks of your pickup. Expect a finish that looks good but is less thick and durable than the professional model. Also expect to do some serious preparation to get a coat that stays.