Finally got one... & has question

[htioki]

I’ve been lurking on here for a while doing research on the 1st gen Fronty (thanks to those who responded to my earlier threads) and after several weeks of searching, I finally got one! It’s a 03 Electric blue 2WD CC LB XE auto with the roof rack & side step bars. Completely stock. Though I was looking for a 5 speed, I just couldn’t pass up on this deal. I don’t have any pics of it yet, but it's just another stock CC LB.

The truck doesn’t have a bedliner. Yes, I did my search on bedliner and found some mixed responses concerning spray on vs drop in. For those with the drop ins, do you have experience with rust on the bed under the liner? I’m not too thrilled about the idea of sanding the smooth paint on the bed to put the spray on liner, but I don’t want any rust developing from trapped water under the drop-in liner. Any other options out there?

[07Frontier]

I have a drop-in on my truck but have not taken a look to see the damage yet. I had a drop-in on my previous truck and the damage was pretty nasty (surface rust, numerous scratches, etc). It is not just trapped water that can cause damage but all the mulch, dirt, etc too that you throw back there. Plus the fact that the liner is floating on top of the bed, which is bound to scratch up the paint. I wound up getting it Line-X'd and it was awesome. Spray-on is definitely the way to go (and one I will be pursuing after getting my trail armor purchased).

[houdini]

i have not taken mine out, but i can tell you there is a good bit of wear underneath it. i can just lift up the back of mine a little and see that it has worn the paint off in spots.

next time i will get spray on.

[FindingNismo]

spray on is ths best there is. drop ins can even fly out going down the free way. seen that one to many times. even got one in the window/bumper. now that was scarry lol.

i dont see the big deal about sanding your bed to spray on, its never going to rust, and if u pay someone to do it, ull never see it sanded. also a drop in is basically going to sand it anyway. so either way your paint is comming off. dont waste your money and do your self a favor. spray in or nothing.

i have rhinoliner in my bed and love it! ive had expierence with line x as well and it was just as nice too. but really pretty much all spray ons are about the same. you do get what you pay for, but they all hold up rather well.

[dcobb]

I've not taken mine out either, but seen from the underneath nothing is cracking or anything. The Rhino coats will probably hold up depending on what you're doing. For me i like the fact that I can slide things much easier because the OEM plastic one allows for that much more than the Rhino coat does. But some people like the fact that things won't slide around as much with the Rhino coat. To each there own i guess.

If you do get the Rhino coat. Don't cheap out and go too thin, get a good thick layer sprayed on. You only do 1/8" and you might tear through it pretty easy with a shovel or something