Touch of Gray

Whether we are using our trucks for work or pleasure, one area of the truck that we are always looking to protect, and hopefully retain or improve the aesthetic value of, is the inside of the bed. We're all huge fans of the spray-in bedliner around here; it's revolutionized the way we look at a truck's bed these days, mainly because of the many advantages they provide over a "bare" bed or even one equipped with a plastic "drop-in" liner, all while looking great.

Recently, we got a call from Marcel Venable, Director of Marketing at Line-X headquarters. He wanted us to check out a truck they were about to spray in a medium gray as opposed to the standard black. Marcel said that the owner wanted gray because it would match the interior of his '00 Chevy dualie. It would also match the standard headliners that come in many high-end camper shells.

Soon we were on our way with our camera in hand. We mostly wanted to see just how easy it was for Line-X to mix up a custom color for those of you who have dreamed of having a spray-in bedliner that matched your truck's paint. Follow along as the Line-X crew performs its magic and check out the information box we included in this story for some facts you may or may not know about Line-X, and as always, check that source box and log on to www.linexcorp.com.

Did You Know?

Line-X is made from an advanced form of Polyurethane, such as the soles on work boots.

Line-X can be sprayed as much as 1/4-inch thick.

Line-X, when sprayed, dries in 3 to 5 seconds.

Line-X is one of the few spray-in bedliner companies that develops and manufactures its own material, guaranteeing the highest quality control.

Line-X is environmentally friendly: No VOCs, CFCs, or solvents.

Line-X also acts as a sound and vibration damper.

Line-X adds $225 trade-in value to your truck according to the NADA Used Car Guide.

It's not your typical product...        read full caption It's not your typical product shot, but that's the product. With the proper equipment, you just mix A with B and presto! Instant bedliner.

With the dualie in the state-of-the-art...        read full caption With the dualie in the state-of-the-art Line-X spray booth, the tailgate was removed and the masking process began.

The crew was extremely careful...        read full caption The crew was extremely careful to make sure there were no openings in the masking or plastic where the material can get through. Line-X forms a permanent bond with your truck, so it goes on a lot easier than it comes off.

Next, all of the surfaces...        read full caption Next, all of the surfaces that needed to be sprayed were scuffed up to promote adhesion. The sides got Scotch Brite; the floor and wheelwells got sandpaper.

Wire tape was then run on...        read full caption Wire tape was then run on any edge where Line-X would meet the paint. This is what will provide the clean break later.

Any loose debris was then...        read full caption Any loose debris was then blown off of the truck and out of the booth.

The bed was wiped down with...        read full caption The bed was wiped down with a solvent to get the cleanest possible surface.

Now the bed was ready to be...        read full caption Now the bed was ready to be sprayed.

The relocated handle was removed...        read full caption The relocated handle was removed from the inside of the tailgate, and the masking, wire taping, and prep was repeated.

Here's where the extra work...        read full caption Here's where the extra work for the cool color comes in. Instead of hooking up an A barrel and a B barrel to the spray machine and squeezing the trigger, you have to custom mix the B. What you see here is white pigment being poured into a small drum of natural material and a large stir stick attached to a drill mixing it in.

Next, the black pigment was...        read full caption Next, the black pigment was slowly added until we got our desired color. They have several formulas to match certain colors, but we actually pulled a piece of plastic from the dualie's interior and kept adding until it was a perfect match. Cool, huh?

Spray time. A and B mix with...        read full caption Spray time. A and B mix with extremely high air pressure and voila! The truck will be coated a total of three times.

At this point, the material...        read full caption At this point, the material looks a little too glossy to be Line-X.

That's where the texture coat...        read full caption That's where the texture coat comes in. You can see the difference from one part of the bed to the other in this shot. This is where Line-X really stands out from the crowd.

A few seconds later, the wire...        read full caption A few seconds later, the wire tape was pulled around the liner's edges in a smooth steady motion to ensure a clean edge.

Now all of the plastic and...        read full caption Now all of the plastic and masking could be removed from the truck.

Next, the texture coat was...        read full caption Next, the texture coat was sprayed.

Within seconds, the tailgate...        read full caption Within seconds, the tailgate was cleaned up and put back together.

There you have it, a smooth...        read full caption There you have it, a smooth and evenly textured bedliner. And it matches the truck's interior perfectly. All that's left is to put the tailgate back on.