Day 2 Bed Protection - What?

[MIDgrid]

The Slate Truck is my alternative proposal to my wife's request for a small utility trailer to haul landscaping stuff including small loads of mulch, drainage rock and gravel - likely to start very soon after delivery (maybe on day 2). I love the plastic body panels that I don't have to stress over like a fresh paint job, but I'm not so sure about the durability of the stock bed liner composite plastic bed bodywork (visible in the attached photo from last year's Olympia WA tour).

My first thought mirrors what I see as common low budget practice - a thin piece of fitted plywood on the bottom (to avoid dents) with a blue tarp spread out over the bottom and sides of the bed prior to loading material. Then remove the tarp and plywood to sweep/hose out the bed. Is this a good plan for my day 2?

Of course the Slate Truck could haul a utility trailer itself (avoiding potential bed damage), but so could our SUV, and storing both a Slate Truck and utility trailer is not attractive. And I really like the idea of having a second BEV for errands, etc., and fun.

 

[The Weatherman]

I think your planning and idea is right on!

 

[E90400K]

Dude, just use it as a pickup truck. If you are worried about bed damage it defeats the purpose of having a pickup.

Not being offensive here, but you'll look like a doofus with plywood and a tarp to protect the bed. Just sayin'

 

[E90400K]

And to clarify, its not a "bed liner", it is the composite plastic bed bodywork.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

And to clarify, its not a "bed liner", it is the composite plastic bed bodywork.

This needs more buzzwords & syllables like Advanced Engineered Composite Materials & stuff

 

[E90400K]

This needs more buzzwords & syllables like Advanced Engineered Composite Materials & stuff

Something like, "multi-cross-ply organic fibrous glue-laminated composite"?

(i.e. protective plywood for the bed)

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Custom Molded Structural and:

• Precision-Formed Protective Composite
• Tailored Impact-Resistant Matrix
• Adaptive Polymer Shell
• Engineered Reinforced Substrate
• Custom-graded Structural Laminate
• High-Impact Energy Dispersion
• Load-Optimized Protective Core
• Shock-Absorbing Structural Layer
• Dynamic Force-Redirecting Frame
• Vibration-Damped Support Architecture
• Additive-Molded Fit System
• Near-Net-Shape Protective Casting
• CNC-Finished Custom Shell
• On-Demand Tailored Fabrication
• Seamless Conformal Manufacture
• Mission-Specific Protective Enclosure
• Field-Ready Structural Barrier
• Ergonomic Safety Load-Bearing
• Tactical-Grade Impact Shielding
• Wearable Structural Protection
• Ultra-Conformal Performance Shield
• Next-Gen Custom Defense Structure
• Premium Bespoke Structural Protection
• Signature-Fit Impact Solution
• Advanced Tailored Integrity System

Finally found a good use for AI

 

[sodamo]

A truck is a truck is a truck, don’t treat it like it isn’t. That said, a tarp under mulch is a smart idea for unloading.

 

[KevinRS]

A truck is a truck is a truck, don’t treat it like it isn’t. That said, a tarp under mulch is a smart idea for unloading.

For something like gravel, you probably do want something to protect the bed of the brand new truck.

 

[sodamo]

For something like gravel, you probably do want something to protect the bed of the brand new truck.

For something like gravel, you probably do want something to protect the bed of the brand new truck.

Or this
https://www.harborfreight.com/2000-lb-capacity-truck-bed-cargo-unloader-60800.html

 

[E90400K]

A truck is a truck is a truck, don’t treat it like it isn’t. That said, a tarp under mulch is a smart idea for unloading.

If you are going to drop the mulch all in one place. Shoveling the mulch out in different locations around the yard, the tarp will bunch up under the shovel.

With my '87 Ranger and '99 F150 I just used a fitted rubber bed mat, which protected the bed floor and kept heavy items from sliding and made it easy to shovel material out of the bed. My current pickup came from the factory with a liner (i.e. it was not optional).

The second week I owned my F150 I took it to the local quarry and had a ton of #57 dropped in it. My F150 was a Ford "Work Series" (i.e. the trim below XL - LOL). It's a truck for God's sake.

 

[bartflossom]

Custom Molded Structural and:

• Precision-Formed Protective Composite
• Tailored Impact-Resistant Matrix
• Adaptive Polymer Shell
• Engineered Reinforced Substrate
• Custom-graded Structural Laminate
• High-Impact Energy Dispersion
• Load-Optimized Protective Core
• Shock-Absorbing Structural Layer
• Dynamic Force-Redirecting Frame
• Vibration-Damped Support Architecture
• Additive-Molded Fit System
• Near-Net-Shape Protective Casting
• CNC-Finished Custom Shell
• On-Demand Tailored Fabrication
• Seamless Conformal Manufacture
• Mission-Specific Protective Enclosure
• Field-Ready Structural Barrier
• Ergonomic Safety Load-Bearing
• Tactical-Grade Impact Shielding
• Wearable Structural Protection
• Ultra-Conformal Performance Shield
• Next-Gen Custom Defense Structure
• Premium Bespoke Structural Protection
• Signature-Fit Impact Solution
• Advanced Tailored Integrity System

Finally found a good use for AI

Left out Gluten Free.

 

[bloo]

Composite bed.

 

[AKrietzer]

We throw a tarp in before loading yard waste and mulch. I can unload a full bed load of yard waste in a minute or less, pull on the tarp and everything on it slides out. I don’t think you will need the plywood.

 

[MIDgrid]

And to clarify, its not a "bed liner", it is the composite plastic bed bodywork.

Thanks for catching my poor use of "bed liner" - I've updated the starter post accordingly!