I have a 2013 Chev 3500 Crew Cab, Long Bed. To date, I have put several large "impressions" in the exterior sheet metal of the bed, mostly ahead of the wheel wells. I have done this by leaning over the bed rails to place items in the bed.
No, I am not fat.
It appears that the sheet metal used on the bed sides is very thin and susceptible to easy damage.
So here is my question. Do you think that spraying a bed liner, like Line-x, on the inside of the outer bed skin would stiffen the sheet metal?
I have yet to talk to a Line-x dealer yet, but thought I would ask if anyone has experience with the material and if it affects that structural integrity of the surface.
Thanks

 

I'd say just do a drop in liner like a Dualiner. It'll act as an entirely separate piece from the metal and protect it pretty well. If you just do a spray in liner, then you'll still have the dents in the sheet metal.

 

As indicated in my original post, I have dented the exterior sheet metal, not the in-bed sheet metal. I want to know if I spray bedliner material inside the area between the outer panel and bedside panel (from under the truck), if it would sufficiently stiffen the sheet metal.
I don't care about the inside of the bed. That's what trucks are for! I just don't want the outside sheet metal to be all dented up

Hope this explains it better.

Bill

 

I can't say anything on the rhino liner idea, I do not know how rigid that stuff really is. I understood what you were getting at from the original post, I do have a more cost effective solution for you to try that I have been working on composition for a couple days, but I need to know if you use a drop in liner or not as that will affect bolt placement.

 

Ronin

No bed liner for me. I don't care if the bed has dents and scratches. It's the outside that I like to keep looking nice. This thin sheet metal just dents if you look at it funny.

Let me know what you have

Bill

 

lol yeah I caught that part but I know I would not want sharp cutting edges poking out of the side. I'll have something posted for you later on tonight.

 

Now, understand, your truck, your call. It's up to you whether you want to try this or not, Don't feel obligated because I spent time on it, I may end up doing this one my self if I ever get a long box truck.

I am basing this idea on something I noticed with my 99 K1500 and won't guarantee anything. My 99 has a plastic bracket under the bed between the bed and outer box wall behind the wheel well to keep mud and dirt out of that void, it had the side effect of reducing the dents it would take. Did not eliminate them completely but definitely made it harder to dent.











Now, what it is that this will do is transfer a bunch of the load of you leaning on it to the inner bed wall. My self personally I would put it at the center point where it is at it's widest but if you feel it needs to be higher or lower based on where you are denting, it's your call.

 

Thanks
That is an interesting solution.
I am going to go (when I finally have time) to the Linex dealer and see if they have any of their material sprayed on a piece of metal. It would be interesting to see if it adds much rigidity.
Nice drawings. I still use crayons. Can't figure out the computer/cad stuff!

Thanks

Bill

 

Like I said, I am deriving that from something I noticed with mine. The spot where that plate is on mine actually resisted a dent to the point that whatever the guy hit with it actually cut a hole in the bed
No problem. It probably will, I just don't know how much or if it'll be enough. I'd be interested in that answer too
Lol, you should see what I do when I am really bored