Spray In Review: Line-X Bed Liner vs. Rhino Bed Liner
Jason | Jul 17, 2007 | Comments 112
“Tastes Great!”
“Less Filling!”
Is kind of like…
“Line-X!”
“Rhino!”
If you have just bought a new truck, there’s a good chance that someone (a friend, a relative, or a salesperson) has told you to buy a certain brand of spray-in bed liner “because they’re the best”. If you’re like us, you don’t like making this decision without doing a little research first (Not sure you want a spray-in? See a full list of Bed Liner Options). Here’s our analysis of the two biggest names in spray-in truck bed liners.
Here are some things you should know about both brands:
- INSTALLATION IS EVERYTHING. If you have a good installer, you’ll get a good liner. Find a good installer by asking your local Toyota dealer, RV dealer, off-road club, or by asking for references.
- All spray-in liners fade when exposed to a few years of sunlight.
- Be careful with color-matching. Unless you pay extra to protect the liner from UV, it will fade much faster than the factory paint and your liner and your truck won’t color-match after a couple of years. At least if you stick with black it will only fade to dark charcoal.
- The mix used for either a Rhino or a Line-X is basically the same. There are some differences, but one isn’t substantially better than the other.
- Both companies now offer nation-wide lifetime warranties on their products.
- Expect your installation to cost somewhere between $300 and $400 dollars. Anything more should include extras like color matching, additional surface spraying, or special UV protectants. Anything less than that could indicate the installer you’re using is making a shortcut somewhere.
- If you have any doubts about your installer, inspect their spray booth or spray area. If it’s dirty or messy, you should find someone else.
- Add-on coatings should be considered appearance-enhancing only. Before paying your installer for extra UV protection, etc., consider do-it-yourself options like Armor All, Just Once, and 303 Protectant.
Now, in no particular order, the individual products:
Line-X
Line-x is applied “hot” using a high pressure system. Because Line-X is applied at high pressure, it tends to be thinner (about 1/4″ thick). Thinner is better when it comes to looks — a thin coating tends to follow every contour of your truck’s bed and preserves the factory appearance. One other aspect of the thin coating is that Line-X liners usually have a very rough surface that sparkles when new. Some people dislike the rough Line-x surface — it can be hard on the knees and it can damage your cargo (finished wood surfaces and Line-x liners don’t mix, for instance). While you can request that the installer reduce the roughness of the finish, this will also result in a surface that’s less glossy. Finally, because Line-X uses more polyurea, it is stronger and more tear resistant than Rhino.
Rhino
Rhino is applied cold with a low-pressure system. Because of the lower temperature and pressure, Rhino liners are thicker (3/8″ of an inch) than Line-X. The increased thickness of a Rhino gives it a softer “rubbery” feel, and the liner’s surface isn’t as rough as Line-X so it’s more gentle on knees and cargo. Rhino’s thicker coating also aids in sound deadening, and the surface seems to “grab” objects better than Line-X. But all of these benefits don’t come without sacrifice. Thicker material also means a poorer finish — Rhino material doesn’t follow the contours of a truck bed nearly as well as Line-X. The cold application also means longer curing times and a greater possibility of “runs” in the liner surface. Finally, it’s not uncommon to see inconsistencies in Rhino liner thickness, meaning some parts of your truck bed are more protected than others.
Informal Polls
While informal polls are far from scientific, they do give a good sense of what the online truck enthusiast community thinks about these two products.
Readers at TundraSolutions were asked to vote on the best spray-in bed liner, and Line-X won 252 votes to 60.
Readers at GMFullSize voted in a similar poll, and the tally is 65 in favor of the Line-X over 11 in favor of the the Rhino.
Finally, readers at FullSizeChevy.com also favored the Line-X over the Rhino, 255 to 79.
The Winner Is…
Line-X comes out ahead for a few reasons — Line-X liners are usually better looking than Rhino, are stronger, and Line-x installation quality tends to be higher (after all, Line-x offered a national warranty on their product years before Rhino). But that’s not to say that Rhino doesn’t have some compelling features. We really like the rubbery feel of the Rhino liner, and we think it is a better finished surface (at least as far as feel goes). In fact, if Rhino had the same reputation for quality as Line-X, this would have been a much more difficult decision.
Recently, in an effort to match Line-X, some Rhino installers have begun using high-pressure systems that will produce a better looking “Line-X” type surface. Rhino is also moving to match Line-X in other areas, from color matching to UV protectants. Rhino is also working on improving installer quality. We expect that the differences between these two will become smaller as time goes by.
As we’ve said before, the most important aspect of any spray-in bed liner is the person installing it. Make sure you find a reputable Line-X or Rhino dealer, and you should be happy with either.
Popularity: 38%
Filed Under: Toyota Tundra Accessories • Tundra Bed Liner
THIS JUST IN:
According to a forum member at TundraTalk.net, his Line-X dealer told him removing bolts from the bed of the Tundra isn’t recommended. Evidently, because the bed bolts are heavily torqued by the factory, removing them has lead to stripping or loosening of anchor nuts.
See this thread…
http://www.tundratalk.net/foru.....ner-2.html
Anyone else see this?
Just wondering where all of this information was gathered? I work for Line-X, and our product is not thinner than that of our competition. Being as our product is sprayed high temp/high pressure it dries within 3-5 seconds which allows it to be applied a lot thicker without the worry of runs.
Mahcmos, this was gathered from the Line-x and Rhino websites, as well as from a couple of reputable local installers.
Thanks for your comment – it just goes to show how important it is to choose a good installer, simply because there are so many variables in these products.
From my point of view Line-x is way better….i have dont rip tests and line-x holds up and there lots of reasons that line-x is way better….like mahcmos said line-x is way better…plus line-x has a great warranty on their product….
Is it possible to apply the Rhino over the Line-X? That way I can get the best protection with the more forgiving as well.
Phillip – I don’t *think* so, but I’m not sure. I bet you can apply one on top of the other, but I don’t know if the effect would be very good. I’m thinking the top layer would fall off the bottom layer. Maybe if you really scuffed it up first…
Just to be fair… truck owners aren’t bound to the big 2 franchises anymore. There are a lot of good independents that spray equal or better material with equal or better equipment.
Many times you get (1) a better price (2) better service and (3) better attention to detail. You don’t have to choose between Coke and Pepsi… you can drink what ever you want.
http://www.bedlinertruth.com can give you good info to help select an independent guy.
There are a lot of companies providing good bedliners now, and a lot of them are coming close to our(Line-X) quality for a cheaper price. In my honest opinion it all depends on the individual dealer. I hear a lot of complaints from new customers about their past experiences with the other liner businesses in my area, and I’ve seen their work first hand as I’ve had to remove a few of their liners. I’ve also heard stories from people in other areas about how they loved their Rhino liners, so it all depends on the individual dealer.
My suggestion is to check around with your local dealers, and ask to see their work. When out and about, watch for trucks with liners, and take note of the quality (most liners will have tags identifying the brand and dealer location).
If anyone has any questions about Line-X, how it is sprayed, or any other questions regarding spray in bedliners feel free to email me at mah_cmos@hotmail.com
Hi!,
I have a Line-X bedliner, which is great, BUT I need to replace the tailgate latch assembly. So I need to remove the access panel on the tailgate-which is inconveniently covered. Xacto knife and scraper is all I have come up with but it is very slow.
Any suggestions?
I recently purchased a 08 Tundra and since there is no Line X dealer in my town I went to San Antonio to have it done. My previous vehicle also had a Line X in it. I hauled a lot of odd and end stuff in it and never had any problem with it. The installer did a very good job. Removed the mount bolts and tailgate panel screws before applying. I think the Line X liners are the best. Also much better looking than the Rhino.
Bill – A lot of people share your experience. I think that Line-X does a good job of insuring each individual installer does their job right the first time.
On a recent hunting trip, the 5 gallon deisel gas can I carry in the bed of my truck leaked. I have tried cat litter and several different detergents in an attempt to get the odor off of the Line-X however nothing has completely worked to the point.
Any suggestions would be welcomed.
Hello,
Is there a product available that approaches the quality of a dealer installed bedliner that can be applied by the user with a schultz gun or whatever ? I wish to use it as undercoating inside the fenders of a restoration project and sprayed on bedliner seems natural for that application. The surface will be to bare metal. What would be better is if the product could be color matched.
Thanks,
Tony
I do not know of any do it yourself spray on liners that I would recommend. During my days working in a hot rod shop we would use Herculiner (roll in) to do interior floors before sending them off to the upholstery shop. Herculiner and other cheap options work well to prevent rust in hidden places, but fall short when used to protect places that are exposed. Most of the DIY liners I have seen have been a big disappointment to me. If you’re thinking about something that can be color matched look into Line-X Xtra.
Tony – I don’t know of anything other than a line-X liner that offers decent color match. Since you’re looking for a do-it-yourself option, I’m pretty sure I saw a kit somewhere that comes in 5 or 6 universal colors but I really can’t recommend it.
Thank you. The reason I was looking for a DIY product is that the vehicle is dissasembled on a stand and cannot be moved. I am stripping and re-applying undercoating and am looking for a very durable product and bedliner seemed like a natural.
Thanks,
Tony
anyone know of a line x dealer in the gainesville fl area
thanks
Butch did you try google it?
Hi all of the information here has been a great help, I have but a couple of questions. I just brought a 2009 ford f-150 and want to get “a ” liner, I think I like the way line x is being described here, does any one have a good estimate on how much this will cost. I know the site says that the dealers are independent of one another and will most likely charge fair market value, but a good estimate would help, and second, please someone explain the neccessity of removing “bolts”. Is this something I should ask them to do before hand. Any help here would be appreciated, stephanie
Steph, your approx cost depends on area and looking at around $400 – $800 depending on what you want done. The bolts are the bed bolts holding the bed to the frame and on the tailgate the panel that comes off they can take out the screws and either paint them the color match to your truck or leave it the way it is. You do have to state you want this. I like the way line-x can color match the trucks.
Stephanie – See list item #6 in the article above.
Guys, Hope you didn’t mind a Ford owner sneaking in here! Thanks for the information.
Doug feel free to look over the entire forum. We enjoy any debate about the trucks. Any questions feel free to ask.
Doug – Please – all truck owners are welcome.
I purchased a new Step side Bed with fiberglass sides (removable) and want to have the Line-X Bed Liner sprayed in.
My questions:
1) Will Line-X adhere to factory primer and bare metal ?
2) Is it better to have the finish paint applied before going for the Line-X Spray ?
3) The holes in the bed for accessories will they be OK without the accessory attached ?
4) Can the bottom of the bed and the lower two feet of the outer sides and front panels be sprayed ?
5) Is Line-X a Dupont Product ?
Thanks
SandyB – The answers in order: 1) Yes. 2) Yes – that’s the typical configuration and that’s what Line-X is formulated for. 3) Yes – they can be masked off. 4) Not sure – I haven’t seen anyone line-x fiberglass, but I bet it will work. 5) No idea.
I recently purchased a pickup with a over the top bedliner. When i pulled the liner once i recieve the truck the bed was pretty banged up. I had the bed pulled and hammered out as best you can but there are still some minor dents. My question is with the Rhino Liner being thicker it should cover the minor damage better than the Line-X correct? At least that’s what the Rhino Installer told me.
I’m sure Line-x installer would say the same also. It’s all about the mighty dollar.
Mike – The Rhino Liner is a little thicker yes, but I don’t know if either will cover up much more than a small ding. I think that a matte black finish will probably do more to cover up dents than the thickness of the material.
Jason,
Thanks for the advice. Are you referring to a matte black finish for the spray- in bedliner?
Mike – Yes – a matte black finish on the bedliner will help minimize the appearance of dents.
I would suggest using bondo first and get the bed as clean (straight – no dents )as you can first. Then a few shots of primer and quick sanding before spraying on the liner.
Terry – Good idea.
I just got an 09 Silverado and this forum helps a lot.
I plan to get a spray liner soon, but may also get a truck cap later.
> does the over the rail spray work effectivly, or is a molded plastic or aluminum cover better?
> If I get the spray, will a truck cap seal down on it properly? I ask this, because the cap dealer says he would have to replace my nice new Silverado tailgate end cap with a molded one so the cap would fit. Sounds bogus.
Mike,
I work at a Line-X dealer in PA. If sprayed over the rail it will fully seal and protect your rails. I have experience with many truck caps & Line-X liners and there will be no problem getting the truck cap to seal properly. Use of the foam strips (usually included with the cap) will also add that extra protection against any leaks. I myself have never heard needing a different tailgate end cap to ge the cap to fit. Id imagine that this would depend on the type of cap also.
ive had 4 trucks done with rl, i cant believe people like linex better, if 2 trucks were sitting next to each other, one with each liner in it, just by looking at them and touching them you would never pick linex. this site must be run by linex
mike dragich – Why is it that any time a website has an opinion people don’t like, someone says “Oh, you must work for the company that I don’t like.” That’s just stupid. Would you say the same thing about all the polls on all the truck forums where Linex came out ahead (see the second-to-the-last paragraph of the article)?
rhino is the number 1 sprayed on bed liner in the world
I had 2 trucks sprayed with Linex they were both ok. 2 weeks ago I had my box on my new chevy sprayed with the Rhino liner it ok to.
I think I’m going with line-x for my 07 Tundra. I have a few friends that have Rhino and it is extremely faded after only a year or two. They recommended that I get Line-x. Has anyone ever heard of Ultimate Linings, a guy around my area just switched he used to do rhino and line-x and now does this brand.
I would be interested if anyone knows anything about a bed liner called custom linings? It’s a spray on high preasure polyeurea, similar to linex. I have looked at some of their stuff and I prefer the look and feel of it more then the big two. I hope that someone knows of this outfit and how their material stands up to the others. I don’t care how good the product is, if it’s not applied properly you won’t be happy.
Midlifecrisis – Never heard of custom linings. If the quality is good, go for it. But make sure they offer a warranty that’s as least as good as the warranties from Line-X and Rhino.
Has anybody heard about a spray in bedliner product called Full Metal Jacket. They are out of San Diego. I saw a sample in the show room of a truck topper store. It sounds like it is very similar to Line-X.
Matt – Never heard of them either. It’s all about the warranty and the installer’s record. My suggestion has been and continues to be ask your local truck dealerships – who do they use? THAT’s a good provider.
I recently purchased a 2008 Silverado Crew Cab Short Box and have been looking around for liners for a while, which is how I happened upon this page. I’ve been looking primarily at Line-X because I want the color match. I got a reference from a guy at work who’s had some work done at a particular shop and when I called for a quote on an over the rail bedliner, it was over$1300. (Note: This is for the Line-X Xtra) Does this sound a bit high for anyone else? I was expecting between 5 and 800, so this caught me a little offguard.
Alan – That sounds really high to me – your number sounds about right.
Alan- That sounds high. I don’t know what Line-X Xtra is, but I just got a quote for my ‘09 Silverado 1500 crew cab short bed with Line-X under rail installation in black for $450. I don’t know where you are located, but I’m in San Francisco Bay Area, California where things seem to cost way too much.
I have set an appointment to have a spray in product called Full Metal jacket put in at the dealer that sold me my snugtop truck topper ($375). I later found that they are the same place that my truck dealer goes to, so I hope the craftsmanship is high quality.
Jason- Thanks for the advise.
Matt,
Do you mind sharing the info of the shop which you have appointment with? I live in Bar Area too and am getting a Tundra next week. Thanks!
Matt – No problem, I think you’ll be happy. I have yet to find a car dealer that uses a bad spray-in company. Dealers are notorious for being cheap and being nit-picky, so any spray-in company that works with a dealership has to have their s*#t together.
Andy- I’m using Campways in Hayward (510)278-9303. There is also a place called Truck Toyz in San Leandro (510)382-0800. They use a product called Reflex. I don’t know how it compares. I didn’t find them until after I made my decision. It sounds to be a thicker and more rubbery product than what I was looking for. Probably more like Rhino. I plan on placing my old rubber mat back in the bed after the lining is installed so I wanted a harder surface.
Matt, thanks a lot!
Ok so you were obviously paid off by line-x, were told the wrong information, you have the information backwards, or you just didn’t do your home work. You say Rhino is sprayed on cold and at low temperature, well if you consider 150 degrees cold and 2600psi low pressure…well then i guess your right. Rhino was and is the originator of the sprayed in box liner and has full life time warranty. From the hundreds of Line-x trucks i’ve fixed there “mills” are typically 32 mills. thats right 32 mills. Rhino is done at 120 mills, and i’m sorry for your misinformed writer of this review but that is not because it’s sprayed in cold. Line-x is very…well cheap. They charge you extra for rails they don’t put it on heavy enough and and with a light hit it can easily flake off. Put it this way we had a guy come in who had a nissan truck with a Line-x liner in it, it peeled and flaked off when he asked about warranty they told him that once he bought the truck the warranty was void because the warranty was given to the dealers not the customers, then told him to drive three hours so they could look at it, just so they could charge him another $750! We fixed it at the proper mills and charged him our flat rate of $550. So the next time you feel like writing a review about the difference between Rhino and Line-x get your facts straight. Oh i found your review very useless. thank you.
Dan St Pierre – Damn! You discovered our secret! For years, Line-x has been funneling money to us from their super-secret Swiss bank account! LOL
As for your accusation that the Line-X warranty is only for the original buyer, you are the one who is misinformed. Also, the article clearly states that the Rhino liner is thicker (just as you say).
I think it’s telling that you didn’t choose to disagree with the fact that Rhino liners are often inconsistent in thickness (based on contours) and sometimes have runs. For all of your hate of the Line-X product, you didn’t manage to refute the main reasons we liked the Line-X more than Rhino.
Hello again. I did not say that you WERE paid off i said you could have been. As for inconsistency, well considering all off the sprayed in box liners are SPRAYED in that means there done by humans who are not robots so of course there will be some inconsistency. (Sorry but this goes for ALL sprayed in liners) If there is a huge difference that is completely on the applicator…not the product. Its very funny that you comment on me forgetting minor details when you have no rebuttal for Line-x chipping off because its so thin or the fact that you are completely wrong on how Rhino is applied. I also did not say i hate Line-x it probably would a decent product if the applicators did they’re jobs properly. I would also like to ad that Rhino is the ONLY food safe sprayed on liner. I know that has nothing to do with trucks but its a cool fact. It is also the ONLY liner approved for military use. Another cool fact.
Dan – It sounds like we’re saying the same thing. The article above closes with “As we’ve said before, the most important aspect of any spray-in bed liner is the person installing it. Make sure you find a reputable Line-X or Rhino dealer, and you should be happy with either.” Frankly, I don’t understand why you’re taking issue with this post.
***
As for your accusation that Line-X liners chip or flake off, I’ve never seen it…but I’ve only looked at 1,000 – 2,000 used trucks with spray-in bed liners. Perhaps if I’d looked at 10k, or 100k, I would have seen it. In my experience, you’re off base to attack Line-X as an inferior product.
###
Finally, how long have you been selling Rhino liners Dan?
Haha i don’t sell them them i install them. I just happen to have done a lot of research and reading, and its just what Ive found out about them. If you have a sample of Line-X and a sample of Rhino you can easily demolish the Line-X the same cannot be said for Rhino. Over the period of time Ive been working with sprayed on liners, Line-X almost always comes up short. If you want to see what there warranty is like try phoning a couple of them using my dilemma in a previous statement. Oh sure they’ll always say they’ll take a look at it…and then find a way to charge you more. Before i worked where i do now i actually thought that Tyro was the way to go. But i found that they could not hold a candle to Rhino or Line-X. I’m really not saying i hate Line-X but from what Ive seen read and heard it is the inferior product.
Dan – I think we can both agree that Line-X and Rhino are the top options (only Mickey makes a compelling case for a 3rd product that I can’t remember the name of right now). I think the Rhino liner is tough because it’s so plastic, whereas the Line-X material is inherently more brittle. However, I’ve been told by both Rhino and Line-X installers that the materials are nearly identical in terms of composition, so I can only assume it’s the thickness that makes the difference. In any case, thanks for weighing in and keeping me on my toes!
Does anyone have any information on Full Metal Jacket bed liners. Does it compare to Rhino or Line x.
I have a question about spray on bed liners. I recently purchased a new truck and want a spary on bedliner, and need to have my fifth wheel hitch installed.
Will the sprayed on bedliner chip or crack when the bolts are drilled through the bed to install the plates? I have not made a decision yet on whether to go with Rhino or Line-X. The answer to this question may be the deciding factor.
By the way, the truck is a Ford F-250. Not that that would make a difference, just showing my support for Ford.
I had Full Metal Jacket installed in my truck several months ago and I’m very happy with the product. My only complaint about the material is that it has a strong odor. I have a snug top shell over the bed so it holds in the fumes. However, It has gotten a lot better. I’ve tried wiping down the bed to see if that would help. I think it is just going to take some time. From what I’ve heard and read the biggest part of getting a qaulity spray in liner is the person doing the installation.
I’ll have to admitt. One of the biggest deciding factors for me was the price. Full Metal Jacket was nearly $100 less than the Line-X estimate.
Here are a few pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/at.....directlink
So Rick to answer your question to the best of my knowledge neither Rhino nor Line-X should chip crack or peel when drilled through. A good tip though just to help the situation would be to just put a piece of tape over the product before you drill through it this will also help.
Hello. I live in Wi the Milwaukee area to be exact. So which liner should I buy. I’m reading a lot of back and forth comments here. Please help! Thanks
John it would be wrong for me to give you an answer because I used Herculiner on my last 3 trucks. See which one does the prep work right. That’s where the problems with any bedliner arises from. My opinion leans toward Line-x because I heard/read more reviews on how great they are. Rhino is good but not as much reviews on it as Line-x had.
Dan St.Pierre thank you for your response to my question/concern….great tip thanks again!
Rick
Mickey, thanks for the info. What did it run you to purchasr the Herculiner stuff? Thanks John
John the kit cost $68 plus another $10 for acetone. The key is prep. If it isn’t done right then it won’t last. I did everyone in the summer time while it was hot outside. You also need at least 3 hours maybe 4 to do a standard bed. I did two coats.
Hi, I have been sitting on the fence as to whether to get linex or Rhino. I have both in my area (Peterborough, Ontario). They are both around the same price ($540). The Rhino dealer said he would like the truck the night before so that it can stay inside to dry out and warm up. The linex dealer said this was not necessary. If the quality of the product comes down to proper prep, it seems that Rhino is the way to go. However, in my area Rhino only offer a 10 year warranty, not the lifetime that Line X offers.
I guess I’ll just flip a coin to decide.
Jonathan
I just found out that Ziebart now sprays Rhino extreme. I live in Milwaukee Wi and guess its more for this climate. I felt the sample at Ziebart and its hard unlike the old Rhino liner. I never thought I’d loose so much sleep over a spray in bed liner. Line x or Rhino? Hmm
i had a rhino liner sprayed in my truck bed a few weeks back. i picked it because i liked the overall thickness of it over the line x and i liked the sheen of it as the line x is flat and will surely get really dirty really fast in my opinion. when i picked it up, the tailgate was open and they siad it needed to dry.nbd. so the next day i closed the tailgate and the thickness is enought that it really compresses the two rubber bumpers, so i have to deal with that. but what i did not notice until a few days ago is that when you close the tailgate, the bottom of the tailgate is rubbing against the still factory painted surface at the end of the bed, that little strip between the bumper and bed. the paint is already gone and underfinish exposed in these spots. its only minor now, but thtas in three weeks. so before i call them, wanted to know if anyone had this happen and how they went about fixing it. it appears to me they will have to fix the tailgate and go thinner, is this even possible and also they will have to spray a thin layer covering over that painted strip. the job otherwise is acceptable. bottom line is i plan to put a fancy cap on and load it up with contracting gear, so it wont really be seen. the company i chose says they had been doing it for 20 years, but like anything else, i probably got an installation done by someone who had not done many. some other minor issues are drips at the tiedown hooks at the four corners and some runs/ drips in the panel backing up to the cab.
Hey Rickruz so i read your comment there and honestly in my opinion that does seem strange. Where i work we spray down the edge of the box about an inch so if there is any rubbing it wont ruin the paint, we also adjust the tailgate if there is. It sounds like you’ll be in and out of the box a lot too so i would phone them and have them fix it for you. As for the drips that could be laziness or they may have forgotten to trim them, either way the runs can be cut off or shaved down with a sharp olfa knife. Same goes for the runs on the tie down loops, unless they were bolt ons then they really should have been taken off. It kinda seems like who ever sprayed the truck was a little inexperienced. Unless your putting Rhino on extremely heavy and wet it is some what hard to get it to run, don’t get me wrong though it happens to even the best. Other than that i hope it works well for you.
I like Rhino liner,the shop that sprayed mine in my chevy truck done a great job. I just bought a Dodge Ram,and I plan on getting the same thing in it too.
I too am on the fence about a liner. I had a Reflex liner in a 2004 GMC with good results. Its a polyurethane product. Anyone else have experience with this compared to the Line X and Rhino products?
Watching Dan and Jason arguing was interesting. Dan, this article was written nearly 3 years ago. And honestly 3 years ago most Rhino dealers were spraying with a low pressure machine. A lot has changed in this time. There are a ton of Rhino dealers out there still spraying cold and a lot that are spraying a hot, high pressure liner. I spray a product called ArmorThane which, from what I’ve heard, is the ‘Rhino’ of Canada (not sure about that). Anyway, I sprayed this product with a cold system for years and now spray with a ‘hot’ system. My point is it all depends on the installer!!! I’ve seen HORRIBLE Line-X liners, Rhino liners, ArmorThane liners, Toff liners, Reflex liners, Gatorhyde liners, etc! And I’ve seen great of each. I’m in the Fort Worth area and we’re charging $345 for a short bed under the rail liner but we have to stay that low because of the cut-throat competition in my area. Anyway, to anyone looking, just do some research and see some examples of what your local dealer has done and make your decision from there. Good luck!!!
And by the way, Toff is now the ‘official’ liner for Toyota. Coming from the factory with Toff liners if the dealership orders them already sprayed.
I have used Rhino, Herculiner and linex a lot over the years. I used Rhino on my 02 Grand Am on all the door mouldings and ground effects and it didn’t hold hold up well due to the prep work being so terrible. I used Rhino on my 03 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II Supercap where the two doors meet on each side so that there were permanent door edge guards and this vehicle had a Linex bedliner put in it. The Rhino on this vehicle was put on my a different Rhino franchisee than on the Grand Am and it held up very well. On my 2006 Ford Escape XLT, I used Herculiner in the door jambs and behind the mouldings on the outside of the doors using a 4 inch roller that was about as big around as a quarter, not the one that came with the kit and I had all the plastic mouldings sprayed with Linex. On this vehicle, I also undercoated the car with Herculiner which was then sprayed with Mar-Hyde undercoating over the Herculiner. On my 2010 Focus, I had a bra sprayed on the hood and the plastic interior pieces sprayed with Linex. I have found out from all my experiences that Rhino is softer than Linex and it does fade faster than Linex. Linex is a harder material and does dry faster. Herculiner is good for small stuff and as long as the area is hidden, it is good and is best applied on a hot, humid day where this a lot of ventilation. It is also best to apply as least two coats, one going side to side and one going front to back.
No matter what, remember that it is all in the prep work. Even with Linex, you will have to put things on it to keep the color up whether it something that you can buy at the Linex franchisee where you get it done or some other type such as Maguires spray on tire dressing or something like that.
Michael and Mike – Installers, installers, installers – it’s all about the installer. Thank you both for your comments – that’s the main point of the article too.
Agree Jason and Mike. Mike you hit it right on “In the Prep”.
Thanks for you comments. Today, I dropped off the grille on my 2010 Focus at Linex to have sprayed so I will see how it looks when I get it back tomorrow. It should look cool since the hood already has a Linex spray on bra and the car is silver. Also, if anyone decides to use Herculiner in a small area such a door jamb, I suggest you use 1/4 inch masking tape for the initial edgeing and masking then overlap that with blue painters tape. This is what I did when I did the door jambs on my Focus with the Herculiner and the edges turned out perfect. By using the 1/4 inch tape, I was even able to get perfect curves and it turned out awesome. I had to curve the coating on the back of the door jamb on this car because it curves on the back by the rear wheels.
Jason, I understand what you are saying but I don’t differentiate between the prep work and the installer because I consider them one and the same. For instance, when I went to Rhino initially on my Grand Am, the installer did the worst job that I had ever seen and the product was coming off within a month and his Rhino franchise was later taken away by the corporate office. At the same time, when I went to a different Rhino franchise for the door edge guards on my Ford Ranger, they did such a good job that when the truck was at the dealership and one of the head people from Ford in Detroit saw what had been done and how, they thought that the spray on door edge guards should be a factory option option if it wouldn’t have been for how much work would be in involved to do it (8 hours and masking the truck off three times).
Mike – We’re saying the same thing I think. Good installers do good prep, bad installers don’t.
Dear Jason,
You’re right on both comments.
I got the grill back today from Linex for my Focus. From a distance, the grill and the hood where I had the spray-on bra done in Linex last month look like one piece.
Mike – Send me a pic if you have a moment – I’d like to see what your car looks like. admin[at]tundraheadquarters.com. Thanks!
Dear Jason,
I wish I could but I don’t have a camera at the moment but I hope to get one soon. I do apologize. By the way, if you have ever seen the back of a focus and if you know where the top part of the rear bumper cover that is flat where it meets the deck lid, I had that part sprayed also. I am also thinking about putting permanent door edge guards on the vehicle. To do this, I will use 1/4 inch masking tape and Herculiner but I don’t know if I will do this or not.
Mike – bummer! I do know what you’re talking about, however, on the rear bumper. It sounds cool – love to see it.
Jason,
Thanks. I am going to try and get pictures to you as soon as I can. My next project is to do the rocker panels below the doors between the wheels in Linex. The Linex dealership where I am having all of this done said that they can’t wait to do it and see when it is finished. All of the Linex on the car is black while the car is silver by the way.
Hello, I’m converting an E450 box truck into a mobile restaurant and I’m thinkink that a spray on liner would make a great flooring instead of linoleum. I would like any feedback on whether anyone thinks this is a good or bad idea and why. I’m going to cover the exsisting floor in 1/2″ plywood and spray the liner over that if that seems like a good idea.
Hey Ryan, I guess I’m a little partial since this is what I do for a living but I think it’s a great idea. I’ve sprayed 1 trailer floor that is a mobile restaraunt and they loved it. Easy to clean out and mold and mildew resistant. This polyurethane is also approved by the USDA for close food contact. Email me and I’ll send you a pic of the one we did.
Ok here it is. One of my very good friends was involved with the line-x on it’s conception. The owner of this was the actual inventor of the rino. He did not get what he was promised by the company sold out and set out to make a new product that was better. I had the second line-x ever made on my 2000 dodge cummings it was the best one I ever had and it was improved on from there.
Jason,
I just wanted to add this since you told the gentleman he was misinformed about the warranty Line-X offers, but this applies to Rhino as well and you can ‘google’ it if you do not believe me. This is the wording taken directly from Line-X’s warranty…
‘Thank you for selecting a LINE-X Spray-on Truck Bedliner, the #1 Bedliner in Customer Satisfaction. Your LINE-X Bedliner, when applied to the original factory finish, is warranted not to crack, bubble or flake for as long as you own the vehicle. This warranty only applies to pickup trucks, equipped with original equipment truck beds, sold to individuals for personnel non-commercial use. This warranty applies to the original LINE-X purchaser and is NOT transferable.’
‘NOTICE: THIS WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AND DOES NOT COVER ANY CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR INCREMENTAL COSTS SUCH AS LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE. YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS UNDER FEDERAL OR YOUR STATE LAW WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED. THIS LIMITED WARRANTY IS NON-TRANSFERABLE AND ONLY APPLIES TO THE ORIGINAL LINE-X BEDLINER PURCHASER IDENTIFIED ON THIS WARRANTY REGISTRATION FORM.’
Todd – Good to know. I was going off the information given to me by the installer in Denver who sold 100’s of bedliners to the dealership group I worked for. According to him, he would fix any bedliner with his name on it any time.
Maybe the installer gets to go above and beyond the letter of the warranty. Still, I stand corrected.
How is Ziebart’s reputation as an installer of Rhino?
Hello everyone. I just took my 2010 Tundra into the trim shop today to have a liner installed. I believe it was the Line X but I have a question. When I was washing it, and after the trim shop was closed and they won’t open again till Monday, I noticed a fairly big patch of overspray on the back side of my cab. My last truck I had sprayed didn’t have this issue but I was curious as to how easily this will be to clean up and isn’t this something the trim shop should do since they spray it during the installation? Appreciate your responses.
Im thinking about using a liner to spray around the bottom of my truck and fenders to prevent rust and rock chips. The rhyno liner is a bit shiner and less coarse and seems like it would be easier to clean when washing my truck. Any ideas?
Again Daniel it all depends if your Rhino Dealer is spraying a low or high pressure product. Rhino liners can be very coarse depending on which chemical that particular dealer decides to use. Just look at everyone’s work before you commit.
I’m trying to decide what liner to get between Rhino and Line-X. To be honest, with all kudos to smaller companies, I do feel safer with a larger, more established company. That said, I don’t really have any experience with bed liners. I would like to know if there are any realistic pitfalls with choosing either Line-X or Rhino that really set the two apart or if realistically I’d be pretty happy with either (of course depending on installation).
Brian – In my opinion, the choice between the two really isn’t that critical. As has been pointed out to me by a couple of commentors, many Rhino installers are using high pressure systems. This means there’s very little difference between the two products.
So, rather than choosing based on “line-x vs. rhino”, I would make my selection based on the installer. Whichever installer has the best recommendations is the one I would go with. If you’re not sure how to find that out, start at your local Toyota or Ford dealer and ask them who they use for spray-in liners.
If you are going to use the truck to haul heavy load from a crew that simply throws things like bricks rocks you want a rhino.
Rhino protect the metal from being dented in most cases.
Line-x is too thin for my taste, But it works for most people with light jobs.
Donovan – What you say about Rhino is true, but I’m learning that only if the Rhino was installed using a cold system. The hot systems used by some Rhino installers are very similar in texture and thickness to the Line-X.
I also agree with you that the thicker cold-Rhino is good dent insurance. However, I respectfully disagree that the Line-x is “light duty.” According to some of the people I’ve talked to, the hot application process allows for the use of a much stronger urethane compound than the cold process.
Of course, as I’m sure you know, the application process is everything. A cold-Rhino by a top-notch installer is better than a hot-Linex from a poor installer any day of the week…
Thanks for commenting.
I had a 1991 GMC with Permatex liner. The local body shop sold the brand then lost his franchize and ceased spraying it on. It was all about the installer and competence and still is today. It convinced me that sprayed on bedliners are the best bed liner to get.
I had the Rhino installed on my 2007 GMC when my truck was new. It was the conventional thick material over the rails. No issues with the liner except later there was what appeared to be clear over spray on my windshield that showed hazy at night. I had to remove it carefully with a razor blade paint scraper. It peeled off in sheets. It was very annoying. It was like a haze on the inside of your window that wouldn’t come clean. I don’t know where it came from. I assume at the Rhino dealer who may have been spraying plastic paint sealer. I had no issues with the Rhino bed liner. I hauled lots of split firewood just thrown in the bed. One minor gouge. Today, I’m taking my new 2011 GMC to Line-X. I’m going to try the Line-X Extra over the rail. We’ll see.
zoz
zoz – Feel free to leave your comments here on the Line-X vs. the Rhino.
I had the Line-X installed yesterday in Montgomery, IL. It is way too cool! Just looking at it will tell you it is something special. It is very smooth but has texture character. It is not as bumpy as the Rhino and appears to be thicker. The Line-X over the rail is taped perfectly straight. The Line-X sets up within minutes, the Rhino needed some time to set. There was no residual over spray anywhere with the Line-X. My truck is gray metallic and the black Line-X looks fabulous–like factory installed. I am overall satisfied with the service and the application. Josh and the crew at Line-X did a tremendous job! I’ll report back after one year. zoz
zoz – Glad to hear you like it – thanks for the update.
I have a 2010 Dodge Ram and I plan to purchase a Line-X liner. Can you tell me approximately what it should cost. I understand that price will vary from state to state, but I need to know if the dealers in my area are consistant with your dealers. Thanks
Sisco,
I have a 2009 Dodge with a 5.7 hemi with dual pipes. I have found that the liner helped quit the sound of the pipes inside the cab. I paid $340.00 for my Line-X under the rail in Denver Colorado. Hope that helps…..Go Dodge
To those who are comparing Linex and Rhino for the bottom of the doors for rock and chip protection. I have used both. Please read my post from April 28th of this year. I think the Linex is a superior product by far. Anyone who says it is light duty doesn’t know what they are talking about. I have seen Linex used on interior plastic and the hood with my 2010 Ford Focus SES and on the plastic mouldings on the bottom of my 2006 Ford Escape XLT. On the Escape, I also had the light bar in front of the bumper, hood where a bug shield would go, the rear hatch where the license plate sits along with the plastic piece above the license plate. If you are going to spray something on the bottom of your vehicle to prevent rock chips, check out the linex website and see the pictures. I wouldn’t just talk to one Linex dealer, talk to at least two because one may not do as good a job as the other.
I like Aaron have also found Linex to be a good sound deadener. If anyone is buying a new car, don’t buy the Linex bedliner though the car dealer because the costs will be considerably higher. Talk to the Linex dealer yourself because if you go through the car dealer, they have to make a cut also and by going to Linex directly, you cut out the middleman thus saving yourself money. I found this out first hand with my Focus.
Mike – Good tip on buying the line-x yourself – no dealer mark-up.