Rugged Tricks, Real Results: Your Guide to Spray-On Bedliner That Doesn’t Suck

So you’ve spent the weekend tearing through mud, dragging branches, and throwing gear in and out of your truck bed like it owes you money. Respect. But now your paint’s looking more like abstract art, and that factory liner? About as tough as wet cardboard.

That’s where DIY bedliner comes in—especially the Barricade Ultimate Sprayable Bedliner from Rugged Restore. This guide’s here to make sure you don’t turn your garage into a crime scene of overspray, or worse, end up with a lumpy mess that flakes off by your next trail run.

Ready to armor up your ride without needing a hazmat team afterward? Let’s get into it.

Why a DIY Bedliner is a No-Brainer for Off-Roaders

Look, we off-road folks aren’t exactly known for babying our rigs. Whether you’re hauling recovery gear, tossing in spare tires, or just lugging a weekend’s worth of camping gear, your truck bed takes a beating.

A quality DIY bedliner is like a flak jacket for your bed. It absorbs impact, resists scratches, and keeps rust from turning your ride into a tetanus trap.

And here’s the kicker: when you use a pro-grade product like Barricade Bedliner from Rugged Restore, you get all the armor without the body shop price tag.

What You’ll Need (Besides Patience and a Good Playlist)

Let’s gear up. Here’s your toolkit for a mess-free, pro-grade DIY truck bed coating:

• Barricade Ultimate Sprayable Bedliner (obviously)

• Paint gun or undercoating gun with a 1.7-2.0mm tip

• Air compressor (at least 5 CFM @ 90 PSI)

• Drop cloths or plastic sheeting

• Painter’s tape (the good stuff—not dollar store tape)

• Wax and grease remover

• Scuff pad or 80-120 grit sandpaper

• Nitrile gloves and a respirator

• Clean rags and a tack cloth

Optional: A buddy who owes you a favor. Or at least one who knows how to hold a flashlight and not ask dumb questions.

Prepping the Bed: Where Winners are Made

Don’t skip prep. Ever.

Applying bedliner without proper prep is like putting cologne on after a gym workout—you might fool yourself, but everyone else can tell it’s wrong.

Step 1: Clean Like You Mean It

Degrease the surface with a wax and grease remover. Even if it looks clean, it probably isn’t. You’ve got oils, dirt, and maybe the lingering memory of that gas can you spilled last summer.

Step 2: Sand Like You’re Mad At It

Scuff the entire surface with 80–120 grit sandpaper. You’re not trying to strip it to bare metal—you just want to rough it up so the liner sticks like peanut butter on the roof of your dog’s mouth.

Don’t forget the corners, edges, and behind-the-wheel wells. They’re the most likely to get wrecked on the trail, so give ‘em some extra love.

Step 3: Mask Everything

Use painter’s tape and plastic sheeting to mask off anything you don’t want coated: tailgate hardware, emblems, cab panels, your dog.

Pro Tip: Run your tape edge along a hard body line. It’ll give you that clean "factory-installed" look that screams, "Yeah, I did this myself—and it looks better than stock."

Mixing and Spraying: The Part Where You Feel Like a Mad Scientist

Shake, Rattle, and Mix

Follow the Barricade instructions for mixing. It’s typically a 3:1 ratio of liner to hardener, and you’ve got a limited working window once it’s mixed—so don’t wander off mid-job to check Instagram.

Pour the mix into your spray gun, set your air pressure around 50 PSI, and test it on a piece of cardboard first. You want a pebbly, even texture—not a splatter party.

Spray Like You Know What You’re Doing (Because You Do)

Spray in long, overlapping strokes. Start with the corners and wheel wells, then work your way to the main floor and sidewalls.

Light coat first. Let it tack up for 5-10 minutes, then hit it again for coverage and texture. You can build up to 3 coats for extra thickness if you’re the type who goes full-send on the trails.

Remember: you’re not painting a Monet. It’s okay to be aggressive, but don’t go full finger-paint mode.

Drying and Curing: The Art of Leaving It Alone

Barricade starts to tack in 10-20 minutes and can be touch-dry in a couple of hours depending on temp and humidity. But full cure? That takes a few days.

So resist the urge to toss your trail gear back in immediately. Let it cure, and you’ll have a tough, long-lasting shield that can handle everything short of a meteor strike.

Bedliner Tips and Tricks (From Someone Who’s Actually Done This)

1. Don’t Skip Corners and Edges

These areas are impact zones. Extra coats here go a long way.

2. Add Texture Strategically

Want a grippier surface? Adjust your spray distance and pressure to get a rougher texture in high-traffic zones.

3. Keep a Wet Rag Nearby

Overspray happens. Wipe it fast, or live with the shame.

4. Weather Matters

Too cold and the liner won’t cure right. Too hot and it’ll dry mid-air. Aim for 60–80 degrees.

5. Want to Impress the Neighbors?

Use a trim restorer like Trim Renew from Rugged Restore after masking tape removal. That contrast between your deep-black liner and revitalized trim? Chef’s kiss.

Why Barricade from Rugged Restore Crushes the Competition

Other DIY liners might look good for a minute, but they flake, fade, and peel when the going gets gnarly. Barricade is made for the real world—mud, gravel, UV rays, and that buddy who insists on throwing his cooler in like a shot put.

With Rugged Restore, you’re not just buying a product—you’re joining a crew of DIYers, off-roaders, and truck junkies who actually give a damn about quality.

And if you’re already coating your bed, why stop there? Rugged Restore’s full lineup—Armor Ceramic Coating, Mud Blaster, Clear Vision Glass Coating—has your whole rig covered. Literally.

Spray Smart, Stay Rugged

Doing your own bedliner isn’t just about saving cash—it’s a rite of passage. It says you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, do things right, and take pride in every square inch of your off-road beast.

So prep hard, spray smart, and don’t forget: when it comes to keeping your rig looking as tough as it performs, Rugged Restore has your back.

Ready to get started? Check out the full lineup of detailing and protection products—including the legendary Barricade Ultimate Sprayable Bedliner—at RuggedRestore.com.

Stay muddy, my friends.