Your truck’s bed is undoubtedly the pinnacle of its utility. Sure, a truck can tow a trailer, but more often than not, a pickup’s most useful attribute is hauling a load, be it 1,000 pounds of cinder block, a new washer and dryer, or your family’s bikes to the beach. Why, then, is it the most overlooked (and often abused) part of the truck?
While the industry as a whole is getting better about it, most trucks sold today still do not come with any kind of bed protection. The status quo for many years has been the plastic drop-in liner. However, these aren’t always secure (ever see one by the side of the highway?), and as they shift and rattle over time, they can wear away at the bed surface as if there was nothing protecting it at all. Spray-in liners are also a popular choice, but a permanent one. So what can you do if you want to protect your new truck’s bed or spruce up your old one without all the negative side effects? This is where the BedRug enters the game.
BedRug utilizes closed-cell foam that is non-abrasive so it won’t scratch your bed surface or the goods you’re hauling. It’s attached using hook-and-loop fasteners, and it can be removed, leaving no sign it was ever there. The ¾-inch foam padding also protects both your bed and cargo from impacts, and it’s soft on knees when working in the bed. It’s also chemical resistant and can be washed with a pressure washer with no ill effects.
| Tonneau covers not only provide covered lockable storage but have also been proven to increase fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Folding covers add another level of usability over the more traditional solid models.
It’s no secret that people are keeping their trucks longer, so we chose to use an ’07 Ford F-150 as our test bed for the BedRug. While we were at it, we also added a tri-fold hard tonneau cover from Extang. Whether you want to protect your cargo from the elements, improve your truck’s fuel economy, or enhance its looks, a tonneau cover makes a great addition. We chose the Encore Tonno from Extang for its tri-fold utility, secure hard fiberglass build, and its ability to be easily removed when larger items need hauling.
Overall, we’re extremely happy with the results thus far. Our old used-and-abused truck bed looks new again, and we’re not only able to haul goods out of the elements but the truck has a fantastic new look. So whether you’re protecting a new truck bed from the start or freshening up an old one, this is one modification that we can happily recommend.
| Stock F 150 Bed
Truck beds get used and abused, at least that’s what they are designed and intended for. And if you’ve left your bed naked or had a drop-in plastic liner, your before pic likely looks like this, or worse. Fortunately, it’s never too late to spruce it up.
| Bed Tie Down Removal
The first step installing a BedRug liner is to give the bed a thorough wash. Once clean and dry, the factory tie down hooks should be removed (if they are removable).
| Bedrug Zipper Attachment
BedRug ships in two pieces, the floor and sides. Assembly is as simple as flipping the two pieces upside down on a flat surface and zipping them together.
| 3m Hook And Loop Fastner
Securing the unit to the bed is done with the use of high-strength 3M hook-and-loop fasteners. The BedRug has one side of the fastener sewn into the liner, and it provides markings that indicate where to attach the other half.
| Bedrug Zipped Together
With the two parts zipped together and fasteners in place, the BedRug is ready to be installed in the bed. It’s important to not remove the adhesive covering from the hook-and-loop fasteners until the BedRug is fully fitted into the pickup box.
| Poking Holes For Tie Down Bolts
If your truck has removable tie down points, like ours does, the BedRug should come premarked where you need to punch a hole for the bolts to pass through. We used a Phillips screwdriver to locate and punch the needed holds. An awl will work equally as well.
| Adhesive Backing Removal
Once the liner has been fit into place, the adhesive backing can be removed from the hook-and-loop fasteners and the unit secured to the bed. The folks at BedRug have done a great job of ensuring that the liner fits perfectly and fasteners land in the appropriate spots.
| Encore Tonno Cover Rail Install
With the BedRug secured, we moved on to installing our Encore Tonno cover. Installation is simple and is completed by attaching two metal rails to the factory bedrail by way of aluminum clamps. Each of the three clamps is tightened to 10 ft-lbs with a ½-inch socket driver.
One of the awesome features of the Encore Tonno is the ability to open the front panel independently of the rear, perfect for those times when you need to reach something stored at the front of the bed. Also included with this feature is a lock that utilizes Bolt technology to allow the user to key the lock the same as their truck. Setting the lock is a snap and is accomplished by inserting your ignition key and turning, but be careful: You can only set the lock once, so be sure to use the correct key.
| Encore Tonno Cover Open
Once installed, the Encore Tonno’s good looks are rivaled only by its utility. Accessing the bed is done by simply opening the rear two panels. If something large is in need of hauling, these panels can be secured with an attached strap and buckle, allowing you to drive with them in the open position. Need your whole bed open? Don’t worry: The entire assembly removes just as easily as it installs, with no tools and in about two minutes.
