Bed mat question

Hello all bed mat owners. I'm considering buying either the oem or westin mat. I like the idea of not having to lash down every single item I throw in the back but I also load and unload heavy items that are much easier to slide in and out rather than place in position. Anyone with a mat think it's a pain to load/unload kayaks, lumber or other large objects? Thanks

 

I have the OEM mat, it's a quality piece. WRT heavy items, I never really thought of it as a pain. Just heft the darn thing outa there or fold it up if you need a slippery bed again.

Benefits outweigh the small inconveniences IMHO..

Oh, and M/T FTW

 

you're not sliding shit out on an oem mat, but its good shit, buy dat shit.

 

Not at all. I’d buy another if needed. I’ve moved all kinds of stuff from yard waste to furniture on it. It’s slick enough to allow you to slide in heavy objects. It’s not as tacky as you think. What I enjoy most is being able to clean out dirt and snow by just pulling it out, giving it a shake, and throwing it back in.

 

Good point!

 

I have the Westin and it works as designed. Only you can decide whether you’d rather have stuff slamming around in the bed or sitting firmly in place. I picked the later and would much rather have to lift stuff out.

 

Either mat will do a good job, I prefer the OEM though. Keeps everything in place and doesn't smell like some of the imported ones from China. (I didn't look to see if mine was made in China but it still soesn't smell like the area with all the Chinese tires). I'm going out to the truck to see where it was made.....it doesn't say so I'll stop at the dealership and look on a box. I have a bed cover so the rubber smell would stay in for a while.

 

Here's my grocery-getter solution, as I have an access cab. Bet mat and bungee cords across behind the boxes ensure they don't move:



Tonneau is open only for the pic, I usually just slide each box out a bit on to the tailgate, fill and slide/lift it back in place. Perfect.

 

The OEM is worth the price.

@gunny1005 was selling these for around $85 shipped, and they are made in the US, fwiw.

If I know I will be loading heavy objects in the bed, I pull the mat out and leave it home. A bit heavy but relatively easy to do.

With the mat in place, most things stay put, and it is not easy to slide items on it for loading. I appreciate having my tool bag or whatever not sliding around and close to the tailgate when I need them, and the bed mat fits the bill.

 

Oem here, I have a hobie pro angler 12 and it slides in and out very easily

 

Go get 1/2inch thick 4’x6’ horse stall mat at tractor supply and cut to fit much thicker and durable mat you’ll never even dent your bed

 

And only 34$$

 

I fly fish out of my kayak ALOT and it's a breeze sliding the kayak in and out of the bed with a mat.

 

Dent the composite bed!!?

 

I thought the same thing.

I have 6 stall matts in my garage and they are awesome, but there is something to be said about paying a little more and getting something that is custom fit to the bed and covers the entire thing evenly. To empty out dirty/leaves and crap from the bed you just fold over the little "wings" and pull it out onto the tailgate, tip and dump. I have the OEM mat, and with the little grooves it has water can channel out as well. I think it's well worth the price for OEM mat that can be had for $85-100

Stall mats are also kind of a bitch to precision cut.

 

I looked at several mats and got the OEM one. It's very high quality, nothing slides, and easy to take out for cleaning, etc. Nice and thick too.

 

I bought an OEM bed mat. I shopped around, it was about $10 more than the Westin. $84.00 online. I can't comment on the Westin, but the OEM is good quality. I figure I'll have it as long as the truck so a few dollars more was worth it to me.

 

Do you have a link for purchase?

 

I purchased the OEM bed mat for $85.40 shipped back in April. It works great, looks good, and fits like glove - no trimming needed. Doesn't lift up or flop around when rolling down the road 60 mph +. Check out @gunny1005 in the Vendors forum "Camelback Toyota Parts".

 

I have the OEM mat and I really like it. It seems to be of quality and I gave $80 for it when I bought the truck.