Let's Talk Truck Bed Mats

After spending an afternoon helping me put a truck topper on my SR5, resulting in sore kneecaps, I mentioned getting a rubber bed mat to a truck loving friend of mine and he said not to do it. His claim was that the rubber in the bed mat would react with the spray on bed liner and eat through it to the truck bed itself, causing lasting damage.

What are your thoughts on his claim, and what are your opinions on truck bed mats in general?

TIA...

 

Does your friend know that Tacoma beds are not metal?

I'm in for 50 cent in the 'no' box

Option B

Someone is yanking your chain.

 

Get a bed mat and find a new friend. No need to thank me.

 

Never heard of that nor understand the reasoning

 

Your friend is either messing with you or he's someone I'd never take advice from again.

People have been using rubber bed mats on lined truck beds for a very long time. There can be issues with an unlined metal bed and a bed mat in areas where road salt is common if you don't clean out periodically but since Tacoma bed is composite that's not a concern.

For nearly nine years I've have a bed mat in my 3rd gen with tonneau cover that still lets in some water sometimes, particularly since the truck is always parked outdoors.

Bed mat and bed are both in fine shape. The mat definitely helps limit stuff from sliding around.

 

A spray on bed liner is an option on the Tacoma (from factory and dealer) but not all have the spray on. Is your friend claiming the rubber from the mat will react with the polyurea/polyurethane of the spray on liner and that chemical reaction will eat through the composite bed? If anything, polyurethane would react with the rubber and degrade the mat, but not the poly itself or the composite underneath.

 

Yep, you all are reinforcing my thoughts as well. The sciency part of my brain labeled his statement as questionable as well, but I thought since you all have a lot more experience with the Tacoma composite bed I thought I'd take a poll.

I like the spray-on liner fine enough, but like I said, my kneecaps aren't fond of the ridges in the bed when kneeling is required. Also, while the spray on liner does provide some grip to keep things from sliding, it still allows cargo to shift relatively easily when inertial forces take hold.

Anyone have a reasonably priced recommendation for a bed mat for 4th gen's?

 

That's a first, for me... I'm no chemist, but nothing in the two materials would create a reaction to eat through the bed. About only thang that would occur, might be some rubbing, but not going to happen. I had an oem bed mat on my 07 Taco and the bed was in excellent shape when i sold it, 17 years later . Today, I have the oem mat on my truck and unfortunately, Toyo sprayed the bedliner. No issues. As for saving the knees, the mat will help, a tad...

 

I find that throwing an old kitchen standing mat in the bed when needed works pretty well. I was just looking for a longer term, full bed solution. I have a truck cap so weather won't be too much of an issue.

 

Given how my OEM 3rd gen has held up since 2016, I'd just go OEM again.

Check local dealers for pricing, my nearest has shortbed version PT90C-35240-02 for $144 pickup ($170MSRP)

Other online places may have lower price, but watch for shipping - it's pretty heavy and bulky to ship

Edit - just noticed you're in Woodstock. Looks Cobb County Toyota has the same price. https://autoparts.toyota.com/products/product/bed-mat-pt90c3524002

 

If you're trying to dissolve Krazy 8's body in a truck bed of acid you'll need polyethylene (LDPE). So says my friend Walter. Otherwise any truck bed mat should be fine.

 

Crawling around on bare hands and bare knees hurt on the 3G OEM mat and also on the newer material made from the likes of Lasfit. Newest aftermarket mats look like they all use the same material. They all are built to withstand rough treatment and the weather, bare skin be damned. Knee pads, cut sections of that thin foam insulation sheet at the hardware store, or carpet samples from Wallyworld are all alternatives.

 

Weight and versatility come to mind. For more than a year I've been surprisingly happy with cardboard! It's had me thinking to just get a lighter simple 48x72 inch mat.

 

Thanks a mil, man!

I found it for $130 at another dealership but man, the shipping was $50!

 

Can't say thanks enough for all y'alls insight and comments. Thinking through options.
Love this Forum!

 

If you added a topper, you can really do anything you want. I was going to suggest BedRug, but good lord their prices have doubled recently (if not more). If you like DIY solutions, what about doing a foam/rubber pad with a carpet on top? HD has all kinds of stuff that can be cut/trimmed to fit. Just my 2 cents.
Edit
I found just the bed mat, I was looking at the whole shell.
BedRug - BMY24SBS

$180 BedRug - BMY24SBS - BedRug BMY24SBS BedRug Tailgate Mat Fits 24-25 Compatible with/Replacement for Tacoma

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJYF6PJ8

 

Buy an OEM mat and be done with it, fits perfectly, looks cool, easy on your knees. Look at the cost of the truck,vs the bed mat, You can find deals on them.

 

It wasn't the road salt, it was those damn bed mats!

 

I'll be expecting a 6 page dissertation (with sources) from your friend on the relative volatility and inertness of fiberglass.