Drill holes in the bed?

Hi folks. My 2003 Tacoma has a pendaliner over-the-rail bedliner that's seen better days but is still more or less functional. I've been thinking of removing it and going with monstaliner or raptor, monstaliner because I could save a little with DIY, but I found someone who will do it with Raptor for $375, so I might go that way. (Opinions welcome on one or the other.) My issue is that 1.) the truck is jacked high in the back, apparently because it was used for haulage, so no matter how I park it collects water cab-side. (I've tried parking on ramps, and while that works, I'd rather not have to do it.)

I took off the bedliner today. There's bare metal, but I see no real rust yet, thankfully. Also, I see no drain holes. Should I drill some before applying bedliner? Is there's a process to it, specific size, grommets, or just drill holes where they seem to drain clean underneath and move on? Thanks.

 

There are drain holes. Find them in the front corners and clean them out.

If you want them bigger, or more of them don't drill into the gas tank as more than one has done.

Lower the rear if you don't need the height.

Monstaliner.

 

Drain holes are already there like @Clearwater Bill said. In each corner where I have the screw driver in the pic below. You don't need to drill them out to make them bigger, just stick a screw driver in there to clean them out and you can bend the metal a little to enlarge them.

 

they sell bedliner at Tractor Supply thats really good tuff stuff at a goooood price

for the do it yo selfer

with Proper Prep a couple coats U can avoid rust

 

Not saying it is not good, but personally, I would never go Rhino/Raptor/Monsta/X-liner or whatever it is called because if you eventually have any little crack or chip, moisture will get in and it will just fester with rust underneath the liner. Good luck removing that stuff to treat the rust, it's rock hard!

Then there is people that say that plastic bedliners make the bed rust. Well, not at all. What makes the bed rust is all the crap that gets acccumulated underneath it over time. Remove it from time to time to clean up what has accumulated and do some touch ups if needed and your bed will never rust

Both options have their advantages and disadvantages

 

not certain there is a bullet proof cure

especially when its a work truck & U are hauling

only U can determine cost reward vs to continue for the life left in the truck

 

Thank you all so much. I haven't figured out a plan yet, but now I have a lot more useful information. I'll go on a drain hole hunt, then take it from there. Tacomaworld comes through again. So glad I came here before taking a drill to it. That gas tank mistake is all kinds of awful, thankfully avoided.

 

my 03 DC has 2 large rubber grommets that pop out for drainage.

 

I had my bed Rhino lined right after purchase in '04 The installer took a round chisel and just punched a 1/2" hole in the front corners. I just about had a stroke watching him do it.
Fast forward 16 years and no problems with bed rust or blockage.