Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / October 2006

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

Bedliner in 1996 Ranger: Should I Remove?

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
hal_r_parker@yahoo.com - 10 Oct 2006 02:32 GMT
A few years ago I bought a 1996 Ranger with a black plastic bedliner
that covers up all the hooks and holes.  As a result, there is no way
to tie anything into the back, and it makes the truck much less useful
to me.

I am tempted to try to remove the damn thing.  Mostly I have the truck
to be able to do occasional light hauling, and unless I can tie stuff
down securely it's a lot less useful to me.

1. Any advice on whether I am likely to regret removing the bedliner?
I plan to buy a kayak soon, and maybe the bedliner would protect the
bed or the kayak against getting scratched?  Or perhaps the bed would
rust out sooner without the liner?

2. If I do decide to remove the bedliner, am I likely to have trouble
doing so?  It seems to be screwed onto the sides of the bed with screws
that have oddly big flat (3" diameter) plastic nuts, but I imagine it
might be affixed in other ways that I cannot see. I ran into a few old
posts on usenet indicating that some people may have trouble removing
bedliners, although this may have been with Toyota trucks.

Many thanks for anyone's thoughts or advice.  (Bu thanks, no need to
point out that someone who knows as little about trucks as I know
shouldn't really own one.  :-)  )

Hal
Joe S. - 10 Oct 2006 03:06 GMT
>A few years ago I bought a 1996 Ranger with a black plastic bedliner
> that covers up all the hooks and holes.  As a result, there is no way
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Hal

You might want to keep the bedliner -- it will keep scratches, dents, etc.
from the bed.

If you need to attach tie-downs, here are two suggestions.

1.  Check out anyplace that sells tie-down hardware and trailer hitches --  
start at an auto parts store, also check out Lowe's or Home Depot -- they
sell trailer balls and the like.  What you are looking for is a tie-down
that fits into the stake holes on the edge of the bed.  Look at the edge
rail of the bed where you will find four rectangular holes, two up front,
two in the rear.  You can buy a thing that has a heavy chrome ring on top
with a chrome base -- there is a threaded shaft on the bottom of the chrome
ring with a wing nut on it -- just slip this into the hole and tighten it --  
instant tie-down.

Here are some examples:
http://www.prolineracks.com/bull-ring-anchors.html

Look at this one -- you can see the wingnuts:
http://www.brandsonsale.com/ht-001583-images.html

Look at the photos on this link:
http://www.schlatter.org/bubba_and_flash.htm
You'll see a chrome ring tie-down installed in the front two stake holes of
my truck.  I did not install tie-downs in the rear stake holes because I
used those holes to mount the antennas for my amateur radio equipment.

2.  Another possibility -- if you are certain where the stock tie-down hooks
are located on the bed, you could CAREFULLY cut holes in the bedliner to
gain access to the tie-downs.  When we bought my daughter a 2000 Ranger, we
had the dealer install a bedliner -- it came with holes already cut so we
have access to the tie-downs.

Hope this helps.
Mountain Mike^^ - 10 Oct 2006 03:44 GMT
> 1. Any advice on whether I am likely to regret removing the bedliner?
> I plan to buy a kayak soon, and maybe the bedliner would protect the
> bed or the kayak against getting scratched?  Or perhaps the bed would
> rust out sooner without the liner?

My opinion is to get rid of the thing. I always have, as they trap water and
junk and hasten the demise of your truck. I used to use the Rubbermaid style
mat that just sits in the back........I got rid of that for the same reason.
My solution?

Get a gallon of Herculiner brush on bed liner. It's about $50 on
sale......It will take you a week-end, but if you follow the directions,
it'll look great! For tie downs, I installed the flat style in holes in the
bed. Much easier to tie down stuff with hooks that fold flat when you don't
need them. Works great.

MM^^
Matt Macchiarolo - 10 Oct 2006 13:12 GMT
I agree. Toss that thing ASAP. It has probably already worn the paint down
to bare metal in spots. Use a quality brush-on liner, or take it in to a
Line X or Rhino Lining place.

>> 1. Any advice on whether I am likely to regret removing the bedliner?
>> I plan to buy a kayak soon, and maybe the bedliner would protect the
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> MM^^
lugnut - 10 Oct 2006 15:54 GMT
>A few years ago I bought a 1996 Ranger with a black plastic bedliner
>that covers up all the hooks and holes.  As a result, there is no way
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
>Hal

The only way to go -  IMHO - is the spray on bed liner which
you can get many places or have it commercially done..  Had
an '06 F150 done a few months back for $240 south of
Atlanta.  Looks great, tough as nails and keeps things from
slidding around. You still have the use of any tiedowns that
may be there and does not trap debris or water under it to
wear away paint exposing metal to corrode.  The surface is
very hard and you will need to put a protective barrier of
some sort between it and things that scratch easily.  After
all, it is intended to protect the truck while you take care
of the cargo.

Lugnut
Jay Alperson - 10 Oct 2006 16:50 GMT
I bought some 1/8" plastic-coated metal cable from Home Depot, along with
some crimp-on cylinders (ferrules?).  Cut the cable in 2' lengths.  Make a
pass with the cable through the truck hooks and crimp the ends with the
ferrules.  Then you have something that you can hook into.  Very easy, very
durable.

>A few years ago I bought a 1996 Ranger with a black plastic bedliner
> that covers up all the hooks and holes.  As a result, there is no way
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> Hal
hal_r_parker@yahoo.com - 10 Oct 2006 17:06 GMT
Thanks, everybody, for very helpful advice and comments.  Much
appreciated!

Hal
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.