My $400 'truck bed liner in a can' project turned into a sticky mess

I tried to save cash by spraying my own bed liner on my 2004 F-150 last weekend, following the can's instructions to the letter. The stuff never fully cured, and now my toolbox is permanently glued to the truck bed in a gooey, rubbery disaster. Has anyone actually had a DIY bed liner turn out okay, or should I just bite the bullet and get it professionally done?

3 comments

3 Comments

stone.thomas2mo ago

RIP your toolbox, that sucks.

knight.xena2mo ago

Wait, you sprayed it right on the bed and then put the toolbox down before it cured? That stuff needs like a week to fully harden, man. I did mine in the garage and left it totally empty for ten days. Even then, a plastic bin left a slight imprint. Your toolbox is probably part of the truck now.

the_piper2mo ago

Forget the cure time, the real killer is temperature and humidity. That can stuff is super picky about the weather when you spray it. Did you check the dew point that day? If it was too humid, the moisture gets trapped under the liner and it never dries right. Your toolbox might be a lost cause, but try a heat gun on low in a small spot to see if it finally sets up.