If you need to apply a liner to your truck bed, there are a good number of options out there. Two of the most popular are Custom Coat and Raptor Liner. You might be wondering if these two options are similar. We researched both of them so you'll know for sure if they are different.
Custom Coat and Raptor Liner are both textured coatings that are popular options for protecting the bed of a pickup truck. They are both textured and essentially the same product, manufactured by different companies.
Now that we know that Custom Coat and Raptor Liner are essentially the same, we'll take a look at what they are needed for. You might also be wondering if you can paint over a Raptor Liner or how to apply these liners. For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post and see what we've uncovered in our research.
What are bed liners used for?
Getting a pickup truck can mean being tempted by a variety of accessories for your new vehicle. While some are purely for aesthetic purposes, many will have practical value to them. You'll find that bed liners are some of the most popular aftermarket add-ons for trucks based on the benefits they offer.
The inside of a pickup truck bed is probably going to get a lot of abuse. Think of all the things that get heaved in and out of this space. No matter how careful you are, the bed is going to get scratched, dinged up, and scraped from all the use it's going to get.
Bed liners give a layer of protection
Applying a spray-on bed liner will coat the interior of the bed with a protective layer. This layer is so durable that it will take the abuse from the items you bring in and out of the bed. Without a liner, the bed can quickly deteriorate.
Deep scratches and dings to the bed cut through the protective coating and paint and can go right to the metal. Once this metal has been exposed, it can oxidize. It's not uncommon for truck beds without a liner to rust a lot faster than the rest of the truck body.
The bed liner will absorb all the abuse, preventing damage to the truck's body. Whether you plan on hauling heavy cargo or not, having a liner installed in the bed of your truck is a good move to consider.
A good bed liner will also prevent skidding
The painted surface of the truck bed can be a little slippery. This is especially true after it rains or in the mornings when the dew has settled. It can be easy to slip when loading and unloading cargo under these conditions.
The cargo will also slide around on its own in the truck bed. If you have a bed liner installed, you can count on its textured surface to help prevent the cargo from moving around as much. This liner will also give your feet better traction when you're on board loading and unloading items.
Can you paint over a Raptor Liner?
Once the liner has been installed, maybe you don't like the color. You might want the liner to match the color of the rest of the vehicle. Or maybe you want the liner to be an accent color to the body of the truck. Thankfully, a Raptor Liner will take a coat of paint to make this possible.
In order to paint the Raptor Liner the desired color, you need to select the right kind of paint. The kinds that work best are acrylic or urethane paint. Before you use either one of these types of paint, you'll need to prepare the Raptor Liner for the job.
It's recommended to prime the surface of the Raptor Liner with at least one coat of quality primer. Two coats will probably work best, however. Once the coats of primer have dried, you will be able to paint the liner whatever color you have chosen.
How do you apply these bed liners?
Applying a bed liner can take up an afternoon, but it's not a difficult task. You'll find that with the right tools and a little bit of skill that this is something that you can accomplish on your own. This will save you from paying for unnecessary labor.
A Raptor Liner can be installed on your truck bed by taking the following steps in order. Before you begin, make sure that you have read these steps fully and have all the necessary equipment and tools.
1. Prep the truck bed
If you do not prep the area first, the Raptor Liner will not adhere to the surface. This can take some time, but it is a critical step. For this, you'll need 80-180 grit sandpaper, a vacuum, a quality respirator, gloves, and masking tape.
Put on gloves and a respirator to avoid getting in contact with the paint you'll be sanding. Using a sander (or you can do it by hand), sand the entire surface area where you will be applying the Raptor Liner. Be thorough, and be sure to sand it over two to three times.
Vacuum the material you just sanded away. Alternatively, you can wipe it away with a soft cloth. You do not want any grit left, as it will interfere with how well the Raptor Liner will adhere to the surface.
Use the masking tape to mark off any spot you don't want the Raptor Liner to contact.
2. Mix your Raptor Liner
Shake your bottle of Raptor Liner vigorously. Then, you'll fill the Raptor bottle up to Line A. Put on the cap and shake for two more minutes.
You can add paint to the mixture now if desired. It should be at a ratio of 10 parts liner to one part paint. Now, you'll be ready to spray it on the surface.
3. Apply the Raptor Liner
Screw the Raptor bottle onto your sprayer. Set the pressure to between 40 and 60 psi. Sweep the spray back and forth steadily and uniformly.
For more texture, hold the sprayer back further. Be sure that your first coat is thick and even and that there are no thin spots.
The Raptor Liner should be applied in three separate coats. It will take roughly an hour in between each coat to be ready for the next one. If you don't wait, your liner will not be consistent and could be uneven.
Additional tips
Watch the weather before you begin to prep or apply the liner. You want it to be around 70 degrees with a humidity of 60% or less. Sunny conditions are the best, as you will want to avoid any of this work in the rain.
Don't be in a hurry! Also, be sure to only mix one bottle of the Raptor Liner at a time. We also suggest cleaning the applicator tip of the Raptor Liner bottle in between each prep session for the mixture.
Will a Raptor Liner fade over time?
Raptor Liner, like most bed liner applications, is a tough coating. It can take a lot of abuse from the cargo that you move in and out of the bed of the pickup truck. And the color will not fade over time.
Does a Raptor Liner chip?
Raptor Liner is durable and not prone to crack or chip away. It will also not flake off as long as it has been properly applied to the bed.
If you have not prepped the surface correctly before you spray on the liner, it can cause some issues. Additionally, the liner must be consistent and spread evenly over the surface. Enough coats are needed to ensure this.
If your Raptor Liner is chipping or flaking off, it means that there was an error in how it was applied or in how the surface of the truck bed was prepped. Be sure to follow the application instructions to the letter so that the Raptor Liner will last!
Final thoughts
Raptor Liner and Custom Coat are both quality ways to apply a bed liner to the bed of your pickup truck. Be sure that you follow all the application instructions so that the coats will not chip or flake off. Drive safe!
Make it to the end? We hope this post on the Raptor Liner answered all of your questions. For additional information, we recommend reading the following posts:
How Much Bed Liner Does It Take To Paint A Truck? [Plus 3 of the Best Liners]