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I hate the OEM bed liner!!! (Bed Mat options)

Navigatin1

SM 2020
Full Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2020
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113
Ok, before the entire site jumps on me, if you like it, cool, but I don’t. Unless you’re loading in a perfectly flat box that can slide across the tire tracks, fuggedaboutit. :E:

I’m always loading in tools, table saws, miter stands etc, and everything gets caught on the tire tracks. Has anyone come up with a good replacement for the factory one? If so, what brand and where did you get it?
 
Don't feel bad. Plenty of owners have expressed the same issue over the years. Some have opted to installing a carpeted bedliner and there's also variations of custom and DIY bed slides/drawers that you can install.

It's a bit of an ironic situation... you don't want your stuff sliding around but at the same time you can't push certain things into the bed because well, it ain't made to slide around! Over the years I've used things like cardboard and tarps laid out to help with sliding heavily weighted items when needed.

If you've got lots of tools you're trying to load/unload you may benefit from a bed slide. Here's a simple DIY example;


Here's a company that has custom bedslides;
 
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I agree with above, bed liner is designed as part of the "water management system" and helps channel water to the bed drains. You could use a BedRug kit and line the floor (with stock mat still in bed for protection and drainage) sides and tailgate with their strong and water repellent carpet like material.
Here is their website:


Since you put many things in and out of the bed so frequently you should consider a bed slide type of device to make it easier to get stuff in and out, not having to bend over the tailgate or possibly break the tailgate cables with a heavy load.
here are some companies that make them:
 
I did mine this way because it serves me well for what I do. It is strapped to the hold downs so I can remove it easily.


 
Ok, before the entire site jumps on me, if you like it, cool, but I don’t. Unless you’re loading in a perfectly flat box that can slide across the tire tracks, fuggedaboutit. :E:

I’m always loading in tools, table saws, miter stands etc, and everything gets caught on the tire tracks. Has anyone come up with a good replacement for the factory one? If so, what brand and where did you get it?


When I bought my 2004 EXT back in 2012, it was missing several OEM parts.

The original rubber bed mat was one of them.

I went to a local truck accessory store and we determined that an aftermarket rubber mat for a step side pickup truck was almost a perfect fit in width, but was a foot or so too long in length.

When I got the new mat home, I cut off the extra length and it has worked just fine for many years now.

I even used the cut off length as a door mat at the garage door.

This picture shows the bed mat installed on the floor of the truck as I demonstrate the bed panel bag being installed in the bed of my EXT.

BedPanelBagMounted-02.JPG

Just last year, I was able to locate a used OEM bed mat on eBay and have since installed that in my EXT bed with the other mat lying under the OEM mat.

The step side bed mat is very tough and never left me wanting.

But you are correct in stating the OEM mat is pretty sticky, especially when trying to slide anything across it.

But, I am also assuming that is by design.

Both of these mats will suit my purposes, just fine.
 
Purpose of making it hard to slide stuff in is it is hard for that stuff to move when driving.

Catch 22.

Sometimes I like it sometimes I hate it but overall I think I like it more then hate it.

Bed slide is in your future.
 
When I bought my 2004 EXT back in 2012, it was missing several OEM parts.

The original rubber bed mat was one of them.

I went to a local truck accessory store and we determined that an aftermarket rubber mat for a step side pickup truck was almost a perfect fit in width, but was a foot or so too long in length.

When I got the new mat home, I cut off the extra length and it has worked just fine for many years now.

I even used the cut off length as a door mat at the garage door.

This picture shows the bed mat installed on the floor of the truck as I demonstrate the bed panel bag being installed in the bed of my EXT.

View attachment 227431

Just last year, I was able to locate a used OEM bed mat on eBay and have since installed that in my EXT bed with the other mat lying under the OEM mat.

The step side bed mat is very tough and never left me wanting.

But you are correct in stating the OEM mat is pretty sticky, especially when trying to slide anything across it.

But, I am also assuming that is by design.

Both of these mats will suit my purposes, just fine.

I like that. Did you have to cut out any drain holes? I know the factory mat has notches on the sides for drainage.

Purpose of making it hard to slide stuff in is it is hard for that stuff to move when driving.

Catch 22.

Sometimes I like it sometimes I hate it but overall I think I like it more then hate it.

Bed slide is in your future.

I hear ya about stuff sliding. I have lock bars and a bed net if I need to keep stuff in place. I’d rather have stuff slide in-n-out easily. :cheers:
 
I like that. Did you have to cut out any drain holes? I know the factory mat has notches on the sides for drainage.

All I cut off was the extra length.

As you can see in the picture, the new bed mat is slightly less wide as the OEM bed mat so it did not cover any of the drain holes in the bed.

I never had any problems with water draining, even when the bed panels had been left off in the rain.
 
If it helps, the Avalanche bed has a width of 50".
 
If it helps, the Avalanche bed has a width of 50".

Thanks, but I’m curious to see what the width of his step side mat is. He said it was just short enough that he didn’t need to trim for drainage, only the length. :cheers:
 
Likely a universal 48". Based on his photo there appears to be an inch gap on each side which makes sense since the bed is 50" wide.
 
If you get a second, can you measure the width of yours? Thanks.

48 3/8" wide.

And I misspoke, my step side bed mat is currently sitting on top of my recently acquired OEM bed mat.

Not that it really matters.

When I got the OEM bed mat, I did not want to just toss the step side bed mat, so I just put it back in the truck on top of the OEM bed mat.

It's all good.
 
I recently bought this 2011 4wd to replace my 2002 2wd. The bed liner on the 11 is not in good shape wheras the 02 is in great shape. What's weird is the 02 liner has a continuous egg crate style backing on the bottom surface. The 2011 only has two crosswise egg crate strips, one near the tailgate and the other near the pass through panel. The result is a low spot in the bed liner in between the egg crate strips. Has anyone else experienced this?
 
I have a piece of Masonite ruff side up; it makes it easier to slide things around but not so smooth that they go sliding. I do use bungees to hold things at the rear when driving so they move if I have to stop in a hurry.
 
that's simple and brilliant.

I'm more interested in your pouch system on the passenger side bed wall. where did those come from and how are they attached?
Good eyesight. The pouch is a leftover from my 82 Scottsdale pickup which I had behind the seat. It's hung from the gutter. The plastic gutter has a return down at the bed wall so I matched up the holes and drilled it using small zip ties to hang it. I used the end holes to stretch it and zip tie it to the top metal ties on the bed wall.
 
Good eyesight. The pouch is a leftover from my 82 Scottsdale pickup which I had behind the seat. It's hung from the gutter. The plastic gutter has a return down at the bed wall so I matched up the holes and drilled it using small zip ties to hang it. I used the end holes to stretch it and zip tie it to the top metal ties on the bed wall.
nice! i would love to find a similar set up to put behind the rear seat, where the window can be stowed. i have a piece of plywood cut to fit the opening, but have not been able to find pouches that i think would work well on it.
 
I got one of those desk chair mats. It's tough and very slippery. Easy to take out and store if needed.
It's funny the way peoples' different experiences result in different desires. I owned a 1994 K1500 Silverado for 25 years, it had the "regular" after market bedliner (hard plastic) that was very durable and did it's job great. However, my biggest complaint was that everything slides way too easy so you have to have a 2x4 across the bed (or other methods) to stop stuff from sliding rear to front, etc.

When I got the Avalanche with the rubber matt, the first time I loaded stuff in the back, my first thought was yahoo, finally, shat doesn't slide around! After a few years, I do sometimes "wish" certain things would slide when I need to grab from way back towards the midgate, however, having a choice, I like the no slide.

Actually, now you have me thinking, maybe no slide in the 1/2 section towards the tailgate and then slide for the inner 1/2. Hmmm.........
 
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