Tub Liners in Utes are not a good idea.

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:27
ThreadID: 74626 Views:24802 Replies:7 FollowUps:5
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I'd just like to share this with prospective Ute Owners.

I don't like the things for two reasons

1. They reduce the cargo area
2. I've held a suspicion that they must cause rust. This was based on my opinion that condensation must form and without adequate breathing the moisture would be contained between the liner and the metal of the tub.

We recently had a customer who decided to rip out his tub liner in order that he could get a bigger set of drawers in the back of his ute. The Ute was just two years old and rust had begun.

Jim.

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Reply By: Member - Mark G Gulmarrad - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:30

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:30
Jim

i had mine in since it was new and no rust.i did pull it out once or twice to clean it out(dust and the like get up in there).
like everything maintenance is the key.
AnswerID: 396341

Follow Up By: Best Off Road - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:54

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:54
Good move Mark,

But most people may never take them out, especially with a canopy fitted they are a bastard to remove.

Cheers,

Jim.

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Follow Up By: Member - Mark G Gulmarrad - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:58

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:58
Jim

i did take mine out when fitting my drawers mainly because they did take up a fair bit of room around the sides of my wheel arches,cheers.
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FollowupID: 665082

Reply By: Top End Explorer - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:34

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:34
G/Day Jim.

I believe that the new Falcon ute doesn't have a steel floor, instead they just have the liner instead.

Seasons greetings from Germany.

Cheers Steve.
AnswerID: 396342

Follow Up By: Best Off Road - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:51

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:51
That is spot on Steve. The plastic tub sits on a metal frame and forms the tub.

Be careful getting a "Snow Tan" over there and a welcome to Saint Nick (or is that Holland?).

Cheers,

Jim.

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Follow Up By: Top End Explorer - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 21:02

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 21:02
Yeah I have lost my tan already, today is one of 2 day we have had temps above 0 it is 1 degrees as I type, the other day it was -14 and we took Philip out to play on a sled.

We will have a white Xmas, we will also open our presents tonight as per tradition, they havechristkind here, we will put some Santa gifts out for Philip tomorrow.

Cheers Steve
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FollowupID: 665083

Reply By: Members Paul and Melissa (VIC) - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:58

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 20:58
Yep maintenance is the key,i pulled the one out of my hilux after 3 years for a clean. it was dirty under it but no rust,pull all the available bungs out and all will be good.
AnswerID: 396347

Reply By: D200Dug- Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 21:51

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 21:51
I use one of those particle rubber mats made from recycled tyres.

It lets air flow in and allows the tray to dry.

After 6 months I pulled it out to clean it today and found the beginnings of surface rust underneath it.

Given it had been in a heavy salt water environment that is not all that surprising I guess but it does reinforce that you need to check and clean every now and again.

Cleaned dried and coated with lanolin I will be keeping and eye on that area in future !
AnswerID: 396354

Follow Up By: Krakka - Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 23:06

Thursday, Dec 24, 2009 at 23:06
Rubber is VERY abrasive, vibration or slippage of rubber against paint will soon wear the paint off. I used to work in rubber extrusion and you wouldn't believe how fast the rubber extrusion wore steel dies away.

Personally I would have a Rhino Lining sprayed in a ute if I had one. Absolute guaranteed not to peel or let moisture get between the liner and the ute body.

Regards
Krakka
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FollowupID: 665096

Reply By: Injected - Friday, Dec 25, 2009 at 10:00

Friday, Dec 25, 2009 at 10:00
BOR,
That is totally corect. Turf them in the bin, drive around to RHINO linings, get it sprayed in and it will outlast the life of the vehicle. Have you ever tried to get the stuff off? OMG, no chance.
Have a good Christmas all.
AnswerID: 396377

Reply By: Member - Bucky - Saturday, Dec 26, 2009 at 05:56

Saturday, Dec 26, 2009 at 05:56
Jim

We had a Navara twin cab ute for 5 years with a liner in it, and never once had a problem. And I was told that I was mad for getting a liner in it when I ordered it, for that reason.

Mind you I did regularly check out the drain holes, up the front of the tray, and made sure they were never blocked.
Another trick I employed was that I tried not to park her up on flat ground for too too many days in a row, making sure that she had a chance to drain.

Cheers Bucky
AnswerID: 396423

Reply By: arjay - Saturday, Dec 26, 2009 at 21:17

Saturday, Dec 26, 2009 at 21:17
JIm,

From my experience, I'll have to disagree on this one. I was told the same (possibility of rust) when I fitted my a tub-liner to my new Triton (2000). After removing the liner 9 years later (to clean out the red dust) not even a hint of rust was found.

The ute does have a canopy which may help minimise the possibility of condensation.

Also for the small amount of space I lose I would rather have the liner as it makes loading and unloading easier (for us unfortunates without Best-Off-Road drawer systems).

Rob
ps 'best' wishes with those drawers of yours
AnswerID: 396470

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