Bed Liner Alternative: Lasfit Bed Mat

Last week, I removed the plastic bed liner from my 2024 Ford Ranger.  I expected to find dirt and debris, but was not prepared for the paint damage I found (paint damage can lead to rust over time).  I cleaned the bed and corrected the paint, but chose not to reinstall the bed liner.  As an alternative, I ordered a bed mat from Lasfit.

Related article:  What’s Under Your Bed Liner?

Bed Mat Arrived & Installed

The Lasfit bed mat arrived within days of ordering it.  It is folded for easier shipping, so I unfolded it and let it sit in the sun for two days.  After that time, all of the folds were smooth and the mat was ready to install.

Installation could not be any easier.  Lasfit makes their mats fit exactly to the contours of the pickup bed.  That means I was able to set it into place and walk away.  Installation was complete!

By the way, I decided to leave the bed liner tailgate panel installed.  I did not find any debris or damage under that part of the bed liner, and it adds to the protection of the tailgate.

Key Advantages

For me, the advantages of a bed mat far outweigh those of the bed liner.  Even though bed mats don’t cover the walls and wheel tubs of the pickup bed, I find the below features very important:

• Cheaper to buy than a plastic bed liner $114 vs $500).  Lasfit is one of several manufacturers of bed mats, but come highly recommended by the guys on the Texas Truck Channel. They installed one in their long term Ford Ranger.
• Installation is easy, once the shipping wrinkles are smoothed out.
• Like a floor mat inside your truck, a bed mat can be easily removed when washing your truck.  This allows you to rinse the bed of the truck free of the same dirt and debris that plagued the bed liner.
• The textured, soft surface not only keeps cargo from shifting, it is easy on the knees if you crawl around the bed of your truck.
• Unless you are tossing boulders into your truck, the exposed walls and wheel tubs don’t see much abuse.  That means you can enjoy the paint color instead of a dull plastic panel.

In 1985, I bought my first new truck (a 1985 Chevrolet S-10). I put a cheap rubber bed mat in that truck, and the three others that followed.  I never had an issue with the bed paint with those trucks.  With the improved quality of bed mats since 1985, I’m even more confident today.

Final Thoughts

Is a bed mat for everybody?  If you regularly haul rocks, gravel and dirt, I would recommend a spray-in bed liner for full protection.  The spray-in liners can cost $600 or more, but not that much more than the plastic liners.  For the majority of truck owners, a bed mat is the best choice.

I will provide an update in the spring, after my truck goes through another Michigan winter.