How to Remove Spray-in Bedliner Overspray? Step by Step

As an automotive expert and a tonneau cover analyst, I observe that everything related to trucks or pickup is crucial, even bed liners. Recently, I had some work done on my vehicle. It required some welding which ruined my spray-in Bedliner. I required some tools and precautions to remove the bed liner. I got my job done perfectly and thought of making a guide on How to Remove Spray-in Bedliner Overspray?

Tidbit: Spray-in bedliners work as protective truck bed coating that shields and guards the truck bed against damage by the gear. Moreover, it offers a gripping surface for the cargo and people from slipping and sliding in the truck’s bed. 

A quality Bedliner will go long-lasting, and installing a bedliner with a tonneau cover is also tricky. Therefore, it is a difficult task to remove the bedliners, even its spray-in or drop-in. In this guide, I will discuss the steps of removing spray-in bedliners. Moreover, there will be reasons why you need to remove a bedliner. 

How do you remove overspray on a bedliner?

Once you have decided to get a spray-in bedliner, you notice that overspray on certain parts of the vehicle. 

Tidbit: Overspray is a material that gets on the areas or parts where it does not belong, for example, windows, panels outside the truck bed, roof of the cab. 

There are various reasons why overspray happens. Let’s first get to know the reasons.

How Overspray happens?

Knowing the prep and spray-in bedliner installation procedure is essential to comprehend overspray. The installer should start covering off all the truck’s parts that shouldn’t spray after preparing the paintwork on your truck bed. Areas like these getting cover:

  • The quarter panels, backmost cab doors, c-pillars, and other nearby body parts outside the truck bed.
  • The truck cab’s top and rear are also damaged.
  • Space under the cab and the bed (many installers ignore to mask off this gap or pay little care because overspray in this location is not particularly noticeable)
  • Tow hitch, wheels, tires, and the back bumper.

Masking off each of these sections requires time, as you might expect. It takes longer yet to try and remove the bed liner overspray. Some spray-in bedliner installers opt for spraying the bed without shielding all vehicle parts.

Additionally, overspray is possible if your vehicle is parked next to another truck being sprayed.

Overspray is extremely frequent since installers usually attempt to hasten their installation procedure to boost their profits.

Why do you need to remove Bedliner?

It is a common misconception that when you install a bedliner, even if it’s a spray-in or drop-in, you will not need to remove it. People assume they are meant to last forever, but to sadden them, this is not the case. 

Certain things happen with bedliners that require replacement of it. These factors are given below:

Staining

Staining occurs when water and oil build up in the truck’s bed. Cleaning the truck’s bed is crucial to avoid this from becoming permanent on the bed liner. With proper care and maintenance, staining will not be an issue for the bedliner. 

Fading

UV rays or direct sunlight fade the bed liner over time. If you are using a lower-quality bedliner, it is most expected because sunlight will break down the chemicals which produce its color. 

Peeling and Cracks

Peeling and cracking of the bedliner usually happen when you need to take proper care of it. However, in this case, you can replace your bed liner if it has a warranty. 

Read also about: What Will Diesel Fuel Do To A Bedliner?

How To Remove Spray-in Bedliner Overspray from Truck’s bed? Step by Step

Removing the spray-in bedliner on your own is difficult for you.

Note: I prefer to call the manufacturer or a professional for this because they know how to do their job best. 

Some truck owners ask me if they can install a new bed liner over the existing one. If you are using LINE-X or Durabak Liner, you can install it over the older one. If you have these two bedliners, cut or trim the damaged part. Thoroughly clean and sand using 60-grit sandpaper. Now, you can apply the new coating of the spray-in bedliner to your truck bed. 

Apart from this, read the guide below if you still feel like removing your spray-in bedliner to restore your truck to factory condition. 

Steps to Remove the Bedliner

To begin the process of removing the bed liner, you required

  • Heat gun
  • Grinder
  • Hammer and Chisel
  • Chemical stripper

Consider the Material – Step One

Once you decide to remove the bedliner, it is essential to know which kind of material your bedliner you have. For example, Durabak Bedliner is polyurethane-based, and the Line-X bedliner includes pure polyurea. These have a different process of removing the bedliner than others. 

Take a few minutes to observe the material. Also, if your bed liner has flakes or bubbles, it is easier to get off it. Additionally, if the bedliners seem intact with the truck bed, you must gear yourself up for the ahead process. 

Prepare Area – Step Two

Before you begin working, you must protect yourself and the area where you will work. Be sure to wear protective gloves and wear a mask. Additionally, opt for a place where there are fewer objects to get affected by the process. 

Use Chemical Products to Remove Bedliner – Step Three

The next step is to grab the chemical Peel Away or Aircraft Paint Stripper and apply it to the liner. Let it soak for 10-15 minutes so it may soften the bed liner and make it easy to scrape off. This process can take multiple coatings and require some patience. Moreover, this is the best way to remove the bed liner without damaging the truck’s bed and paint. 

Use Grinder to Remove Bedliner

There will sometimes be a massive portion of material that has to be removed. Sometimes, individuals would instead remove something without using chemical products. Although the process will take longer, it is still feasible. Another option is to use an angle grinder with a wire wheel. To go through this procedure, you’ll need a lot of patience. 

Use a Heat Gun and Chisel to Remove the Bedliner

Another option is to remove the bedliner with the heat gun and then chisel it. Heat the area, and start to remove gradually. And also, you will be able to chisel the area. 

Advice: Ensure the chisel is angled correctly to avoid denting the bed.

Do not forget to Sand

Once you have done with a chemical, heat gun, and chisel, it is time to sand the area that is left over. Notice the bedliner condition; a fine grit will work out if there is a less aggressive surface. Or, if there is a rough surface, opt for a heavy-duty grit to smoothen out the bed liner. 

How to remove Bedliner Overspray from your Truck’s paint

If you remove the bedliner from the truck’s paint, you must use the right tool and products. Otherwise, it may damage the paint. Following are the steps to remove the bedliner overspray from the truck’s paint.

  • Beginning by examining the damage, If the spray isn’t too strong, you can get rid of it with a sponge, water, and dish soap.
  • You can use a clay bar kit if a regular wash doesn’t get rid of light overspray. Just be sure to pay close attention to the directions that come with your clay bar kit.
  • Wiping overspray places with olive oil and a terry cloth rag to loosen the liner material and make it simpler to take off.
  • The overspray that has been built up more would often require paint-safe scrapers and potentially even the use of the sandpaper. It’s time to take your truck to a body shop if alternatives 1-3 don’t work.

Last but not the least, if you opt for more harsh or aggressive methods, your truck’s paint may get damaged. 

You can also get insights from How to Paint Tonneau Cover?

HOW TO REMOVE BED LINER OVERSPRAY FROM PLASTIC TRIM?

Plastic is the most complex trim part of cleaning while trying to get overspray off. It’s possible that even a “skilled” worker who sprays your bed also sprays the plastic trim. Clay bar kits should use on something other than plastics because they will have little impact. 

Trim will be gouged if other detailing chemicals used to remove overspray are used since they may quickly fade plastic.

Please don’t use harsh chemicals (like glue remover or paint thinner) since they can melt plastics. After researching and studying, the only practical solution is to remove the overspray by hand while heating the affected areas with a hairdryer.

HOW TO REMOVE BED LINER OVERSPRAY FROM GLASS?

Luckily, it is effortless and handy to remove the overspray from the glass. Acetone or any window scraper will remove the overspray. However, if your windows tint or plastic, scrapers and chemicals may damage the window. So take precautions while dealing with tinted windows. 

Conclusion

Removing or changing a spray-in bedliner is simple if you know the right tools and instructions. However, the process needs some precautions. In this article, I have described how to remove spray-in bedliner overspray. This guide will help you. 

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