Question:

I want to start a spray in truck bed liner business, and need to estimate my cost. Is there a standard cost of the coatings per truck bed that you can suggest me use?

Answer:

For dealers or larger orders, discounts are generally available, but the retail cost for truck bed spray on coatings are outlined below:

Your cost per truck bed all depends on how thick you apply, and what the % solids are

We usually recommend to calculate 63 mils (1/16 inch) average thickness if spraying over the rails. This is what a quality job from Line-X would apply. This is based on 120 mil on rail surface, 45 mil on interior sides, back, and front, and 63 mils on the lower surface. Many applicators (especially less regulated franchises) apply a thinner coating, so they don’t use as much material. For a full size 6’ bed, you would need to cover approx. 70 sq. ft plus or minus. For 63 mil throughout, it would require 2.75 gallons using our 100% solids products. Using something like Raptor (57% solids) would require 4.82 gallons. Raptor can only be applied at about 10 mil per coat and dries to about 6 mil. They also recommend no more than 3 coats (18 mil). You really can’t apply a professional quality bedliner with Raptor coatings anyway, but that’s one example.

The product you use and exact formulation affect your cost per truck bed as much as the amount of coating applied

Using our standard SL&C 2:1 product line, you can incorporate about 50% of our Poly Powder to 50% liquids. The Poly Powder is micronized SBR rubbers, and not only thickens, but reduces your cost per gallon. Using this ratio, 3.0 gallons (total when combined) would cost about $180 plus shipping without any quantity or dealer discounts applied. You could easily reduce your total product to 2 gallons (or less), and still provide a bedliner coating with excellent protection. That would bring the cost to $120 per truck before dealer discounts were considered.

The Rhino/Line-X Alternative polyurea cartridge bedliner products come in cases which are just under 2 ½ gallons and consist of 6 cartridges per case. Since there is almost no waste, and the product has higher specs, you can apply less coating and have equal protection. For under the rail applications, 5 cartridges are recommended on a 6’ bed. The retail cost per case is about $187, so 5 cartridges is about $156. We have some dealers who are applying these coatings for general scratch and impact resistance using as little as 2 cartridges at a cost of under $60 per truck. We do highly recommend at least apply 3 cartridges per truck however to avoid thin application in critical areas.

We also have a Diamondback Linings Ultra Liner available which is higher specs than the standard product line and includes other additives such as Kevlar. This coating provides the closest match to Line-X, Rhino, Armadillo, or other polyureas as possible other than our RLA cartridge products. The same 3 gallons as above runs about $275 retail, but you can also apply thinner (in addition to the fact that 3 gallons is more than you need for 63 mil on a 6’ bed).  Even 1 1/2 gallons for the same truck can provide suitable protection. Your cost with this could be as low as $140 per truck easily.

In general, with some quantity discounts and some experience applying your specific product(s), plan on somewhere between $90 – $175 material cost per truck for a 6’ full size truck such as F150. The way to reduce that cost down the road is to use high pressure proportioners such as Graco EXP1 or similar. You then apply polyurea coatings which also cure in 1 – 2 minutes. The equipment is generally between $20,000.00 – $35,000.00 and requires more setup, purging, and maintenance. This equipment is usually recommended only when you are applying 5 or more trucks daily. Spray Lining and Coatings can also supply high and low pressure polyurea coatings for proportioners as well.

Your are always welcome to get in touch directly at 855-545-4900 extension 902 with any questions as well.