Installing a bedliner in a truck that already has a tonneau cover may seem tricky, but it is certainly possible. With some preparation and careful installation, you can add a bedliner to enhance protection for your truck bed without having to remove the existing tonneau cover. This comprehensive guide will walk through the key considerations and process to successfully install a bedliner with a tonneau cover already in place.
What Factors Determine Compatibility and Installation Process?
Several variables impact how straightforward or challenging installing a bedliner will be with an existing tonneau cover:
What type of tonneau cover do you have?
There are different types of tonneau covers, including:
- Soft roll-up covers
- Folding covers
- Retractable covers
- Hinged lid covers
- Snapping covers
The specific tonneau cover installed will determine how much adjustment or modification is needed during liner installation.
What kind of bedliner will be installed?
The main bedliner options are:
- Spray-on liners
- Drop-in liners
- Under rail liners
- Over rail liners
The liner type affects how it interacts with the tonneau cover mounting system.
Are there any bed rail caps or bed lip protectors?
Some truck beds have plastic caps or rubber liners that protect the bed rails and lip. The tonneau cover may mount to these areas, so the fit with the new liner needs to be checked.
What is the mounting system for the tonneau cover?
Most covers mount using either clamps on the side rails or a center latch system. The bedliner application needs to accommodate the existing mounting style.
Can You Install a Tonneau Cover With Each Liner Type?
Below is a breakdown of how compatible different liner types are with existing tonneau covers:
Spray-On Liners
Highly Compatible – Since spray-on liners fully contour to the truck bed, they generally do not interfere with soft roll up covers. For hard covers, only minor trimming or notching may be required if the liner overlaps tonneau mounting areas.
Drop-In Liners
Compatible with Minor Adjustments – Drop-in plastic liners can work with most tonneau covers. Some trimming or notching around mounting points may be needed for optimal fit.
Under Rail Liners
Highly Compatible – These thin protective liners install out of sight under the bed rail and do not affect tonneau installation. They can be applied with any existing cover.
Over Rail Liners
Trickier Installation – Because over rail liners sit atop the bed rails, they are the most likely to impact tonneau cover fit. Cutting liner reliefs to access mounting areas may be required.
What Are the Steps to Install a Bedliner with Existing Tonneau Cover?
Once you determine your truck has a liner and tonneau combination that should work together, follow these key steps for proper installation:
1. Remove the tonneau cover
Fully remove the tonneau cover from the truck bed to allow full access for liner application. Keep all hardware and store securely.
2. Clean the truck bed thoroughly
Use soap and water to clean all debris, dirt and oil from the truck bed. This allows maximum adhesion if spraying on a liner.
3. Mask off tonneau mounting locations
Tape or mask off the precise spots where the tonneau cover mounts, such as the side rail edges or center latch area.
4. Apply the bedliner
With the bed prepped and tonneau mounting locations protected, apply the bedliner according to the product instructions.
5. Inspect for any interference points
Once the liner is cured and hardened, thoroughly inspect where the tonneau cover makes contact and secures to the bed. Check for any spots where the liner overlaps or blocks mounting hardware.
6. Trim liner if needed
Use a utility knife to trim away small sections of the liner where it interferes with tonneau cover hardware or attachment points. Only trim the minimal amount needed.
7. Test fit the tonneau cover
Carefully re-install the tonneau cover, hand tightening the mounting hardware without fully securing it. Check that the cover fits and operates properly.
8. Reinstall the tonneau cover
With the fit confirmed, fully reinstall the tonneau cover per the manufacturer instructions, securely tightening all mounting hardware.
9. Seal any cuts in the liner
For spray-on liners, apply additional liner material to any cut areas to seal the trimmed sections. Follow the coating vendor instructions.
Once these steps are complete, the bedliner and tonneau cover should function properly together, providing reliable protection for your truck bed. Take the time to do careful prep and installation, and you can successfully add a liner with the tonneau still in place.
Can You Install a Retractable Tonneau Cover on a Bed With Liner?
Retractable tonneau covers roll up into a canister instead of folding or rolling up at the cab end of the truck bed. The installation is definitely possible but will require precise cutting of the bedliner.
What are the Challenges With Retractable Covers?
- The cover housing needs to mount in a recessed pocket at the bulkhead. This area will be covered by the existing liner.
- The rail system also runs the full length of the bed, which will likely contact the spray-in liner.
How to Install on a Lined Bed
- Mark the exact area on the bulkhead for the canister pocket and use an oscillating tool or sharp cutting blade to cut away the liner in that section.
- Trim the liner precisely along the marked lines to expose the metal bulkhead.
- Clean and prep the newly exposed metal pocket area so the cover adheres properly.
- The liner along the side rails may also need thin reliefs where the retractable rail system mounts.
- Fully remove liner from any pre-drilled holes needed to bolt on cover components.
- Follow manufacturer instructions for drilling any new holes for the cover hardware.
Taking time to precisely trim the liner and properly prepare the newly exposed mounting areas will allow the retractable rails and canister to be securely installed.
Does Installing a Tonneau Cover With Bed Liner Require Cutting or Trimming?
Ideally, no cutting or trimming of the bedliner should be required when adding a tonneau cover. But in some cases, it is unavoidable:
When is cutting or trimming needed?
- If the liner overlaps the side rail edges where clamps attach
- If liner covers pre-drilled bolt holes for center latch systems
- If liner blocks access to mounting hardware sites
- If retractable cover canister area is covered
How to trim the liner properly?
- Mark the minimal area needing removal using tape or chalk.
- Use a very sharp utility knife or blade to cut the section out.
- Remove the small liner section to expose the mounting location.
- Smooth any rough liner edges with sandpaper.
- Seal exposed edge with additional liner coating.
When should the liner be left intact?
- If it does not actually interfere with any mounting points
- If cover can flex or conform to the textured liner surface
- If the liner clearance allows hardware to be tightened through it
Taking the time to properly mark and trim the liner results in secure tonneau installation while keeping most of the liner intact. Limit cuts to only areas absolutely necessary for proper mounting.
Is It Better to Install Liner Before or After Tonneau Cover?
The ideal sequence is to install the bedliner prior to the tonneau cover whenever possible. Here are the benefits of applying liner first:
Why install liner first?
- The full bed surface can be sprayed evenly with tonneau off.
- No masking or taping of cover mounting areas needed.
- Liner will bond directly to bare metal for maximum adhesion.
- The cover can be test fitted over the smooth liner to check for any interference points.
- Minimal trimming needed since optimal clearance is already allowed.
What if liner must go on after tonneau cover?
- Precisely mask off all tonneau mounting locations and hardware.
- Special care will be required when spraying near the installed cover.
- Some minor overspray on the cover may occur despite best efforts.
- The cover installation hardware should not be coated by the liner.
- More extensive trimming of cured liner may be required for proper clearance around mounting points.
While sometimes unavoidable, it is best to spray on or install a bedliner before adding a tonneau cover whenever possible. This provides the most seamless and secure installation.
How Do You Install a Soft Roll Tonneau Cover With Existing Liner?
Soft roll up tonneau covers are typically among the easiest to install on a truck with a spray-in bedliner already in place. Here are tips for smooth installation:
Why are soft covers straightforward to install?
- They conform to textured liner and flex when rolled up.
- The vinyl cover material does not mar or scuff the cured liner.
- Many models use simple clamps that pinch the side rails to secure.
- No hinged lids or panels need to align to the liner surface.
What are the installation steps?
- Unroll the cover and loosely place it over the bedliner.
- Position the clamping rails along the side bed walls where they allow the cover to fit snug and flat.
- Hand tighten the attached clamps lightly onto the liner surface.
- Roll up and unroll the cover, aligning the rails as needed to find optimal positioning.
- Once positioned properly with the smooth roll up, fully tighten the clamps into place.
What precautions should be taken?
- Avoid tightening clamps excessively to limit risk of cracking the liner.
- Place a rag between the clamp and liner when tightening to prevent marring the surface.
- Have a partner help align the rails and test the rolling action during installation.
With minimal effort, most soft roll up tonneau covers can be added on top of an existing spray-in or drop-in bedliner. The material flexibility prevents any fitment issues during installation.
Can You Install a Tonneau Cover With a Bed Rail Cap or Protector?
Plastic bed rail caps and rubber rail protectors help defend the bed sides from dings and damage. But they can complicate tonneau cover installation if not addressed properly.
Do bed rail caps affect installation?
- They cover the side rail surface, including where clamps attach.
- The cap lip can block proper clamping or bolting of the cover.
- Textured plastic caps make it hard to tighten hardware evenly.
What about rubber rail protectors?
- Rubber liners are thinner but still block access to the rail surface.
- Soft rubber compressed by clamps may lead to loosening over time.
- Protector lips can hang over rail edge, preventing proper hardware fit.
Solutions for proper installation:
- Remove caps or protectors during cover installation if possible.
- Use a razor blade to slice the liner or cap at clamp locations so hardware can pinch the bare rail.
- Notch the lip of the protector inward where needed for hardware clearance.
- Adjust cover alignment so hardware sites align with existing holes in the cap material whenever possible.
Taking the time to modify or remove the bed rail caps results in secure, long-lasting tonneau cover installation. Never rely on clamping only over the protector material.
How Can You Install a Tonneau With a Bed Liner That Covers Side Rail Edges?
Bedliners that completely coat the top of the side rails can make installing a tonneau cover more difficult. But with the right approach, you can overcome the liner overlap for proper installation.
Why does rail edge overlap cause issues?
- Many covers use clamps that grip just the rail edge.
- A coated rail edge prevents the clamp from making contact.
- Bolt-on systems are also blocked when the liner encapsulates rail edges.
Solutions for installing on covered rails:
- Use a utility knife to slice the liner coating at clamping points along the rail.
- Cut perpendicular slices allowing the teeth to pinch the exposed metal rail through the slits.
- Make small notches in the liner to expose the rail edge at hardware locations.
- Adjust cover fitment to align attachment points with existing liner cutouts or holes along the rails whenever possible.
What should be avoided?
- Do not try clamping onto the liner surface itself – the hardware requires metal contact.
- Avoid excessive trimming that could risk cracking or peeling the liner material.
- Do not cut the liner free from the entire rail edge.
Strategic slices and notches maintain most of the liner protection while allowing for secure tonneau cover installation.
Can You Fit a Tonneau Cover With In-Bed Lip Protectors Installed?
In-bed lip protectors made of plastic or rubber provide added defense along the top bed wall edges prone to damage. But they can complicate tonneau cover installation if in the wrong locations.
Where are typical lip protectors located?
- Along the top front and side bed walls.
- The rear bed wall lip.
- Corner pieces joining the bed walls.
What installation issues can occur?
- Protectors that overlap the rail edges can block proper clamping.
- Bulky protectors take up space needed for folding cover panels.
- The tonneau cover needs flush contact with the bed walls for correct fit.
How can the protectors be modified for tonneau installation?
- Use a utility knife to slice off any sections that hang over the rail edge.
- Trim away any protruding material in the front wall corners.
- Carefully cut and remove any large protectors blocking cover panel positions.
- Notch or slice the protector lips where clamps need to pinch the bare metal lip.
When might the protectors work without modification?
- If positioned on inner bed wall and away from rails or corners.
- Low profile protectors that avoid overlap into cover mounting zones.
- Protectors with existingSlices that align with cover hardware locations.
In many cases, lip protectors can remain intact or require only minimal trimming for proper tonneau cover fit. But any material overlap into mounting areas will need to be customized.
How Can You Install a Hinged Tonneau Cover on a Bed With Spray-In Liner?
Hinged tonneau covers with hard panels require a bit more finesse to install over an existing spray-in bedliner:
Why does a spray-in liner complicate installation?
- The textured material can prevent smooth panel alignment.
- Panels binding against the liner surface may warp over time.
- Hinges and latching hardware need flush mounting to the bed walls.
Tips for best installation:
- Lightly sand the liner texture where cover panels make contact.
- Apply painter’s tape strips to panel edges to prevent abrasion with the liner.
- Use shims or spacers when tightening hardware to compensate for liner depth.
Should any liner removal be required?
- Trim liner away from pre-drilled holes or relief cuts if needed for hardware access.
- Consider removing heavy texture in a border along the bed walls if panel alignment is too tight.
What precautions should be taken?
- Be careful when trimming liner around pre-drilled holes to avoid drilling through the bed.
- Do not overtighten hardware against shims as it can crush the liner around holes.
- Take time fitting panels to ensure smooth opening and closing.
With extra care taken during installation, hinged and hard-panel tonneau covers can be successfully added to a spray-in bedliner. A focus on alignment and hardware spacing ensures lasting performance.
Can You Install a Tonneau Cover With Clamps if There is Existing Bedliner?
It is possible to install a clamp-on tonneau cover over an existing bedliner, but often requires creating access points in the liner to allow the clamps to secure properly.
Why is clamping over liner an issue?
- Most clamps grip the side rail edge and need metal contact.
- Liner material in between the clamp and rail prevents solid attachment.
- The liner surface is too uneven for clamps to seat cleanly.
Solutions for installing clamps over liner:
- Carefully cut slits in the liner to expose sections of the underlying side rails for clamps to pinch directly.
- Make small notches in the liner at clamp locations so they can grab the rail through the openings.
- Use self-tapping screws anchored through the liner into the bed side rails instead of clamps.
What precautions should be taken?
- Avoid excess trimming that could loosen the liner or allow moisture underneath.
- Use painter’s tape when marking cut lines to protect the surrounding liner.
- File or sand any rough liner edges after cutting slits or notches.
- Seal any exposed metal with paint or rust preventative spray.
With strategic cuts and secure alternative hardware, clamping tonneau covers can be installed successfully over a bedliner for maximum protection.
Can You Install a Snapping Tonneau Cover Onto a Bedliner?
Tonneau covers that use a “snap-on” rail design can still be mounted over most bedliners with careful prep and hardware spacing:
What complications does the liner cause?
- The snap-on rails typically adhere right to the bed side walls.
- Liner texture and depth may prevent flush rail contact.
- Access to install self-tapping rail screws may be blocked.
How can the rails be mounted effectively?
- Lightly sand and clean the liner where the rails will adhere for maximum contact.
- Use peel-and-stick foam tape on the back of the rails to allow a flush bond over minor texture.
- Space rail screw holes to align with voids or low spots in the liner texture.
- Use plastic grommets or spacers when driving self-tapping screws to compensate for liner depth.
- Apply an adhesive primer to the sanded liner surface prior to attaching rails for enhanced bonding.
What issues should be avoided?
- Do not overdrive the self-tapping screws which can crush areas of the liner.
- Prevent gaps between the rail and liner which allow water intrusion leading to corrosion.
- Do not excessively compress thick foam tape, which causes the rails to detach over time.
With proper surface prep and secure hardware spacing, snap-on tonneau rails can adhere and fasten effectively over a spray-in or drop-in bedliner. The cover can then be installed onto the mounted rails as intended for seamless function.
Can You Install a Center Latch Tonneau Cover on a Truck With Bedliner?
Tonneau covers that mount using a center latch system are straightforward to install over most bedliners if done properly:
What are the potential issues to handle?
- The latch housing mounts flush on the front bed wall and may hit the liner.
- Access to drill bolts holes for the housing may be blocked.
- The latch bolt that secures in the tailgate may contact thick liner material.
How can the latch be mounted successfully?
- Carefully mark and trim away liner as needed around the housing outline prior to installation.
- Use a bedliner safe adhesive if bonding any housing components to the liner surface.
- Adjust the housing position and bolt locations to align with voids or low spots in the liner texture.
- Shim between the housing bracket and liner as needed when drilling to compensate for liner depth.
What precautions should be taken?
- Avoid drilling the housing brackets completely through the liner and into the bed wall.
- Trim the liner conservatively only where absolutely needed for mounting access.
- Use corrosive preventative spray on any exposed bed metal.
- Lightly sand the liner if needed where the housing or bolt makes contact for smoother operation.
With precise liner trimming and secure hardware spacing, center latch tonneau covers can be installed successfully over existing bedliners. Taking the time to create proper access results in clean functionality.
Conclusion
Installing an aftermarket bedliner in a truck bed that already has a tonneau cover can certainly be done with careful planning and preparation. Assessing your unique cover and liner combination, creating needed access points in the liner, trimming overlap judiciously, and taking general installation precautions will allow the two bed enhancements to work successfully together. While the process may take more precision, having the right approach helps add maximum protection for your truck bed.