Independent Tests Show Poor Gloss Stability of Leading Spray-on Bedliners

Industry-Standard UV Test Leads to Nearly Total Loss of Spray-on 'Reflectivity' After Just 2,500 Hours; Nissan Testing Confirms UV Instability of Aftermarket Spray-ons

PORTAGE, Wis., Feb. 18 -- Recent tests of the ultraviolet stability of light-truck bedliners showed that leading "spray-on" linings can lose virtually all of their gloss within as little as 2,500 hours of exposure to sunlight. By comparison, gloss (or "reflectivity") of the latest premium drop-in bedliner actually increased over the same period, according to test results.

Conducted in accordance with ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials) standards, one recent liner reflectivity test compared the UV-induced damage to leading dealer-applied spray-on linings and the drop-in Pendaliner(R) SR Skid Resistor(TM) bedliner from Penda Corporation.

Test results show that all spray-on samples lost nearly 100 percent of their gloss and exhibited varying degrees of "color shift" within 2,000 to 2,500 hours of UV exposure. The Pendaliner SR Skid Resistor bedliner experienced a nearly 100-percent gloss increase over 2,500 hours of UV exposure.

In separate testing conducted by Nissan North America, selected aftermarket spray-on linings failed UV stability tests after less than one year of evaluation, according to a recent news report. Aftermarket spray-ons also failed to meet Nissan's abrasion and temperature durability requirements, according to a news story in Rubber & Plastics News.

"These are a few more facts spray-on lining dealers and franchise networks might not share with truck owners, who often pay two to three times more for a spray-on lining in an effort to enhance their vehicles' appearance and value," said Mike Johnson, director of quality for Penda Corp. "As the results clearly indicate, however, that glossy finish touted by leading spray-on brands can be a very temporary benefit; after the finish is worn, it can take on an unattractive, chalky look that actually detracts from vehicle cosmetics."

The Skid Resistor, which is typically priced at less than leading spray-on linings, features an ultra-high-gloss black finish that is virtually impervious to UV-induced fading and other common wear. The Skid Resistor also offers an exclusive maximum-grip surface formulation that delivers twice the skid resistance of other drop-in liners. Unlike conventional drop-ins and most spray-ons, the Pendaliner SR Skid Resistor's textured surface will not wear away under everyday use.

"Our message to consumers is that if vehicle cosmetics and long-term protection are key issues, an expensive spray-on is simply not the solution," Johnson said. "Spray-ons provide only a fraction of the sheet-metal protection of modern drop-ins and they simply cannot deliver the long-term cosmetics truck owners deserve, unless the consumer pays for repeated UV- protective coatings or only operates the vehicle out of the sunlight.

"And that's hardly a viable option."

Truck accessories manufacturers urge consumers to visit a new Web site, www.bedlinerfacts.com , for a list of considerations related to the selection of a bedliner for any light truck.