Top recommended truck bed accessories for a new Ram 1500?

Question

Just picked up a 2024 Ram 1500 last week and I'm honestly paralyzed by all the bed accessory options out there. I really want to protect the bed before it gets all scratched up but I also need it to be functional for my family's camping trip to the Smokies in three weeks. My budget is capped at about 1,500 bucks for everything right now which isnt huge when you see some of these prices.

I'm stuck between getting a BAKFlip MX4 which I know is expensive but looks super sleek and secure or just going with a cheaper Tonno Pro Lo Roll soft cover so I have more money left over for other stuff. If I go with the BAKFlip it eats like $1,100 of my budget right away and leaves me almost nothing for a good liner.

Then there's the liner situation itself. I'm looking at either doing a professional Line-X spray-in or just throwing in a BedRug. The BedRug seems nicer for crawling around on when we're setting up camp but I'm worried itll get gross if I ever haul mulch or gravel which I do a few times a year for the yard.

Should I blow most of the cash on the hard cover and just get a cheap plastic drop-in liner for now or is the BedRug plus a soft cover combo a better move for a guy who does a mix of light work and family travel? Not sure what holds up better long term...

tgfdsjdoin · Accepted Answer

Re: "Honestly, im super happy with the BedRug Classic..."

I agree on the comfort, but unfortunately, cleaning mulch out of fibers is a total nightmare. I had issues with it trapping grit and moisture. For better specs:

Husky Liners X-act Contour Bed Mat TPE Rubber has better chemical resistance for yard work.

Tyger Auto T3 Soft Tri-Fold Truck Bed Cover is way more water-resistant than cheap roll-ups. Saves you $1k over the BAKFlip honestly.

TempuraTone · Answer

TL;DR: Skip the expensive hard cover. Get a Dee Zee Heavy Duty Bed Mat 3/8 Inch Rubber and a Gator ETX Soft Roll Up Truck Bed Cover to save a ton of cash. In my experience, those fancy hard covers are nice but they eat your budget way too fast. Over the years, I've found that a thick rubber mat is actually better for mulch and gravel than a full liner because you can just hose it off in two seconds. It also stops your camping bins from sliding around like crazy on the highway. If you're worried about the Smokies trip, the Gator cover seals up tight enough. I usually suggest checking 5thGenRams forums for install tips on the weather stripping... makes a huge difference for keeping dust out. Honestly, having that extra thousand bucks in your pocket for the trip is gonna feel way better than having a sleek lid you're constantly worried about denting.

qitysvrnzo · Answer

Honestly, im super happy with the BedRug Classic Bed Liner for Ram 1500 in my truck. Its way better for camping than a plastic liner and I have no complaints about using it for mulch too. If you pair it with the BAK BAKFlip MX4 Hard Folding Truck Bed Cover, youre set. It works well and looks killer. Skip the cheap soft cover, youll just end up upgrading later anyway... totally worth it.