Project F-150, Part II - Off-Road Magazine

Pristine! Our F-150's 6 1/2-foot bed doesn't have a scratch, and we plan on keeping it that way with a Bedrug bedliner and an A.R.E. Z Series cap.

The Bedrug's closed-cell foam backing is cut to follow the ribs of the truck bed, making the surface flat and knee-friendly.

Andy places Velcro pieces on the backing prior to installing it.

The Bedrug is a great-looking plastic bedliner. The plastic polymer fiber can't be permanently marked by gasoline, diesel, oil, or grease. Water is not absorbed by the closed-cell foam backing, and any spill or stain remains on the plastic fiber surface for easy cleaning. Two-tier loading and tie-downs are retained.

Ford's Sportliner Bedrug replaces the Bedrug logo with a nice-looking, embossed blue oval up front.

St. George Topper has a nifty lift that easily maneuvers our A.R.E. Z Series cap onto the truck.

The rear door on the Z Series is curved to match the styling of the cap. The third brake light, which is required by law, is recessed into the fiberglass and curved to match the cap's styling. Rotary slam-action latches allow you to open and close the door with the same motions as you use to close the truck door. The Z Series door handle features an OEM-quality lock by Strattec with a double-sided key for easy use. The lock cylinder is the same quality as the truck's.

Soft, rounded curves and sleek design highlight the Z series cap. The recessed windows, doors, and LED brake light blend with the lines of the truck to become a part of the whole look. Side vent windows come equipped with screens and a tough, high-quality, rotary latch mechanism. We ordered the cap painted to match our F-150's color code, and it came from the factory a perfect match, as you can see.

The A.R.E. Z Series cap and Ford Sportliner Bedrug have transformed the bare truck bed. The flat, nonskid floor can carry the parts we need to haul around and also doubles as a comfortable sleeping surface when we go exploring. The cap keeps everything and everyone snug. Note the beefy rotary latches on the side windows. The front window drops down for easy cleaning.