sonuvabug wrote:
My experience is different. I have loaded our 3,000+ lbs. TC directly onto our 2001 factory installed, hard plastic, one piece drop in Duraliner for the past 4 seasons. No rubber mat.
I do use several 8' rebars in the Duraliner's grooves along the edges and a few shorter ones at the front and rear edges where the TC's edges contact the bed. This helps to reinforce the grooves and prevent them from collapsing or deforming under the TC's weight.
Never had a problem with movement in any direction. Maybe because it fits snug enough to the front bed wall and both sides (about 1" clearance on the sides) and ... perhaps because I take it easy with the throttle when taking off.
Having said all of the above, I just ordered a half inch thick, 4x8' rubber mat for the Duraliner bed because they were on sale and I thought it might be cheap insurance if the "perfect storm" conditions ever presented themselves.
FWIW - drainage has never been an issue because any moisture simply travels down the grooves in the Duraliner and exits out the back. The rubber mat should not affect this bonus benefit of the Duraliner's grooves either.
The roughness of the rebar probably has a lot to do with it not slipping, at least at the interface where it's installed (bed/liner or liner/camper).
