At Action Car and Truck Accessories, you’ve got nearly 200 options to choose from, including those from top brands like Enthuze, WeatherTech, and Husky Liners.

Here’s more helpful information about these cargo area liners, including their benefits, material, and cleaning/maintenance—as well as how to make the right choice for your specific needs.

 

What Are Cargo Liners?

In short, these are cargo trunk mats that are custom-fit to protect the inside of your vehicle. They are designed to dovetail with the contours of your vehicle and their installation is short and sweet, with no need for screws, bolts, or other types of fasteners. In fact, instructions often recommend that you roll out the liner, place it in the cargo area of your vehicle, and then briefly lay an object with some weight—perhaps a nice-sized book—in each corner to flatten the material.

You might hear the terms “cargo tray” or “cargo area floor mats” being used. If so, it’s referring to the same general product.

Benefits of a Cargo Area Liner

The cargo area of your vehicle is ideal for transporting a wide variety of items, from your landscaping supplies in the spring and summer to your Christmas tree in winter. You can use it for suitcases when you’re going on a trip, or to bring your groceries home, let Fido go for a ride, transport tools, and so much more.

Convenient as this cargo area is for transporting items, landscaping leaves behind dirt, Fido has muddy paws, your jug of milk can leak, and your saw can scratch the finish of your vehicle—and that’s where the cargo liner comes in. These car/SUV/truck interior accessories protect your investment and keep it looking new.

If, say, the back of your truck is already stained or scuffed, then these cargo liners can cover that up—making this area of your vehicle look new all over again.

Additional benefits include the following:

• These cargo area floor mats add a layer of cushioning, which can protect fragile items as you transport them, from glassware to antique furniture and more.
• Ones with a more textured surface can keep your cargo from slipping and sliding around, protecting your belongings.
• They make cleanups easier, something you’ll appreciate if, for example, you didn’t realize that the milk had spilled until your vehicle started to smell bad.
• They can add a touch of personal style to your vehicle.

Liner Material

These liners are typically made from rugged thermoplastic (a type of plastic polymer material) that is both flexible and durable. The flexibility is what allows the material to form-fit to your vehicle and remain that way despite the temperature, from extreme hot to extreme cold. The durability is what makes the liners so long-lasting.

More specifically, cargo liners can be constructed out of:

• Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE): This is a plastic-rubber hybrid that combines the maximum flexibility of rubber with the ability of plastic to retain its shape and be easily cleaned.
• Thermoplastic olefin (TPO): This type of thermoplastic typically also contains a rubber/elastomer and a filler. TPO holds tough under solar UV radiation, making it ideal for liners.
• Polypropylene (PP): This rugged plastic is especially easy to clean but can become slippery when wet. It can also fade more easily than TPE and TPO.
• Polyethylene (PE): This is the most common form of plastic, very tough and cost-effective.

Cargo Area Floor Mat Maintenance

One of the benefits of these mats is how quickly and easily they can be cleaned. You should refer to the cleaning instructions of the manufacturer for specifics, but here are instructions from a WeatherTech cargo liner, shared so you can see the ease of cleaning and maintenance:

“The easiest way to clean your liner is with a damp cloth or sponge. If using a cleaner, 409® or Glass Plus® work well. We do not recommend Armor-All® or STP Son-of-A-Gun® as these types of products make the liner slick and cargo will slide.”

Although cleaning and maintenance instructions may vary by brand and liner model, recommendations are generally simple and straightforward.

 

Choosing the Right Liner

First, be clear about what you need. For example, if you use your vehicle in a way that needs bumper protection, as well, then it’s important to choose one with that feature. Here’s a WeatherTech cargo liner with bumper protection.

As another example, if your vehicle has a third-row seat option, you’ll want to look for a cargo liner that can fit over a folded third seat. Here’s a Husky cargo liner that can do just that.

You’ll also want a rugged product that fits within your budget—and Enthuze cargo liners are especially cost-effective. Other features that may factor into your decision include texture, color and so forth. Color choices are often black, gray, or tan.

It also makes sense to select a liner from a trusted, time-tested brand. Now, here are our three top brands. 

 

The Best Cargo Liners

We ranked our top brands based on customer reviews, quality, price, durability, selection and fit. Below are our recommendations for the best liners.

1. Enthuze Cargo Liners
2. WeatherTech Cargo Liners
3. Husky Cargo Liners

If you need more information so that you can make the right choice for your needs, from cargo liners to other truck interior accessories, contact us online or call us during business hours at 1-855-560-2233.