I read in your latest issue that bed liners are against the law in BC for 5th wheelers. Anyone know if this is only applicable to plastic bed liners or does it include spray in liners as well?

Ken Ross
kross@intergate.bc.ca

Box Liners & Hitches:

In speaking with our portable scale man, he advises that there was a directive from MVB to the RV dealers within the last month or so governing this situation.

The problem in a nutshell is that the liner material between the hitch and the box compresses and is still flexible, allowing the hitch some movement against the mounting bolts. This could eventually result in bolt failure and possible catastrophe.

What was recommended was to either remove a section of the box liner under the hitch so that the hitch sits on the metal box, or fill the corrugations in the liner with metal bar stock to prevent compression of the liner material by the hitch.

I still haven't heard from Standards & Compliance, nor have been able to find any legislation on this. What drivers may face is the generic charge of inadequate coupling device, or an inspection order.

Anyone wishing to speak to MVB standards & compliance (perhaps they would fax you a copy of this directive) look for the 1-800- number for Reference BC in the blue pages of the phone book. They will connect you to S & C free of long distance charges.

Tim Schewe, RCMP
Timothy.SCHEWE@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

Spray-in liners

Readers, I asked Bob from Southwest Armaguard if he had heard of any problems. Bob said:

What Tim is talking about is a drop-in plastic liner with approximately one inch high ribs. You cannot place a 5th wheel hitch on top of this product and get a secure 5th wheel hitch. Placing metal bars in the ribs helps, but the plastic liner is very slippery and eventually the metal bars wear the plastic, and you have a loose 5th wheel hitch.

People are confusing a plastic drop-in liner and a sprayed-in liner. Armaguard's polyurethane liners are sprayed in hot (150 degrees), bond instantly and are 100% solids. This creates a hard gasket-like seal between the pickup box and the 5th wheel.

Armaguard Coatings has over 60 dealerships in North America spraying polyurethane coatings under 5th wheel hitches every day. In the years I have been spraying polyurethane coatings on pickup beds, I have not heard of one problem.

I contacted the Area Code Inspectors for BC and spoke to Mr. Cliff Owen in regards to the rumour about sprayed box liners under 5th wheels being illegal in BC. I was told there is NO LAW that he knows of.

Bob Snowball
Southwest Armaguard Coatings
Richmond BC