An Effortless Guide to Buying and Using a WeatherTech Cargo Liner

When you acquired your car, it was all you could think about. The first few weeks you were keen on the road, cleaned whenever possible and did everything to maintain its pristine condition. 

However, while all your attention was directed towards the paintwork, tires, seats and interior, you overlooked your floors. It’s time to change this and get the right protection for your floors. 

At the top of your list should be floor liners. Some believe that floor liners are added to make the car look pretty. Others think of floor liners as safety features that prevent slipping. What do you think?

Well, there’s more to floor liners than just safety and beauty. They come in varying sizes, for different cars and purposes. For example, if you intend to haul cargo, you’ll need a cargo liner. 

What is a Cargo Liner?

A cargo liner is similar to a cargo mat, but it fits perfectly with raised edges around the sides.

WeatherTech DigitalFit Cargo Liner for 2002-2010 Ford Explorer

Check Price

Like most people, you’ll often use your cargo space to haul anything from groceries to Christmas trees, to the family pet. Occasionally, you’ll throw in muddy work shoes, sharp and heavy tools, construction materials, or even gardening supplies. 

While a cargo mat can offer some protection, it’s ideal to go with a cargo liner. A cargo liner offers better protection and saves your trunk from normal wear and tear thanks to its precise fit and durable material. 

How to Buy a WeatherTech Cargo Liner 

Several shops offer WeatherTech liners, but which is the easiest? PartCatalog, a car and truck accessory company located in Texas, have been in the car accessory business for over 10 years and have thousands of happy returning customers. 

If you’re looking to shop for your vehicle, here are 8 easy steps to follow using a 2019 Honda Civic as an example: 

  1. Visit the PartCatalog website. 
  2. Select Car Floor Mats under the category Interior. 
  3. On the left side, you’ll see a “Select Your Vehicle” section. Browse the section for your car brand. In this case, you’d select Honda. 
  4. Since the floor liner needs to be a perfect fit, you’ll have to select the year. For this example, the year is 2019. 
  5. Select the car’s model: Civic.
  6. Scroll down to the category section and select WeatherTech mats.
  7. Scroll down to the coverage section and select cargo (trunk). Since you’re looking for a liner for your cargo area, you’ll select Cargo. If you also need floor liners for the 1st & 2nd rows, select accordingly. 
  8. Narrow down your selections by choosing your preferred color. 

These steps will help you filter down to the WeatherTech liner made for your exact car, make, model and year. Choose the liner you want for your cargo area and proceed to checkout. Once you complete your order, you’ll receive the shipment information via email. 

You’ll have your cargo liner in 3–4 business days. 

If you have an issue with your order, PartCatalog has a 60-day return policy.

Alternatively, you can use the WeatherTech buyer’s guide to access the same products. 

  1. Click on the buyer’s guide
  2. Scroll down to the “Search our entire WeatherTech Inventory” section. 
  3. Select your car’s make, year, model, and click search. 
  4. Once you click on the search button, a new page with WeatherTech products will appear. 
  5. On your left, you’ll find filters to help you narrow down your search. 

How to Install a Cargo Liner 

Before installing any floor liner in your cargo trunk, you have to remove the existing cargo mats. Remember, the new liners are custom fit; therefore, anything else on the trunk is an obstruction. If you don’t remove the existing mats, your floor liners won’t fit as expected. 

Next, clean your trunk area thoroughly to ensure that you remove any dirt or debris. Once you’re done cleaning, dry the cargo trunk. 

With the dirt out of the way, you can begin the installation. 

Start by removing the yellow safety label on your floor liners. But don’t throw it away. Instead, store it carefully, in case you need it at a later date. 

Identify the correct side by looking at the floor liner. You should see markings on the underside that indicate which sides slide into the left and right. Install the liner and confirm it’s trim fits as expected. 

Finally, press down the liner to ensure that it’s flat across your trunk. 

How to Use Cargo Liners 

After you’re done installing the liner, test it by placing cargo in your trunk. Observe how the liner reacts to the additional weight. Does it warp? Does it stay in place as you attempt to slide heavy cargo over it? 

A good-quality cargo liner typically won’t warp around the edges, and should stay in place as you load the trunk.

Sizing too small or too large can make your cargo liner deform. Cargo liners by WeatherTech are custom-fit and shouldn’t warp. If they do, you can glue a reinforcement strip under the warped edges. 

Don’t forget to clean your liner to maintain its pristine condition. 

What’s the Difference Between Floor Liners and Floor Mats?

The main difference is that floor liners, like the Cargo Liner, are custom-made for individual vehicles and have raised edges while mats don’t. Both offer interior protection and ensure that mud, snow, and water spills don’t damage your car’s interior. 

Unlike typical mats, WeatherTech floor liners offer comprehensive protection. This is because WeatherTech uses DigitalFit Technology to get precise measurements of your vehicle’s interior. 

The liner contains no harmful PVCs cadmium and completely covers the trunk space

Check Price

With this information, WeatherTech custom makes floor liners that feature a skid resistant surface and retention systems. Also, the floor liners lock in place so they won’t slide while driving.

Floor LinerFloor Mat
More expensiveUsually cheaper
Custom madeAlso comes as a universal fit
Has raised edgesDoes not have raised edges

Similarly, mats offer a decent amount of protection, but since they’re not always custom-made, the may not lock in place.

A Cargo Liner Can Also Be Used for Your Pet

A cargo liner can even serve as a mat for your family pet. It’s especially ideal for dog owners who go to parks or hunting grounds. 

If you’ve come from a day outdoors, it’s likely that your dog will be dirty and have muddy paws. If you allow your dog into your front or back seat without cleaning, they will soil your seats. You can avoid this by ferrying your dog in the trunk. 

With or without muddy paws, the traction the cargo liner offers will help keep your pet from slipping in the back of the vehicle as you drive.

The thick liner will offer soft padding for your dog to ensure they stay calm. Since the WeatherTech floor liner is waterproof and stain-resistant, you can clean it easily afterward. Just a hose and soft bristle brush will leave your cargo area clean and virtually odorless.

Are WeatherTech Cargo Liners Worth It? 

Absolutely. Liners aren’t added just to make your trunk look pretty. These liners will offer floor protection that your car needs when hauling cargo—whether that means groceries or the family pet. 

Fitting in household mats or trunk carpets will help, but only for a short period. This is why you need a cargo liner. Yes, they’re slightly more expensive than your typical mat, but they offer all-around protection.  

What Makes WeatherTech Liners so Durable?

The WeatherTech manufacturer uses DigitalFit technology to duplicate every curve and contour on your trunk bed. This ensures that the cargo liner fits well like it’s part of the vehicle. 

The liner stays in place but you can take out any time. It’s also American made with products sourced in America. 

Furthermore, these cargo liners are made from plastic polymer compounds that support contoured shapes. These plastic polymers include thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic olefin, and polypropylene.  

Each of these polymer compounds has something to offer. For example, a thermoplastic elastomer provides maximum flexibility and retains its shape. In addition, it contains no harmful PVC’s. 

These materials have rigid cores that strengthen the liners to ensure that it can handle any load, mess, or equipment you throw at it. 

Frequently Asked Questions