Owning a truck means putting it to work. Hauling gear, trips out to the beach, weekends in the desert, or just daily chores. All that use is what makes a truck great, but it also opens the door for problems. One of the sneakiest ones is sand and dust. At first it doesn’t look like a big deal, but over time it wears your bedliner down. The trick is learning how to deal with it before the damage sets in.

Why Sand and Dust Cause Damage

Sand and dust work like sandpaper. They sit on the surface and every time something slides over them, they grind a little more. You may not notice right away, but the scratches add up. If moisture gets in, the mix sticks even tighter, and then cleaning becomes harder.

It’s not just about protecting the look of the liner. Once the surface starts to break down, it doesn’t perform as well either. That means a shorter life and more money spent sooner than you planned.

Keep It Clean

The simplest habit is also the easiest to skip: rinse your bedliner. A quick wash after a dusty job or sandy trip clears away grit before it settles in, if you wait too long, particles work their way into cracks and corners.

Use a hose or pressure washer, then let it dry. A soft brush helps for spots that cling. It only takes a few minutes but saves plenty of hassle later.

Coatings That Add Strength

Cleaning helps, but real protection comes from a tough truck bed liner that can handle whatever you throw at it. Strong finishes act like armor. They seal out grit, stop scratches, and hold up to heavy loads.

That’s why many people choose a dependable bed liner when they want lasting defense. It builds a barrier that stands up against sand, dust, and everything else your truck deals with day after day. Over time, that layer of protection makes a big difference.

Small Habits with Big Results

There are a few other habits that help too. Drop a mat or cover in when hauling gear. Shake off tools or equipment before tossing them in. Keep smaller items inside containers instead of loose. Little choices like this stop most of the grit from hitting the liner in the first place.

These aren’t big changes, but they stack up. Fewer scratches, less grinding, and a bedliner that lasts longer.

Long-Term Payoff

Taking care of your liner saves more than just the surface, a strong, clean liner makes your truck easier to use, helps it hold value, and keeps it ready for whatever you need next. It’s about making sure the truck you rely on stays tough.

Final Thoughts

Sand and dust never stop showing up, they sneak into every corner and slowly wear things out. But with regular cleaning, a solid protective layer, and a few simple habits, you can keep your bedliner in great shape, protecting it today means your truck stays reliable for the long haul.

Boulder Dam/Hoover Dam Dedicated by President Roosevelt Sept. 30, 1935

Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. The cost of the construction was $49 million dollars and was completed two years ahead of schedule. The dam was controversially named after President Herbert Hoover.

Lonnie Hammargren

Lonnie Hammargren long time Las Vegas resident, neurosurgeon, politician and eclectic collector of Las Vegas and Nevada history opens his house, Castillo del Sol to Las Vegas residents to celebrate Nevada Day. Lonnie severed as Lt. Governor of Nevada (1995-1999), and spent years as a NASA flight surgeon. His house or should I say his 3 houses combined to form one large museum with has at least 3 stories and a basement sprawl over then neighborhood near Flamingo and Sandhill.

Some of the items noted are a life-size Apollo capsule, atomic bombs, observatory, planetarium, casino signs, time machines, Liberace memorabilia (including a full set of stairs), a sarcophagus in a Egyptian tomb, stage, trains, political history, replica of Hoover Dam, large scaled size model of the Space Shuttle, memorials to fallen astronauts, Bat-mobile, Statue of Liberty, and of the latests items was the roller-coster from the the top of the Stratosphere. Lonnie’s house has been featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and the Travel Channel’s Vegas VIP Homes.

This was the final year (2014) for the public to tour of Mr. Hammargren’s house on Nevada Day weekend. 

Photos by: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: November 2, 2014

TWA Flight 3 Crashed in to Mount Potosi on January 16, 1942 near Las Vegas

All nineteen passengers on board, including movie star Carole Lombard, who was married to husband Clark Gable, her mother, and all three crew members, died in the crash.

Potosi Mountain can be seen from the Las Vegas valley and has a elevation of 8,517 ft.

GPS: 35° 57′ 3.71″ N, 115° 29′ 25″ W
Photo by: Wikipedia

Hoover Dam on the Nevada – Arizona Border Built Starting in 1931

On July 3, 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed the appropriation bill for the Boulder Dam.  Work started on the dam in 1931 and Las Vegas’ population swelled from around 5,000 citizens to 25,000, with most of the newcomers looking for a job building the dam. The casinos and showgirl theaters first appeared in Las Vegas to entertain the largely male-majority dam construction workers. The name of the dam was later changed from Boulder Dam to Hoover Dam.

Photo By: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: November 26, 2011

Stardust International Raceway

In the 60s, racing circuits popped up all over the United States to fill the high demand for racing entertainment. Before long, more tracks could be built than sustained by the industry many closed the gates and fell into neglect, later being developed into shopping centers and housing developments.

Stardust International Raceway

The Stardust International Raceway was opened in 1965 in the Spring Valley of Las Vegas, Nevada. The facility included a 3-mile, 13-turn road course and a quarter-mile drag strip. Owned by the Stardust Hotel and Casino, the track was built to attract high rollers to the hotel. When the hotel was sold in 1969, the track was abandoned with drag racing events finally ceasing in 1970. Later, the land was bought by Pardee Homes and the Spring Valley community was built in the track’s place. The area is now know as Spring Valley and with the old track boarding Tropicana Avenue, Rainbow Blvd and Flamingo Road.

1970’s Topo map of Spring Valley showing parts of the Racetrack

Stardust hosted Can-Am races from 1966 through 1968 with John Surtees winning the first two and Denny Hulme taking the last. A Trans-Am race was held in 1967, won by Mark Donohue.

Stardust International Raceway

Stardust International Raceway

On July 21, 1948 a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (F-13)  crashed in to Lake Mead. The Bomber was modified from a B-29 into a F-13. The "F" meant that it was modified for photo reconnaissance. It was on a special mission to conduct atmospheric research using an instrument called the "Sun Tracker".  Painted on the nose of the plane was the words "Cosmic Ray Research".  The plane operated as high as 30,000 feet down to just about as low as you can fly.

While on mission, the plane was making a very low pass over the Lake Mead surface with what is described, "glass like" when it hit the water.  The plane was traveling at about 250 mph as it crashed and skipping across the surface for over a quarter of a mile.  Five men on-board escaped via life rafts before the plane sank in water over 170 feet deep.  The crew was rescued from the lake six hours later and was instructed not to disclose any details of the flight, its mission or its loss. As the mission was classified, these details were not released until fifty years later.

In 2001, a private dive team searching for the B-29 using side-scan sonar found the wreckage in the northern arm of Lake Mead. Because the bomber lay inside a National Recreation Area, responsibility for the site fell to the National Park Service. Due to the cold deep water, the plane  has been well preserved. Currently the site is off limits to divers.

Photo By: Wikipedia.com – Public Domain

Las Vegas Wetlands Park – source: Wikimedia

The Clark Country Wetland Park is a 2900-acre park; the largest in the Clark County area. It is open daily from dusk until dawn, and admission is free. There is a visitor’s center onsite and an exhibition hall. They are open from 9am until 4pm. The Wetlands Park was constructed as a wetland in order to reduce the environmental impact of waste water, but has since become an excellent attraction for a day trip. The atmosphere is relaxing, and there are hundreds of species of plants and birds to be seen. The nature center is also a great resource for education about wildlife and ecology.

The Clark County Wetlands Park is located 20 minutes drive East of Las Vegas, near to the Sam Boyd Stadium. To get there, follow the 515 South, and then turn left onto East Tropicana Avenue. You can find the park at 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, NV89122. If you can pull yourself away from the neon lights and poker tables for a few hours, this trip doesn’t take long, and is a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the strip.

Click to Enlarge – source: maps.google.com

Able- First Nuclear Test At the Nevada Test Site January 27, 1951

The first nuclear bomb was tested at the Nevada Test Site on January 27, 1951. The Nevada Test Site is located 65 mi northwest of Las Vegas. The series of test was called Operation Ranger it was the fourth American nuclear test. The nuke shot was called  ‘Able’ and it was the first air-dropped nuclear device to be exploded on American soil. The test took place on Frenchman Flat, a dry lakebed in the Nevada Test Site (site 5). The .5-kiloton explosion was the first series to be carried out at the Nevada Test Site. The bomb was dropped by B-50 bombers and exploded in the open air over Frenchman Flat (Area 5).

Photo:  Department of Defense

Raintree is a 3,000-year-old Bristlecone Pine Tree

One of the Oldest living things in the State of Nevada is a 3,000 year+ Bristlecone Pine Tree called “Raintree”.  This 6 mile round trip hike  has about 1700 ft. elevation gain and altitudes over 10,000 ft. It takes about 3.5 hours. Once you make it to the “Raintree” it is about 1/3 mile to  Mummy Springs veering right on the trail.

The trailhead is located up in the Spring Mountains on Deer Creek Road between Kyle and Lee Canyons, about 1 hour northwest of Las Vegas.

From town, drive north on Highway 95 to Highway 157 (Kyle Canyon Road). Turn left onto Highway 157 and drive west for 17.1 miles to Highway 158 (Deer Creek Road), which is just past the Mt. Charleston Hotel. Turn right onto Highway 158 and drive north for another 4.8 miles to the second turnout past Hilltop Campground. Watch for a paved parking area on the west (left) side of the road with a large sign. Trailhead starts here.

North Loop Trailhead for Raintree/ Mummy Springs

Raintree / Mummy Springs Hike in Mt. Charleston

Tree that looks like an Elephant on the trail

Please respect the Bristlecones, as well as the other trees and do NOT remove or deface them in anyway.

Photos by: Lasvegas360.com