Rocker panel repair/slider install dilemma - want advice/opinions

So my passenger side rocker panel has a huge dent in it. The paint got destroyed, my touch up job is already cracking off and tiny bits of surface rust are forming.

I want to take care of the paint/rust first and foremost. The dent is something I would like to do but am not willing to shell out the money to fix it. Not worth it.

So my intention was to RaptureLine the rocker panel and body line as a protective means (since that part of the body is already kind of chewed up from rock chips, etc)

But I don't know how soon I can get to RaptureLining my truck and want to install the sliders I have.

My question is, would it be a serious PITA to RaptureLine the rocker panel et al with the sliders installed?

If anyone has any other advice I'm all ears

 

you have pictures???

 

Pictures of my damaged rocker panel?

 

body work is easy man especially with some thing like this that dosnt have the be prefect since your just going to line-x over it. I would try and beat the the top where it meets the door as best possible with a ball-pin hammer and then come back with some bondo sand it down and be done with it. But then again this is the red neck in me talking.

 

yeah thats a tough one, I sure wouldnt do whats mentioned above because 1. body work isnt easy if you do it the right way and 2. you have a big crease and all you would be doing it hammering that down and not taking any of the dent out. It would be a PITA if your doing weld on sliders ( I am assuming you are ) so yeah kind of a tough call.

 

I'd drill some holes in the dent (less the better)...
and use a dent puller to pull out the dent and get that closer.
Then fill the holes and surface area with bondo.
Finally... sand the area to a reasonably smooth finish.

...all before laying the liner coating

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

probably the best fix using a slide hammer, my rockers are totally fucked

 

I'd definitely wait to install the install the sliders until you've done the body work and painted the rockers. It will be much easier that way.

 

I already took a 2x4 and hammer to it so the door would shut and align properly. Then used touch up paint and clear coat nail polish to finish it off.

I don't care about the dent, but I want to Raptor Line (got the correct spelling now) the rocker panels for protection.

Just trying to figure out if I should/can do it before the sliders get installed.

 

Try not to use the Bondo on any low spots more than 1/4"!!! And like TacoDell says fill the holes you make pulling the dent, if theres any holes behind the Bondo it will fail.

 

Subbed. Maybe ask some 1st gens with the same sliders you have? Ask them to look at their truck and see how big a pita it'd be?

I plan on having my sliders on in a few weeks. And can't afford line-x'ing my rockers til the fall.

 

Ok so you dot care about the dent, and want the rockers sprayed with bed liner professionally correct? but you dont have the funds yet and want to go ahead and install your sliders. So your wondering how much of a pain it would be to line the rockers after you install the sliders? Ide say you be patient and save your money to have it done the way you want it rather than cause your self a possible headache.

 

Fack bondo and fixing the hole

I'm just gonna prep and spray Raptor Liner over it

 

Yeah, I'm going to Raptor Liner it myself. Then get my sliders installed.

I just got off the phone with the Raptor Liner rep and feel really good about this product.

 

Don't do Line-X (I have it in my bed FYI)

It isn't urethane based, so it will fade no matter what. It doesn't flex as much as Raptor Liner. And Line-X is a serious PITA to touch up where as Raptor Liner isn't.

 

meant for another thread

 

yeah then once you have your sliders on and the dent is still there you can tell everyone your so extreme even sliders cant protect you from the shit your crawling on.

 

As I flex my stock Tacoma on a curb at the mall

 

I have Line-X in my bed too. I like it. Been on 3 years hasn't faded too much.

 

I have my bed Line-X'd for 11 years now, with a topper on 99.9% of the time, and it has faded to a light gray.