Rocker Panel Damage

[puttster]

For anyone who has seen my build thread, they'll see that in the recent accident I was on, my passenger side rocker panel got banged up pretty good. Any advice on what to do about this? Can I replace it or will it just have to be welded up out of sheet metal?

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/156616674@N04/35758525524/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_1750"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4371/35758525524_5f6d1b2a0c_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="IMG_1750"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[JohnMc]

Thinking outside the box - cut them out and weld in square tubing. Turn them into sill-iders.

It's minor stuff like that that really pumps up the repair bill and pushes an older truck like this into being totalled.

 

[Jhiggs33]

If you have the time and decent welding knowledge you can cut the rockers off a cleaner junked T4R and weld them on. Otherwise, I think the steel tubing idea is an interesting proposition. Being in the rust belt and lacking the welding skills, I took to using bondo to patch some rusty holes and I primed and bedlined mine. Came out nicer than expected. Good luck with your repairs!

 

[T4R2014]

Square tube and bondo will look like shit. You have a quality build and those suggestions don't work.

You need a good body shop to cut and weld new ones in. You can get them off a wreck but they should be available from Toyota.

 

[I_bRAD]

1996-2001Toyota 4 Runner Body Panels

I have not tried these guys so can't recommend them, but I do intend to get my materials here if I ever get around to fixing it...

 

[rkntoy]

1996-2001Toyota 4 Runner Body Panels

I have not tried these guys so can't recommend them, but I do intend to get my materials here if I ever get around to fixing it...

Too bad Puttster has a 2002...looks like they only make 1996-2001 versions :canada:

 

[puttster]

Thanks for the quick responses everyone, I'm gonna see how much a body shop will charge. Hopefully it won't be too much. I'd weld tube on but it's still my daily, not a full trail rig YET.

 

[I_bRAD]

Too bad Puttster has a 2002...looks like they only make 1996-2001 versions :canada:

Is there a difference? I assumed it was a typo

 

[Nate_GB]

Depending on how bad it is, repair might be possible. If not, toyota sells the body panel. But I kind of doubt that the value of your truck would sustain the cost of replacing a rocker panel according to toyotas specifications. You're probably going to have some damage to the b pillar around the rear door hinges as well.

On second look, that rocker is pretty fubar and I would bet there is some sort of damage to the floor area inside of the rocker as well.

Are you going through insurance for this?

Part #9 on the diagram needs replacing, part #14 will likely need replacing as well. Just eye balling it, you have at least $5-$6000 in damage to repair on your truck to fix it properly including paint and everything.