Rocker protection

[nitro640]

Looking for ideas on rocker panel protection for new truck. Want it not to be real visible.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Unfortunately we live in Minnesota. No matter what you do or how much you spend rust is inevitably going to get you.

[delcecchi]

Unfortunately we live in Minnesota. No matter what you do or how much you spend rust is inevitably going to get you.

Depends on the vehicle. My 99 Explorer is still looking pretty good, rocker panel wise. One rear door has a hole now but other than that it is looking amazing for a 15 year old vehicle.

[shizzy]

Are you talking impacts, or chips and dings / rust protection?

[nitro640]

More for chips and dings I guess. Mostly when getting in and out

[Walleyehooker]

That clear tape stuff they use on some new cars works pretty good. I think 3m makes it and probably a bunch of others these days

[Macgyver55]

That's what I have on my truck front and thresholds. Cant even tell its there but no scuffs from boots and shoes no sandblasting marks from the highway on the hood.

[nitro640]

Where did you get it? And does it come pre cut?

[SHAWSKI]

The biggest killer of rockers or any "rust out" area is actually trapped dirt. This is what I see in my work anyways. Places where floor braces and floor skins connect, places like outer wheel houses over rear wheels and the outer skin of a bedside in the case of trucks, rocker panels that get dirt inside of the rocker "tunnel"... it rots out from the inside.

If you can study your particular rig and find how to best rinse out these dirt trap areas a few times a year, your vehicle will last much longer rust wise if you can figure out a way to flush out these areas.

Serious rot really doesn't happen from the outside where we can see from walking around a truck. It's those sneaky dirt trap pockets that our rigs hold salty wet sand and crud.

If it's just chips you are trying to stop then you have already got some great ideas from the folks that posted ahead of me.

Best of luck with the new truck!

[Macgyver55]

I had mine installed locally by a friend and it comes pre-cut in width only, but still must be trimmed and cut for each different vehicle.

[outdoors247]

This is what I use, been using it for awhile now and have removed and replaced it. I have it on my Silverado and on my sports car. I wouldn't go without it in our great state of road filled roads.

You can wash your car as normal and there is no additional care needed. The only thing you have to be careful with is polishing compounds, clay bar, etc... They will scuff up the Clear Bra or so I've been told.

3M Clear Bra

[aczr2k]

I have had the 3m clear bra on the last couple of new trucks, this time I went with the Xpel self healing clear bra. Check out the online videos, you can scratch it with a brass brush and it will return back to clear in a few days. Once installed its virtually invisible. I have a black painted front bumper on my '14 and the film is a necessity.

[nitro640]

Thanks guys will be looking at the 3M stuff