3rd Generation Ram - Non Drivetrain - All Years Talk about the 2003 and up Dodge Ram here. PLEASE, NO ENGINE OR DRIVETRAIN DISCUSSION!.

ugh . . . stone chips!!!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 05:57 PM
  #1  
CD in NM's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,113
Likes: 0
From: New Mexico
ugh . . . stone chips!!!

Living on a dirt/gravel road is let's say a pain in the rocker panels.

I really hate to have to spray bedliner onto the rocker panels to stop all the messing with touch-up paint.

I'm thinking about putting on some stainless steel rocker panel covers. My truck is two-tone, atlantic blue with the silver rockers. I think the stainless would look good and also help to control the problem.

So guys and gals, what's you opinions???

TIA, CD
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 06:06 PM
  #2  
jamesbfishin's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: Seaside NJ
Just make sure you treat the existing chips very well before covering them up with the panels, you don't want the rust to start festering in there.

Post some pics when you get it finished, I'll be looking at options a year or 2 down the road as my truck gets chipped up too.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 06:14 PM
  #3  
CTDinMT's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
From: Southern Utah
Man, I have stone chips all over my rockers behind the wheels. I am going to get the rockers sprayed with Line-X one of these days...
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 08:47 PM
  #4  
megacabdad's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,731
Likes: 0
From: Erie, PA
Thinkin' of bed lining the rockers before winter.

X2 on the takin' care of any rust or existing chips before covering them up with whatever you choose.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 08:54 PM
  #5  
SpLaT's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Alberta
Living on a dirt/gravel road is let's say a pain in the rocker panels
Working on dirt/gravel road is hell on rocker panels, windshields and hell everything else. Good heavy duty mud flaps help some, had the stainless steel
panels on the old truck... lets just say they didn't last! They looked worse then the chipped paint!
Bed liner the way to go, it can be painted to match colour.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 09:36 PM
  #6  
CD in NM's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,113
Likes: 0
From: New Mexico
Thanks for the replies guys.

I have the Powerwagon fender flares and good mud flaps, but still some stones DO get to the rockers. I had a set of nerfs on my truck, they were really battered too.

I was thinking about treating the chips before installing the rocker covers. I'm not too sure what I should use, any suggestions on this subject would be welcome also. I installed the stainless rockers on my old truck when it became aparent that the chipping was getting severe. I used that stuff you use on rust, paint on kind of metal conditioner that restores the metal before I installed the rocker covers. I cannot remember what it was called, but it DID do a great job. Right now the chips I have seem to have not disturbed the primer, just chipped the paint, or dimpled the paint might be a better description.

I have thought about using that 'do-it-yourself' bedliner stuff, wondered if it could be painted??? I guess if the stainless doesn't work out I could go that route. No one within close to a couple hundred miles/3 hours travel time one way of me does the bedliners.

CD
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 09:50 PM
  #7  
Guardrail's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Bonner Springs, KS
The only thing SS stick-on panels are good for is trapping dirt and moisture between the panel and the truck, accelerating the rust process.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2008 | 11:47 PM
  #8  
hivoltage's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Guardrail
The only thing SS stick-on panels are good for is trapping dirt and moisture between the panel and the truck, accelerating the rust process.
Good point, I wonder how much space there is between the edge of the adhesive and the edge of the panel. Is there enough that a guy might be able to use a thin bead of silicone on the back of the panel witout squishing it out or onto the sticky stuff?
I've been thinking about the panels too. I just can't bring myself to spray black stuff 1/3 of the way up the side of my truck. I know they can color match but I've heard that the red turns pink over time. I sure don't need a pink truck.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2008 | 01:24 AM
  #9  
Silverram03's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
What about a set of these?http://www.rockerflares.com/pages/ro...res/dodge.html
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2008 | 11:21 AM
  #10  
EDR's Avatar
EDR
Registered User
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Kennewick, WA
One of the other members has the Rockerflares and was very happy with them. Do a search and you can find more on the discussion.

Another option I've been considering is a product that looks similar to the clear bra material but is supposedly thicker, and the price is hard to beat. Here's the link > Trimbrite Bodyguard Paint Protection
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2008 | 03:21 PM
  #11  
mega-engr's Avatar
"California Style"
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 12
From: So Cal
Originally Posted by EDR
One of the other members has the Rockerflares and was very happy with them. Do a search and you can find more on the discussion.

Another option I've been considering is a product that looks similar to the clear bra material but is supposedly thicker, and the price is hard to beat. Here's the link > Trimbrite Bodyguard Paint Protection
I second that one. The clear bra thing seems to work well. I've seen the whole front end of a car done, mirrors, grill, etc. You can hardly see its there. It was not that much money either. Of course, the paint needs to be in good condition before applying... Not sure about thickness, but it seems to hold up to most debris.

If you're basically, blasting your paint then the liner is the way to go...
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
dhe9
3rd Generation Ram - Non Drivetrain - All Years
11
Feb 5, 2006 09:20 AM
FANZDSLPWR
12 Valve Engine and Drivetrain
1
Aug 10, 2004 06:13 AM
Dieseldude4x4
Other
25
Jun 2, 2004 06:33 PM
Garnet Kid
Towing and Hauling / RV
11
Apr 19, 2004 10:09 PM
Turbo Boy
3rd Gen High Performance and Accessories (5.9L Only)
2
Mar 21, 2004 11:52 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:57 AM.