gap between rocker panels? possible rot issues down the road.

[Rkaroll953]

So i was underneath my truck the other day spraying some metal parts with fluid film to get ready for winter salt. i noticed there is a space between the outside rocker and the actual cab underneath. the rear of the cab has a opening to let crap in? now i noticed that there are plastic plugs under the rockers also. so my question is, the gap in the back of the cab so you can remove the plugs shove a hose in there and wash the rocker panels out or is it just there because that's just how it is? I never had any body rot issues with my 04 but this is my first new truck and i am very into keeping it nice for as long as i can.

 

also have any of you who have had your trucks for 2 years now seen any body rot problems that may be preventable

[pm26]

There should be no way for water or moisture to get inside the rocker panels unless drain holes have been provided on the bottoms of the rocker panels. Otherwise, your rocker panels will start rusting from inside out. If there is indeed a gap that should not be there, you need to heat the rocker panels with a hair dryer or a heat gun to evaporate any moisture in there and then seal the gap with RTV or something similar.

 

Imagine if your doors did not have any drain holes on the bottom and rain water was allowed to accumulate in there.

[tnchevy]

I am hoping GM fixed the rocker panel rotting problems with this model. That along with the rotting quarter panels, brake lines, fuel lines, and trans lines is what motivated me to get rid of my 2002.

[Rkaroll953]

yea i will try and get a picture of the gap later. its just odd to me how they did it.

[silveradosid]

even worse, those plastic plugs get removed to install facttory stepside, which will allow even more crap to get insid the rockers