Holes in your Ranger rocker panels?

[Motorpsychology]

Speed holes!

Hadn't thought of that... maybe the air rushing past them makes a high pitched sound that only deer can hear.

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[HenryMac]

Hadn't thought of that... maybe the air rushing past them makes a high pitched sound that only deer can hear.

It makes a high pitched sound that only Earl Scheib can hear

 

[AzScorpion]

We need Rusty back! ?

 

[D Fresh]

Hadn't thought of that... maybe the air rushing past them makes a high pitched sound that only deer can hear.

I learned how to whistle riding in my old man's '49 Ford pickup. At 50-55 mph the "fluted" bed would start to whistle. I kept trying, till I could match the sound.

Later on in life it was one of vehicles I learned to drive in.

 

[Blue Streak]

My 2019 XL STX FX 4x4 has them all plugged & painted.

 

[WhyNot21]

Why not just cover the whole piece with Gorilla tape? ?

 

[D Fresh]

it is a concern about moisture inside.....as it would be with any scenario, whether originally plugged or not.

if its sealed properly, you won't add to it. but you might seal in some moisture inadvertently.
i would suggest anyone who plans on plugging their holes to wash, blow and thoroughly dry their rockers inside before putting the plugs in and then do so with silicone around the, to maintain the seal.
otherwise you may be doing more harm than good.

Do you think a blow dryer would work? Or should they just get down there and blow into the holes?

Seriously this is a good point, I'd definitely blow it out with compressed air, and probably take a shop vac to it. You can make custom attachments for a shop vac with decreasing sizes of heat shrink, that'd work pretty good I think.

 

[Rinn69]

2019 Lariat--plugged and painted. I wonder if the COVID had something to do with a plug shortage ??

 

[HenryMac]

Do you think a blow dryer would work? Or should they just get down there and blow into the holes?

Seriously this is a good point, I'd definitely blow it out with compressed air, and probably take a shop vac to it. You can make custom attachments for a shop vac with decreasing sizes of heat shrink, that'd work pretty good I think.

While that might sound plausible, you'll never get all the crud out. Think of the rocker panel as a round tube with the ends capped and holes along the side. Blow air in the hole at the side, it blows the crud to the end of the tube, where it stays.

Maybe try this.... then take it to the dealer to install factory style plugs. maybe use silicone on the plugs before installing them.

 

[D Fresh]

While that might sound plausible, you'll never get all the crud out. Think of the rocker panel as a round tube with the ends capped and holes along the side. Blow air in the hole at the side, it blows the crud to the end of the tube, where it stays.

Maybe try this.... then take it to the dealer to install factory style plugs. maybe use silicone on the plugs before installing them.

All a matter of how far you want to go with it. After seeing your idea, seems doable. I'd maybe make that the first step, then some air, then let it sit for a bit, then a shopvac with a custom heat shrink "anteater" nozzle, then seal. If you're really worried about it you "could" try to work some POR-15 or the like in there. But I think that would be overkill.

 

[HenryMac]

All a matter of how far you want to go with it. After seeing your idea, seems doable. I'd maybe make that the first step, then some air, then let it sit for a bit, then a shopvac with a custom heat shrink "anteater" nozzle, then seal. If you're really worried about it you "could" try to work some POR-15 or the like in there. But I think that would be overkill.

Good point about spraying something in before plugging the holes. I use a product by the name of Gibbs Brand Lubricant, it's a multi-surface conditioner. I use it mostly to protect raw steel from corroding while fabricating. It's good stuff. Kind of like WD-40... but it's not WD-40.

 

[Trustable]

Just checked my 2021 may build scab, got the holes, also noticed that because of how the paint is just all rubbery because of excess on the pinch welds, there is bare metal on a 2 inch spot. Gonna be seeing if I can get my salesman to either provide a paint sample or some kind of kit to paint over it, or if they cant I will have them repaint the rocker panel. Depending on what answer I get about the plugs, I may have them put some in. But I also think if i sprayed them with wool wax/fluid film/similar product it would be more than adequate. With my truck having 1600 miles on it now, I don't think I would be able to get the rockers clean or dry enough to make plugs being put in a good idea. I will add, I am a bit nervous now about rust, but it think ff/woolwax yearly will be plenty to protect it

 

[WhyNot21]

?

 

[HenryMac]

?

Public Service Announcement: For those folks that said.. hey, that's a "great" ;-) idea....

Great Stuff is an open cell foam.. that means it holds in water.. guarantees lots of rust and body men that want to kick your ass because it's nearly impossible to remove.

 

[WhyNot21]

Public Service Announcement: For those folks that said.. hey, that's a "great" ;-) idea....

Great Stuff is an open cell foam.. that means it holds in water.. guarantees lots of rust and body men that want to kick your ass because it's nearly impossible to remove.

Buzz kill!

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