Large rectangle holes in rocker panels
 

Hi Ranger forum, I recently bought a 2004 Ranger Edge stepside 4x4. While troubleshooting a water leak problem i noticed three large rectangles in the botton of the rockers. It looks like there was trim covering it at some point, but I can't find any reference to it. I looked under a few rangers in the parking lot and neither had the same rectangles (but neither was stepside, if that matters). Any ideas?

Also, what attached to the floor just behind the center console? I have two large holes that go all the way through, looks like something shoudl be covering them??

-Thanks

My 99 Mazda B3000 has the same holes in the rocker panels, I have no idea why they are there, but it makes it very easy to keep the panels clean.
I thought that was the reason though, so a guy can use garden hose to spray the dirt out.
Sealed up rocker panels were a problem on any vehicle, condensation always seem to collect in there and they rust from the inside out.
That will never happen here.

I can also easily get in there was some oil to keep them from getting rusty.

Don't know what was bolted behind the centre consol.

The holes near the back of the console are for the center seat belt in Rangers with three-across seating. Rangers with bucket seats do not use those mounting holes. There were probably trim plugs in those holes when the truck was new.

RE cutout holes at bottom of rocker panels, I have not been able to find that Ford provided trim plugs for these holes. In one way, it's a bad design because dirt/mud gets inside the rocker panels from the road of track spray flung off the front wheels. When enough mud builds up it stays wet causing the panel to rot out. On the other hand, one can easily get a hose nozzle up into the cutouts to wash out the accumulated mud. Front mud guards could probably be fitted to reduce the problem from wheel wash.

What year did they start installing these large rectangular holes?

I own a '99 Mazda B3000 2wd ext. cab., 2 door: No rectangle holes. Left rear cab rocker was trying to rot from inside where water came through fastener holes of rear side window chrome trim surround.I poured 1/2" of gear oil in side from behind rear passenger side seat. That STOPPED the rust. Re-bedded the chrome trim fastener holes as well to stop the water.

Just bought a rust free 2007 Ranger Sport 4x4 2 weeks ago. It has the large rectangles, which IMO are AWESOME! You can hose out debris & spray outboard engine fogging fluid (FOAMY spray oil) in there & STOP any potential rust. I spray the undercarriage of all my trucks every 6 months with Fogging Fluid ($3.88/can Walmart. CHEAPER then Fluid Film!). Sure road dirt sticks to the oil saturated on the undercarriage, but I'd rather get dirty working on my truck than have the thing rot out! These rectangular holes are the best thing since sliced bread!

P.S. We had 4" of rain & my 2007 pass. door filled with water. I pulled the 2 drain hole plugs & it gushed out. Will spray fogging fluid up into those drain holes as well.

Is your 99 B3000 a 4x4? My 99 B3000 2wd does not have rectangular holes.