I know it's crazy but hear me out. The sides of my 4x4 van I just bought are rotted out. They are so rotten that both the otter and inner layers of metal (where the pinch weld was ) is gone about 3-4 inches up.

I can't buy a patch for the inner piece, so I was thinking that instead of just welding a patch from a donor, I could notch the body metal to fit one of these. My concern is that it would look a little too.... country. I'd like to find a box that doesn't impede into the inside or poke out beyond the widest point of the body or take away ground clearance.

Any thoughts?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/tractor-supply-co-underbed-truck-box-48-in?cm_vc=-10005

 

Try Rock Auto. They are having a close-out on many parts including door skins, which is what it seems you might need. Not a DIY project, though.

 

I'll be doing the welding myself. Unfortunately the patch panels that are sold online aren't sufficient for the amount of rust that this vehicle has. I don't want to make panels so I will probably getting them off a donor at this point. I was thinking about installing the work boxes as an alternate...

 

I remember a member here built a custom under floor box.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post15641404

See if you can contact him for details, it looked very well done. jim