Chipped/Cracked paint by tail lights - Interesting find

[kolibri]

I havent seen this mentioned on line, so I thought I would pass this along. Two years ago the passenger side of my box by the tail light got hit by some weasle in a parking lot, and dented the area just below the tail light, on the edge of the extension (flat piece) beside the rear light. It was fixed and repainted. Recently the paint in that area started to crack, and split, to the point you could easily see it from 5-10ft away. I assumed it was the bodyshop repair going bad, and that someone had slipped some bondo or the like in there. Took it to the shop who looked at it, assumed the same, and said they would repaint it under warranty.
When I went to pick the truck up they said it was infact not any bondo, and was not the fault of their repair work. They found that rocks are getting bounced up under the bed, and hitting the flat piece that runs along side of the tail light on the outer edge. It is happening enough that it is denting the metal slightly, and popping the paint from the inside. They pointed out four or five tiny spots on the other side that are starting to open as well. They threw in some undercoating on the passenger side, but I am thinking some rubberised rocker panel protector might be good to spray in there. The rep mentioned that maybe some construction spray foam would be better, but I am not big on that idea as trapped water is something I think could happen.
Anyway, they said this was the first time they saw it on a Raptor, but noted I spend a whole lot of time driving rough gravel roads.

 

[MatMan]

Would bed liner (linex) help?

 

[2014RubyRed]

^^^ What he said. Absolutely that would help a bunch. The rubberized property of the bedliner product would do a good job of absorbing the impacts.

Thanks @kolibri for bringing this issue up! I'm spraying my ADD inner liners and the insides of my Boatec fenders today for that very reason. Think I'll get up in that area and spray it as well.

 

[kolibri]

I think the bedliner would be a good idea. I looked at the area below the tail lights on mine in good sunlight, and the exterior of the box does show little dents as well.

 

[TheJoker]

Mud flaps would also help. But, since Ruby has started using U-pol, I think I may pick up some.