[abunaitwo]

1999 Extended cab.
On the rear of the roof, there are two short channels on the side.
What are they for??????

The drivers side is rusted.
Going to patch it, but I'm wanting to close the channel.

 

[Robeartronic]

From what I'm aware of the roof channels are so that all the rain water isn't pouring onto you when you get in or out of the car when it's raining.

 

[nealinnevada]

Can you take a picture of the channel and post it?

 

[abunaitwo]

Pictures

 

[nealinnevada]

I see that you tried to post two pictures. The link to the pictures reports that you have moved the photos or deleted them.

 

[abunaitwo]

The pictures don't show?????
They show on my computer.

 

[abunaitwo]

Try to post pictures again

Hope they work this time.

 

[nealinnevada]

The pictures did work this time! To me it looks like the channels serve two purposes, divert water when door opens and adds rigidity to the roof structure. That is a lot of rust and you need to jump on it quickly. Does the roof leak and that was why the tape was put over the channel? What do you mean by "close the channel" in your initial post? I think I would sand out the channel (and adjacent to it on both sides) to inspect the rust damage before I did anything else.

 

[abunaitwo]

There is a black plastic strip in the channel.
Haven't taken the tape off the bad side.
Seems to me the plastic is the problem.
It will trap water under it.
I'll have to see how the plastic is held on to the roof.
Was hoping someone with a same truck would have fixed it, and could help.
There is a long channel going almost the length of the roof.
No plastic part and no rust.

 

[nealinnevada]

There is a black plastic strip in the channel.
Haven't taken the tape off the bad side.
Seems to me the plastic is the problem.
It will trap water under it.
I'll have to see how the plastic is held on to the roof.
Was hoping someone with a same truck would have fixed it, and could help.
There is a long channel going almost the length of the roof.
No plastic part and no rust.

I see the black plastic strip now...It looks like that side is beginning to rust too. I guess the right way would be to remove the plastic, repair both sides, then have the roof painted (I would paint it myself with a HPLV gun...heck it's the roof). Do you have to put the plastic strip on after repair? Take a picture and update this thread when you get it done, alright?

 

[abunaitwo]

I'm looking into spraying, or rolling, the roof with bed liner paint.
Just need to find one that is white in color.
I wonder what the channel is there for????