Product Description
Dodge Dakota Extra Cab Long Bed 1987-1996 Full Rocker Panel Kit, 5", Ten Pieces (TH17988)
TH17988 is listed for the Extra Cab version of the 1987-1996 Dodge Dakota with the long bed, two- or four-wheel drive. The kit is ten pieces of polished stainless steel, 5" wide, a Full Kit that "Spans from the bottom of the molding to the bottom of the door."
Extra Cab and long bed together
Both details are on the fitment row, and both matter. The Extra Cab short bed truck has its own listing, TH17989. The other two Dakota kits, TH17985 and TH17986, name only a bed length and no cab. All four are ten pieces at five inches; the record doesn't describe any other difference, so the configuration is how you choose.
Before buying
Confirm three things on your truck: that it's an Extra Cab, that it has the long bed, and that the side molding is in place. Then measure from the molding's lower edge to the bottom of a door. You're looking for about 5". Any doubt, call Quality Automotive Trims at 877-752-3811.
Material and adhesive
QAA cuts the ten 5" Dakota pieces in the USA from polished 26 gauge 304 stainless steel, and they go directly over the existing surface with 3M automotive-grade acrylic foam tape. QAA states that tape will hold for a lifetime and won't mark the Dodge.
Older paint, honest assessment
Decades of sun and washing can leave lower panels chalky or thin. Polish chalky paint back to a firm surface. Anything that flakes, bubbles or shows rust needs repair and cure time before tape goes on, because the trim can only be as secure as what's under it.
Clean-up
After washing and drying, wipe with isopropyl alcohol from the molding down to the bottom edge, using fresh cloth faces as you go.
Ten pieces, in order
The data doesn't describe how the ten pieces split up. Lay the pieces against the photos and label them. Dry-fit a complete side with liners on. The top edges should tuck evenly under the molding; joints should be tight and even; doors should open without touching the steel.
Pressing
Peel the liner a few inches at a time, pressing across the full five-inch height. When the side is done, go over every piece again with firm pressure.
Supplies
Car soap and a bucket, isopropyl alcohol, a stack of lint-free cloths, painter's tape, and a tape measure. Polish for oxidized paint if needed. Nothing is riveted.
Keeping the joints even
As you place pieces, note where each joint falls, measured from the front wheel opening, and keep the spacing consistent so the truck looks even from either angle.
Conditions
Warm and dry, a helper if possible, and no washing for about a day.
Care
Rinse the lower body after salty or muddy drives, and polish with a non-abrasive product. Dry the steel after washing to avoid spots.
Questions about your Extra Cab's configuration? Call Quality Automotive Trims at 877-752-3811. SKU TH17988, UPC 691821456581.
TH17988 specifications
| Brand | QAA |
|---|---|
| Part number (MPN) | TH17988 |
| UPC | 691821456581 |
| Part type | Rocker Panel Trim, Full Kit |
| Pieces in kit | 10 |
| Material | Polished 26-gauge 304 stainless steel |
| Finish | Polished to a mirror shine |
| Width | 5" |
| Coverage / notes | Spans from the bottom of the molding to the bottom of the door |
| Mounting | 3M automotive-grade acrylic foam tape; installs directly over the existing surface |
| Origin | Made in the USA |
| Fits | 1987-1996 Dodge Dakota |
Fitment: TH17988
| Vehicle | Years | Body style |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge Dakota | 1987-1996 | Pickup Truck, Extra Cab, Long Bed, 2/4 Wheel Drive |
Match the year, model, and body style in this table to your vehicle before ordering. Questions? Call Quality Automotive Trims at 877-752-3811 with your year, make, model, and body style.
Other QAA trim cataloged for the 1987-1996 Dodge Dakota
- TH17985: 10-piece Rocker Panel Trim, Full Kit
- TH17986: 10-piece Rocker Panel Trim, Full Kit
- TH17989: 10-piece Rocker Panel Trim, Full Kit
Check the body style on each listing; some kits are specific to one body style.
Installation tips: Rocker Panel Trim, Full Kit
- Unpack all 10 pieces and match each one to its position on the vehicle, using the product photos, before fitting any of them.
- Each piece mounts with 3M automotive-grade acrylic foam tape, so clean and dry the mounting surface first; the tape needs paint or trim free of dirt and wax.
- Align the piece and press it firmly into place directly over the existing surface, working along its full length so the tape bonds evenly.
- Fit one piece at a time and compare each with the product photos and the pieces already in place.
These are general tips. Follow any instructions packed with your kit if they differ.
FAQ: TH17988 Rocker Panel Trim, Full Kit
Which Dakota does TH17988 fit?
1987 through 1996 Extra Cab, long bed, 2/4 wheel drive.
I have an Extra Cab short bed. Which kit?
TH17989.
How tall is it?
5".
Does it need the side molding?
It spans from the bottom of the molding, so yes. Call 877-752-3811 if yours is missing.
How many pieces?
Ten.
