Welding on truck to fix running boards

[lostcause]

trying to figure out exactly what it is that went wrong - did it literally rip the bolt through the inside edge of the rocker? i may not be seeing it correctly but it looks like the attachment for the running boards uses clip on nuts on the bottom of the rocker too? if you're trying to weld up the bottom of the rocker it's likely 3 or so layers of folded, crimped, and spot welded sheet metal isn't it? i'm sure i could scab on something that would work fine but probably not aesthetically pleasing by spot welding with a mig. i'd really not be wanting to do overhead stick welding on the bottom of a rocker panel in any case - especially if i had to clear a lot of paint / textured rock guard off.

I hate to pay others to do anything that I can do on my own, but looking at that picture, that looks like a pretty new truck - a lot cleaner than my 2020 is already. what would it cost to have it professionally done, and was there not insurance from the accident? i wouldn't even venture a guess on the electrical system question - maybe it would be fine, but maybe not.

 

[JohnnyMX]

The running boards didn't seem broken after the accident. I only used the front portion of the boards to get into the drivers seat and that bolt was still attached. The rear 2 bolts did rip through laterally and one day the last bolt gave out as I stepped up which was great. The lesson learned here is I should have taken it to be looked at by one of my dealer (really dumb move on my part). There looked like a place to attempt to stick this back on, but there was some paint and such in the area. I probably would have made it worse in the long run. I think I would have unhooked the battery to be safe based on the feedback.

Just as I was trying to get this put back on a "deal" came my way on a new truck, so I put the running board in the back and traded it in as-is. With what used trucks are going for at the moment no one seemed to care about an almost negligible dent and a missing running board.

 

[Sberry]

To be safe? Thousands of people injured working on batteries every year, damage from welding near zero. Been doing this for a whole career and never do it. Thousands of new trucks being used every day as welding platforms and thousands and thousands welded on at muffler shops every day.