A-pillars *can* be repaired, but you'd better have a good shop do it. Another risk is loss of corrosion protection, I am told. Not a factor for a "trail beater", but I don't like trail beaters.

The guy fixing my truck looked at another job that had opened rear fenders, and he commented that there was so much welding to make that happen that much of the OEM corrosion protection was toast, with no way to make it as protected as original.

I don't claim to fully understand, but the guy knows his stuff and stands behind it...

-Bill
'87 4Runner w/ '96 5VZ-FE, 'Red Chili II'
'97 Taco XtraCab 3RZ-FE, 'BlackBean'
TLCA # 13257, Rising Sun 4x4 Club Land Use Coordinator
"He who stops being better stops being good." -Oliver Cromwell