[clyde]

Have a dented rocker panel, 2003 Jetta. Want to pull it out if possible. Harbor Freight has a pneumatic dent puller (https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-dent-puller-69718.html). Might be too much for the job, but might be just right.

I wish it had a smaller suction cup.

Want ideas on pulling dent out without drilling or making it worse. Paint is not cracked

 

[BSM]

A suction cup puller will not help whatsoever with a rocker panel; the panel is far too strong, and the suction cup requires a large, flat panel. Don’t worry about drilling holes - that isn’t really part of modern bodywork. You need to grind off the paint, weld studs and/or plates into the low areas, and tap down the high spots while pulling up on the low spots.

 

[brodlins]

Hire a PDR guy instead of buying a tool that you will not be going to use very often.

 

[BSM]

PDR is a great option for minor damage on some panels, but not a rocker panel. There’s no access to get in behind the dent laterally - some rocker panels are 6+ layers of stamped sheet steel, all overlapping. There are multiple chambers inside the rocker panel, which further complicates access. And the rocker panel is one of the most important structural members of a unibody - it really needs to be dimensionally correct.

It would be great if OP could post a few pictures.