Had a blast camping and exploring - some of it with Happy Jack - Kansas chapter leader. Monday 4/21 he blew his tranny on the Arch Canyon trail and later that day I sideswiped a deer who ran out of the brush at a full trot. She hit a wall (the left side of my truck) and put some good dents in it. How bad is it? Can this be pounded out? One body shop said they needed to replace the whole back left panel of the cab.

BTW it was good to be back home. And it's nice to be back on here with all you guys.


This is our campsite in Comb Wash, off hiway 95 south of Blanding. My pickup and Bronco can be seen by the big, gnarly cottonwood center right of the pic.


This is an overlook of Comb Ridge and Arch Canyon.


Hotel Rock


My Bronco on the Hotel Rock trail


Jack and I on the Arch Canyon trail



Valley of the Gods


Mexican Hat


Road to Monument Valley. Remember this from Forrest Gump?


Mittens in Monument Valley


Bent mirror from the doe's head




Body dents

Is it really necessary to replace the left rear panel to fix this dent?

 

It could be pulled out and patched but I would go to a junkyard with a cutoff saw and cut the panel you need and put it on your truck. LMC also has the panels for that.

To pull it out and patch it would require bondo and body filler and as good as your truck looks you probably wouldn't be satisfied with it. To replace to panel is not very hard to do. Having a small welder makes to job easy. It would be a more permanent fix.

 

i like the pictures, looks like a good trip! that deer hit looks pretty gnarly. i think i would have gotten out and shot the stupid thing after hitting my truck like that if it wasnt already dead.

 

Icebox, at least she didn't hit the front end or I wouldn't be home now. I stopped about a hundred yards downhill from where she laid in the road. We thought she was dead and we were going to go drag her out of the road, but after a while she got up and hobbled off - probably to die in the brush. The thought of a mercy shooting did cross my mind, but I didn't want to have to answer to law enforcement if someone saw it - not much chance of that though - being in the middle of nowhere.

Neal, I wish I was capable of doing all that but I don't have the ability. I'm taking it to the same shop that fixed my Bronco last year. I trust them and know they'll do a good job. If I don't have them fix the mirror and a tiny dent on the front fender, I should be able to avoid having to pay the $500 deductible.

 

Gotcha. Sounds like a good plan. I really think you will be happier if they do replace the panel. Especialy since that part of the truck is wher alot of people lean on. That way it will not crack in the future.

 

Lets see what action4478 says. he's the man at body work! Nice pics looks like a good time until the deer hit! I would rather the stupid deer took it to the door or the front clip. them parts are easily replaced!

 

Looks like what i did to my first truck...
I think if she hit on front the bumper would have just plowed and left only saliva and blood to show for it.