tired after a long day, had my small utility trailer behind the ex and backed up, forgot it was there, jacknifed, punched hole through the cladding and the quarter panel. Fortunately sunline fan was parting out an earlier ex that was the same color, mineral gray, although they look a bit off in the pic when you hold it up to the truck you can't really tell. The paint cracked right next to it, which will be visible once I reinstall the cladding, but I am going to try and touch it up with factory touch up paint.

The pics are below. I don't really know what to do before I put the new cladding on. obviously need to do something to keep it from rusting out. suggestions?

 

I'd spooge por15 in that gash a few times letting it dry for a day between each coat. Then maybe silicone the hole shut to keep water out of the inside.

 

Hey, since it's gonna be covered, if it were me, I'd buy some bondo from OSH, sand it, bondo it, sand it some more, rattle can some primer on it, then touch-up paint it.

Stewart

 

The rub with bondo is that I'd have to sand to bare metal to get the bondo to adhere properly... thus sanding off more factory rust protection. And if the bondo doesn't seal properly it would be getting water through the rear of the gash... could end up causing me rust drama a year or two down the road.

If I go that route I may sand it and try to weld it back up before I add some filler.

 

call in an insurance claim and have it fixed right.

 

I doubt that insurance will pay for anything I can't do... its highly unlikely they would replace the quarter panel, and on SUV's like the ex I'm not sure I'd want them to. My insurance is already high enough for having 2 claims in the past few years and I'm definitely not gonna file another one, especially since it will go under my full coverage and count as an at fault claim... and perhaps even more relevant, I have a $1000 deductible.

What do you consider "fixed right" for this damage?

 

I vote for por-15

 

Go read up on "metal bumping" and "hammer welding" get those two down pat and then proceed to fix it yourself. Don't even think filler until the metal is back to 95-99% to original position.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ith-metal.html

 

I'm familiar, I have my own set of hammers.. but welding alone isn't gonna get that one back, and the more hammering you do the more paint you destroy. Not to mention hammering something out smooth is damn near impossible.

 

Since it will be covered by the cladding, I second (or third?) the POR-15.

 

POR-15 since it will be covered.

 

I did something similar on my Ex on a desert ride, but haven't touched it in 2 years. It's not rusting in spite of bare metal - is that sheet metal aluminum or very well treated steel?

 

You just live in socal, bring that truck to wisconsin and just drive threw the state once and then check for rust.

 

Agree, but even when i lived in Northern IL for years, the nicks and bumps through the paint didn't ever rust. Maybe my Ex is special...

I've driven through Beloit a few times, does that count?

 

I don't think people truly understand our pain. Driving in Northern Illinois will destroy any vehicle in time. Be it the road conditions or just the salt.