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I own a 2005 F-250, 5.4, 4x4, super cab, long bed with about 80,000 miles. I really like my truck and it is in fantastic condition. There's no rust on it, and aside from the typical little scratch here or little ding there, it doesn't really have any body damage.
Until...my friend backed into the driver's side quarter panel with his Subaru Forester. I want to get this truck fixed because I like it, it's in really good shape, and I plan on keeping it for as long as I possibly can.
My friend said to let him know "if it needs any work", which it most certainly will. So what do you guys think? Is it going to be best to not report to insurance and pay out of pocket? Are there a couple different ways this could be fixed? It doesn't need to be absolutely perfect, but I don't want it to look like it got hit either. Also, I don't want to stick my friend with a huge bill either.
Attached are some photos. I'd be interested to hear what any of your experiences have been in repairing or replacing this panel.
I've seen PDR (Paintless Dent Repair) specialists do some pretty amazing work... Google "Youtube PDR repair" and you'll be amazed...
They may well be able to do this for less than your deductible might be on insurance.
If you have a good relationship with your local dealer - ask them if they can recommend a PDR guy or check online for one in your area..
Because the paint isn't broken and there is good access to the dented panel from behind, it can most likely be pushed back out and look great for a very reasonable cost.
Any reputable body shop should be able to handle it. Go get a couple quotes then decide.
Maybe your buddy can go get a backup camera with the savings.
A few months after I brought my new 04' home from the dealer I screwed up the right rear fender some. I paid the $800 or so out of pocket to fix it. The shop hammered the dents/wrinkles out and repainted it. Couldn't tell after it was fixed that it was hit.
Your dent looks pretty big, I don't know if the paintless dent will work but I am no expert on it.
I had a very similar dent to the one like yours, I had a very knowledgeable shop look at it and said the whole bedside needed to be replaced. The bedside from Ford is 700$. I have a friend who works at a Ford dealership and he was able to find me one for 200$(box was damaged lol). I had a body shop replace it. It required the whole bed to be removed to do so. While they were under there they sandblasted and repainted the bedrails(a very common spot for rust) and the frame from the cab back. Total the cost was about 1500$. Just to give you an idea of what your looking at.
Very recently - April 2015 - I had same thing happen to me - a guy backed into the right rear quarter panel - just below the 4x4 decal. Was repaired by Ford - his insurance paid for it, total cost was $ 1154.00
Thank you for all your replies. Unfortunately, the paint is broken at one place and decently scratched at another. I added another photo to the album I posted that shows where a cross brace behind the fender popped some of the paint off because it was bent hard around it. Also, it's scratched decently in another area.
My truck is super dirty right now because I am on vacation in upstate New York with my family and we're staying back some dirt roads.
djm1204 - I've seen your truck on this forum before some place, and I really like it. I think black and red are a great combination, and for a simple regular cab, 4x4 truck, I think your configuration is great! Also, these trucks all need clearance lights on the cab, so I'm glad to see them there!
I got my estimate on getting my body work done. Its just under $1300 to go through insurance, or he'll do it for me for $1100 if I pay cash. He's going to work the dent out rather than replace the whole panel because the panels can be pretty expensive alone. He'll touch up other spots on the truck for free and is going to fix some rust that started on my driver's side back door. I'll be paying for that, but that's the only rust I have on the truck. I didn't think the estimate was too bad. Some of my friends, however, don't think it's worth it, but the thing has virtually no rust, low mileage, and is certainly not a beater truck!! I plan on keeping it as long as it financially makes sense.
Get it fixed - it's your truck and you are proud of it, if you don't get it fixed you will look at it every day and it will be a source of aggravation - get it fixed - you will feel better about it.
it is your truck, do what makes YOU happy, even tho my friends told me not to get my current truck (437,850 miles) I went with what ultimatly will make me happy which is buying the truck (even tho I now have a minor car note to pay) but its a bigger and better truck then what I had originally as far as matenence goes, this one is so far very trouble free and I hope it will remain as that for a long time so i too can do some body repairs to her!!
I got my estimate on getting my body work done. Its just under $1300 to go through insurance, or he'll do it for me for $1100 if I pay cash. He's going to work the dent out rather than replace the whole panel because the panels can be pretty expensive alone. He'll touch up other spots on the truck for free and is going to fix some rust that started on my driver's side back door. I'll be paying for that, but that's the only rust I have on the truck. I didn't think the estimate was too bad. Some of my friends, however, don't think it's worth it, but the thing has virtually no rust, low mileage, and is certainly not a beater truck!! I plan on keeping it as long as it financially makes sense.
With the extra work he's throwing in, the price seems reasonable. I'd get it done if it was my truck.
