So my new 450 got t-boned by a deer a few hours ago. Not real happy and neither were my kids but we brought it home and salvaged what we could. We home school them so we considered their science lesson for the day! Anyway, how do they fix these Aluminum trucks? I just have drivers door damage. Will the replace the whole door?

 

They don’t pull dents on these aluminum body panels like they do on steel. Be patient with the way part supplies are these days.

 

door will be replaced...my concern is how well they will match the color. Metalics are difficult to match due to sprayed at the factory cant be duplicated in a shop. Gun pressures and direction of paint applied. I can always see when a vehicle has been repainted. pick it up in full sunlight. look at it in multiple angles, you will see its off slightly ( sorry for sounding negative )

Good news is everyone is safe.

 

Ya I know they can't pull them. On a steel door I figure they'd reskin it. Don't think they do that on these trucks though?

 

I thought about that. My Dad had an Abyss Gray F150, someone hit him a few months back. They did a really good job matching it, it's a tri-coat I believe. May take mine to the same place.

 

They can pull them, they have to heat it up first it's a different process. A dumpster smashed my door in a storm last year, can't tell it ever happened. I took it to a guy that works on high-end cars under recommendation of a friend.

 

Search your area for a Paintless dent repair guy. I had a dent on my aluminum hood and local guy removed it where you can’t ever tell.

 

The paint is broken where it bent so either way it would need painted. Good to know they can work out dents though.

 

I would try to get a whole used door in the same color.

 

Unfortunately I have had several cars painted after people hit me and all but one was a perfect match. I had a 92 Ranger in bright green metallic that was painted twice and had a Leer cap painted to match and you couldn't tell it wasn't all factory. The only car that didn't match fully and then only in bright sun, was a burgundy metallic Saturn. The door was repainted and most people would never know but I could tell.

Good luck on the repair and report your results back.

 

I recently had some hail damage repairs on my truck. I learned quite a bit.

Aluminum dents can be pulled out, although the process isn't the same as steel. Steel panels have memory, aluminum panels do not. Not all dent wizard dudes can work aluminum bodies.

Doors can easily be re-skinned if there is no underlying structural damage.

Just make sure the bodyshop you use is certified for aluminum repairs. Mine went to the dealership, who has their own on-site body shop. Not only are they experienced in aluminum repairs, but they have direct access to all those pesky trim parts.

As for paint, that's between you and the shop. Carefully inspect the work before you sign anything or pay for anything. Accept nothing less than perfection.

 

You were lucky. About a year ago, I had a deer run into the side of my truck. It took out the entire side.

 

Got an estimate of $2632. That's to replace the entire door and paint, etc.. These guys do good work, they also restore vintage automobiles so they are particular. He told me they can reskin aluminum doors but they prefer not too. My inner door is bowed so the whole thing is getting replaced. This morning I found hair between my tire and rim so I'm guessing it hit my wheel and then got my door. Surprisingly the meat was all salvageable, I figured it would have been pretty tore up.

 

At least you got some food out of the deal.

 

Got the 450 back from the body shop today. I was expecting the door and emblems to be on backorder but they were able to get them all within a few days. This place restores antiques cars also so they are very particular and offer a lifetime warranty on their paint.