Body
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New User
Joined: Feb 2008
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Body
Ok I screwed up and backed the Jeep into the side of my truck. Basically I punched a dent into my rear panel. It hit right about where the 4x4 sticker is at....
I over-reacted and thought I could (pop) push it out. At first I did a fine job with my hand popping out the dent down low.
Here is where it got worse. I decided I needed something longer to reach the higher section which is blocked by the truck bed. So I climbed underneath and with a bar tried to pop out the other small dent. Well turns out I dented it more from the outside in...
Now what? Should I just get a new body panel? Should I take it in and have someone fix it?
What would you fellas do?
I over-reacted and thought I could (pop) push it out. At first I did a fine job with my hand popping out the dent down low.
Here is where it got worse. I decided I needed something longer to reach the higher section which is blocked by the truck bed. So I climbed underneath and with a bar tried to pop out the other small dent. Well turns out I dented it more from the outside in...
Now what? Should I just get a new body panel? Should I take it in and have someone fix it?
What would you fellas do?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
Hard to say without pictures, or being able to examine it in person, but I will say that those large relatively flat panels can be real hard to get straight unless you know what you're doing - damage to them tends to stretch the metal, can make it a real PIA to get it back right...
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New User
Joined: Feb 2008
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Panel dents
At least it was only the mirror that did minor damage. Had I kept moving I might have ripped the sides of both vehicles up. So it could have been alot worse and I should be thankful that I stopped soon enough not to cause more damage.
It just pissed me off that I tried popping it out and cause more damage. Guess I was putting more pressure than I thought. Also did not think that a small bar could cause more damage.
So this afternoon I punched the highest one and it popped back into place. I think the only way to really fix it is to take off the panel. Because there is no way to get my hands up in there as the truck bed is in the way.
Maybe I should just check out how much a new rear panel (shortbed) would run me. Has anyone replaced one lately?
It just pissed me off that I tried popping it out and cause more damage. Guess I was putting more pressure than I thought. Also did not think that a small bar could cause more damage.
So this afternoon I punched the highest one and it popped back into place. I think the only way to really fix it is to take off the panel. Because there is no way to get my hands up in there as the truck bed is in the way.
Maybe I should just check out how much a new rear panel (shortbed) would run me. Has anyone replaced one lately?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 3
From: WARRINGTON, PA
i guarentee you that its gonna cost alot more to have a new panel put onto the bed than it would cost to just fix it at a body shop. and you wont be ablt to install a new panel anyway. and, you will have to have it painted too.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 97
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From: Sammamish, WA / U.S. VI
How about PDR (paintless dent removal)? If you have a good relationship with the sales department of your local Ford dealer they will sometimes help you out with WHOLESALE PDR pricing. I've seen/had dents removed for around $40-$60 in the past. I recently had to pay retail to get a dent removed from a Volvo and it cost me $260!!
Worst case scenario is the body shop but I would suggest calling your local dealer to see what day their PDR guy comes in and whether they can help you out (they usually have PDR guys come in to fix new cars that arrive damaged or get hit while on the lot.)
Worst case scenario is the body shop but I would suggest calling your local dealer to see what day their PDR guy comes in and whether they can help you out (they usually have PDR guys come in to fix new cars that arrive damaged or get hit while on the lot.)
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,946
Likes: 62
From: in the woods of MA
Replacing the panel is NOT a bolt-on option, there's a fair amount of body work required to do that. That may still have to be done, but don't get the idea that's less work. All the seams are welded, plus panels that size never seem to make it through the shipping process without sustaining some minor damage, so those have to be fixed as well. And of course ti all has to be re-painted anyway. Access to the back doesn't have to be great to do the fix... At least go get a couple estimates - repair and replace so you know what you're up against...
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 951
Likes: 20
From: SW Indiana melon fields.
Have you checked with your insurance company? I have a friend who broke his own windshield trying to remove the mirror bracket he had glued on upside down. He told them the truth, that he had done it, and they said it didn't matter, it was still covered.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 268
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Without pictures it is hard to comment but most bodyshops have methods of repairing dents without panel replacement. I use a stud welding gun to remove many of the dents on my classic cars. It does a fine job getting the panels straight enough that a light skin coat of bondo makes up the difference.
Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 96
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From: northport NY
There's a truck body sales place near here that puts commercial bodies on new trucks for dealers- you know, dumps, flatbeds, utility bodies etc. They have takeoff pickup bodies sometimes. I got a fax from them by accident once and they were sending one out for $600. ( Now I feel like a spy.) It's worth a try since you can still drive the truck, even if you can't find the same color and have to paint it.
