Idiot. How much to fix truck bed?

[mlewis73]

Well, it was dark and I was trying to hook up to my trailer to test the brake controller. Didn't realize that the dadgummed lock on my gooseneck trailer was sitting so low, and hit the rear of the truck bed against the lock (tailgate is always removed from the truck. ) Put a nice dent in my 2 month old Ram.



Wouldn't be such a big deal except the truck is brand new, and the dent may interfere with closing the tailgate on those occasions where I have it installed.



Any ideas how much it would cost to have Dodge replace that metal piece and repaint?



Damn the luck.





Mike

 

[DOWG]

I had my tailgate down while backing up and the crank on the trailer jack put a pretty good sized dent in the "top" of the tail gate.



$500 bucks after bondo, paint etc.



A little dent cost about as much as big dent to fix; it's just labor... ... ... ... .

 

[ScottLewis]

I bent the top of the bed on my '98 and took it to a body shop for estimate. It is California so deduct whatever you think that surcharge would be. Anyway, they said that the entire section would have to be cut out and replaced, to the tune of $5K. After I woke up, I bought some Bondo and paint and fixed it myself. Not quite as good as new but good enough.



Dan

 

[PCowan]

One of my buddy's dented the top of his tailgate, and didn't know it until after he removed the over-the-rail tailgate cap (plastic, didn't show the dent)

and for 29. 00 put on a SS tailgate protector. Covered it nicely, and doesnt show any sign of a dent...

 

[mlewis73]

That's what I was afraid of. The tailgate is off on the floor sitting in my house... the dent was on the top of the bed itself.



Guess I'll live with it... Might take out the sledgehammer tonight and do some adjusting in other places just to get used to the idea of a dented bed... and will forget the idea of a spray-in bedliner.





Grrr... .

 

[Bertram65]

Sometimes you can find a take off bed on eBay, if you got lucky on color you would be all set, your bed is still probably worth quite a bit even with the dent so you could probably sell it and recoup most of the cost. Not positive but I think all 3rd gen beds from '03 on are identical.

 

[Hoefler]

Find a local flatbed or utility bed retailer, they usually have a stack of beds that they take off trucks. Also check with your utility companies, as well.

 

[rashwor]

I put a small crease in my tailgate backing up to a gooseneck and bumped the hack. The '05 was about 2 months old. Sick feeling. At about 12 months, I cracked the lower front porting of the left fiberglass fender on the rear duals with a limb in the road that I could not dodge or strattle.



Gives the truck character and shows she ain't no sissy town truck! She's gotta work for a living! If I work, my truck works.

 

[mlewis73]

Thanks, guys. I don't really care to have the bed repaired PERFECTLY, so hope to save some money there. Would be happy if it could just be hammered out so that it is "good enough. " No paint needed--spray in bedliner going in. Just want it reasonably straight.



We'll see what the South Carolina Good Ol Boy Network can hook me up with tomorrow... taking it in for an estimate and will let them know it doesn't have to be showroom perfect.





Mike

 

[Troll]

What about those 'paintless dent removal' guys, I have seen them take out some pretty nasty dents and the vehicles looked perfect when they were done. They are generally pretty reasonable in price.

 

[JimB1]

If you're just looking for mostly straight metal which gets spray-on liner top cover then repair cost goes way way down. Jim.

 

[mlewis73]

Troll, not sure this is paintless dent removal type stuff. This section of the truck bed is pretty doggone stout sheet metal, and unbending will be tough because it is near a factory bend in the sheet. We'll see what the body man says tomorrow.

 

[Troll]

Yea, you are probably right, but calling and asking one(a PDR guy) if they can do it, is free. I do feel your pain though, I hate the first dent in a new vehicle. Good luck.

 

[mlewis73]

Okay, guys. I had the truck fixed today. Simply, purely, AMAZING.



Plug for locally owned shop: Pro-Glo in Sumter, SC did a fantastic job!



I discussed how the job would be done prior to agreeing to let them touch the truck. They braze on "lugs" of some sort that allow them to "pull" the metal to remove the dent. I don't know how on earth they were able to do such a great job, but I cannot tell the truck has EVER had a dent. The part was not replaced with another one. No Bondo was used. No metal fabbing or cutting of any sort was done to the truck. Instead, I have a dent repair that looks like nothing ever happened, aside from some rustproofing underneath the truck to cover where some of the factory rustproofing peeled off. Paint was a perfect match in color (white) and there's a bit of buildup at the seam between the previously dented piece and the flat part of the bed. Once the bedliner is sprayed that won't be evident.



Anyhow... I'm really impressed. The truck is good as new. Makes me wonder if accidents ever happen prior to delivery that a body shop is able to repair, allowing a truck to be sold as new. Absolutely seamless work.





Mike