I need bodywork advice

[roadshow]

Last week this happened
I had one well known body shop near me tell me they can't repair it. They want $3200 Canadian to replace the entire panel. I'm going to another respectable shop Monday who told me on the phone they can repair it to look like new for around $800. But now I'm worried because the first shop is claiming there's no way I'll get another shop to repair it so well that I can't tell there was ever damage there. And that's what I want: To erase the memory of me ever damaging my truck because I've only owned it for 1 year and I'm so ******* pissed right off it's driving me crazy. Before you ask, no this will not be claimed under insurance. It'll be out of pocket. So that's my question: Can this be repaired to look like it never happened or is that shop full of **** and just want to charge me for a whole new panel? I'm guessing I'll have to have the entire panel repainted along with clear coat either way. FML.

 

[Hemi395]

Hard to tell how deep that is from the picture, but I don't see the need to replace the entire bedside for that. I know bodywork isn't cheap but $3200 is absurd. $800 sounds more reasonable.

 

[2014moparam]

Honestly, the BEST way to repair that, is to replace the entire panel.. It's right near a body line, and the amount of labor time it would take to repair that and make it look 100% perfect would be insane.

I'm not sure how the exchange rate is now, but I can almost guarantee you that if it's close to the USD, $800 is for basement level work... I would estimate between labor(remove the entire bed, replace the panel, paint and blend into the rear door, and clear... $2-3000

 

[RamRMK]

Based on the photo it is repairable. The good thing about our bedsides is the lack of complex body lines. You will likely need to factor in replacing the bed rail protector as they usually break when removed for paint. Make sure the shop plans on removing and installing the tail lamp, rear bumper and any other trim in the quote. If they only mask or tape it off you will get clear coat peel down the road and may get overspray. As far as pricing curious on the hourly labor rate they are charging on the $800 figure.


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[roadshow]

Honestly, the BEST way to repair that, is to replace the entire panel.. It's right near a body line, and the amount of labor time it would take to repair that and make it look 100% perfect would be insane.

I'm not sure how the exchange rate is now, but I can almost guarantee you that if it's close to the USD, $800 is for basement level work... I would estimate between labor(remove the entire bed, replace the panel, paint and blend into the rear door, and clear... $2-3000

goddamit... I know you're in the USA so different rules but I'm really leery of making a claim for this. I already have an at-fault claim on my file from 2 years ago on another vehicle. They'll probably raise my rates for 6 years and end up costing me more than $3200.... sigh.

 

[RamRMK]

I agree $800 even for a repair seems really low....


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[roadshow]

Based on the photo it is repairable. The good thing about our bedsides is the lack of complex body lines. You will likely need to factor in replacing the bed rail protector as they usually break when removed for paint. Make sure the shop plans on removing and installing the tail lamp, rear bumper and any other trim in the quote. If they only mask or tape it off you will get clear coat peel down the road and may get overspray. As far as pricing curious on the hourly labor rate they are charging on the $800 figure.


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Thanks, yeah I was already told that bed rail protector will have to be replaced.

 

[roadshow]

If I'm going to be looking at 2-3 thousand bucks I'm almost tempted to just slap a vinyl graphic over it for $200 like this.
2009-2016 Dodge Ram RAGE Solid Color Truck Bed 3M Vinyl Graphics Decals Stripes | eBay

 

[sbarron]

I agree that near the body line repair becomes problematic. Then the best thing to do would be to respray the whole panel, (MUCH easier than trying to blend). The bed rail cap would be replaced as the tabs usually break when they are removed, (sometimes you can get lucky, but it will always be quoted as a replacement - it's also far, FAR easier and quicker for the body shop to just yank them off, not being worried about broken tabs, than fiddling and fussing, trying to save them). $3000 sounds right in the ballpark, $800 sounds like smearing some bondo and a small respray.

Also remember that in this day and age, metal-work is a dying craft and in addition to that, the metal on these trucks is so light gauge that it's difficult to work with. Personally I wouldn't bat an eye about replacement rather than repair.

Good luck. I know from personal experience it sucks to have your baby dented...

PS - I know that 3g's is a lot of coin, but I'd consider paying it out-of-pocket especially if I already had a claim in with my insurance.

 

[roadshow]

I agree that near the body line repair becomes problematic. Then the best thing to do would be to respray the whole panel, (MUCH easier than trying to blend). The bed rail cap would be replaced as the tabs usually break when they are removed, (sometimes you can get lucky, but it will always be quoted as a replacement - it's also far, FAR easier and quicker for the body shop to just yank them off, not being worried about broken tabs, than fiddling and fussing, trying to save them). $3000 sounds right in the ballpark, $800 sounds like smearing some bondo and a small respray.

Also remember that in this day and age, metal-work is a dying craft and in addition to that, the metal on these trucks is so light gauge that it's difficult to work with. Personally I wouldn't bat an eye about replacement rather than repair.

Good luck. I know from personal experience it sucks to have your baby dented...

PS - I know that 3g's is a lot of coin, but I'd consider paying it out-of-pocket especially if I already had a claim in with my insurance.

What if I had a good vinyl graphics shop just cover it with a nice graphic...? I might be tempted to leave the dent if it's disguised. It's a long dent but it's shallow so might be doable?

 

[RamRMK]

Cant really tell in photos but if paint is cracked or any bare metal it will rust even with vinyl on it...


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[sbarron]

What if I had a good vinyl graphics shop just cover it with a nice graphic...? I might be tempted to leave the dent if it's disguised. It's a long dent but it's shallow so might be doable?

All depends on what you can live with. My OCD would be pinging hardcore every time I thought about it, looked at it, drove it, walked past it... lol

Also like mentioned above, you'd want to make damn sure none of the coatings, (on either side of the panel), were compromised. Maybe run the decal short term and decide if it's something you can live with. If you hate it, nothing lost but the cost of a little vinyl....

 

[Netman66]

You know, looking at that I would almost be tempted to say a paintless dent removal shop should be able to get most of that out. It may require some paint, but you should at least make the call to see. Some of these guys do amazing work.

Can't hurt to ask.

 

[DannyMK2]

You know, looking at that I would almost be tempted to say a paintless dent removal shop should be able to get most of that out. It may require some paint, but you should at least make the call to see. Some of these guys do amazing work.

Can't hurt to ask.

you cant PDR a dent on or close to a body line. $800 isn't enough to fix that. $3200 seems high, but he is correct in the fact that the panel needs to be replaced to correctly repair it. pulling that dent is going to require a lot of time and skill to get it looking like nothing happened. it may be cheaper to buy a used bed an have it pained and put on. probably not what you wanted to hear...

 

[AustinB]

Hey man. I worked in a body shop for many years, in my younger days. This guy was a cheap ass and refused to replace anything unless it was absolutely necessary. That dent can be fixed and look like it never happened. I'm 100% sure I could fix that in about 4 hours! Not including paint. It takes some skill and bondo. The expensive shops almost replace everything if it has a hole larger than a quarter that their dent puller wont fix. I think anywhere from $600-$1000 usd is to be expected.


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[Magna]

I would tend to agree with AustinB...I've done my share of body work over the past 30 years and that should be repairable with about 4-6 hours of labor, not including prep & paint.


This signature is AWESOME!!!

 

[roadshow]

It's the "like it never happened" part that ended up making me just go ahead and eat the $3200.
This damage runs across 2 body lines, unluckily for me. Let's say for arguments sake that there are a few bodywork wizards out near me that could pull it off. The problem is that I would have to take a risk because I'm not going to KNOW they can do it until the bill is due.
The shop I'm going to is known to me and I know firsthand that their work was impeccable on my last repair. I just want this nightmare behind me. I'm getting F-ing hammered this year. Also have a $5000 window replacement and another few thousand for roofing replacement. God help the family member in my house who whispers the word "vacation" in my house. God help them.

 

[AustinB]

It's the "like it never happened" part that ended up making me just go ahead and eat the $3200.
This damage runs across 2 body lines, unluckily for me. Let's say for arguments sake that there are a few bodywork wizards out near me that could pull it off. The problem is that I would have to take a risk because I'm not going to KNOW they can do it until the bill is due.

I don't know about up there. But here in America we don't pay for ****** work and just accept it. If it's not to your standards, how they say it will turn out... Then that's their loss.


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[AustinB]

I'm looking at the picture.... You only have 1 "body line" on the bed. So for it to be passing through "2", I don't understand!? Maybe you mean through the same one twice? Either way, it doesn't matter. I could do it, and so could others. From the view you posted, it doesn't even look like it touches the body line.. Just skimming over it.


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[roadshow]

I'm looking at the picture.... You only have 1 "body line" on the bed. So for it to be passing through "2", I don't understand!? Maybe you mean through the same one twice? Either way, it doesn't matter. I could do it, and so could others. From the view you posted, it doesn't even look like it touches the body line.. Just skimming over it.


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It may not be showing well in this photo but look closer at an undamaged 6' 2012 RAM bed, there's actually 2 lines near the front of the bed that taper off towards the rear. This damage has dented out the top one near the front and dented across the bottom towards the rear.
But even if as you said it's doable, I do not personally know a shop that I know without a shred of doubt can fix it so well it never happened. Not willing to take a leap of faith, I'm far, far too angry to endure another setback.