Scratched rear hatch advice?

[RoadWarrior]

I scratched my 4Runner hatch on the hanging metallic garage door part, I was unloading some gear and I guess the weight was shifting around unaware that the hatch was getting scratched up, I kinda panicked and ordered matching Magnetic Gray Metallic 1G3 touch up 1/2 oz bottle and clear coat from a company called automotivetouchup, Hoping this will give me the right tools to tackle the job, I've never touched up paint before, to me it doesn't look to imposing but hell why not ask for some advice here ha!

 

[Space King]

Honestly? Unless you're good at wet sanding and your feathering technique is on point... you're going to end up with a blob of paint that looks a like a 5yr old put it on with one of her mom's fingernail polish brushes.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Lol I'll do my best

 

[Dillusion]

Use a toothpick when applying I find it helps with the blobs a bit.

The brush just holds way too much paint.

 

[macscac]

put a sticker on it and call it a day

 

[t6pilot]

How deep is scratch?
Gardner’s put a door scratch in my silver runner
Detail shop wanted to repaint door think $$$$
Body shop buffed it out for $100, can’t tell it was there
I’ve learned to use pipe insulation foam on anything that might scratch or bump heads in garage

 

[RoadWarrior]

Use a toothpick when applying I find it helps with the blobs a bit.

The brush just holds way too much paint.

Thanks for the really good advice!

 

[mcat707]

I have that problem with my garage door too. It scratches the PlastiDipped “4Runner” emblems on the rear cargo hatch. I had to redo the Plasti Dip so now I’m more carefully when leaving the hatch up in the garage. I also got a good deal on new set of OEM black overlays for all the emblems on the vehicle. If my garage scratches the rear emblems again, then those black overlays are going on.

 

[KKD989]

How deep is scratch?
Gardner’s put a door scratch in my silver runner
Detail shop wanted to repaint door think $$$$
Body shop buffed it out for $100, can’t tell it was there
I’ve learned to use pipe insulation foam on anything that might scratch or bump heads in garage

+1 on foam pipe insulation

 

[Dillusion]

Glue some pool noodles around the hinges.

 

[CharlesNellis]

Put a 3 inch strip of plastidip on the entire bottom lip!

 

[cb1111]

I've had very good luck with Drcolorchip. Not perfect, but with a bit of patience, not half bad.

 

[08TxRunner]

For such a nice truck, I'd bring it to a shop and pay a couple hundred bucks to make it look perfect.

 

[Bergz]

Maybe try to find a "mobile paint repair" shop in your area. We have a few in CO and they'll come to you with a truck full of every paint color under the sun. They can air brush (or whatever they do) most any scratches out in less than an hour. I think I paid $85 a couple years ago and when finished, I couldn't even tell there was ever a scratch...

 

[16RedRunner]

You should have bought the micro dabbers from them they work great! Their touch up paint is top quality way better than the factory touch up paint for sure. They are my go to for any touch up paint!

 

[Cody1060]

It's too bad there isn't a way to limit the travel of the gas shock. I have the same problem on our 2020, it hits the garage door if you don't hang onto the hatch.

 

[scionicboom]

Get a new truck, it's ruined. Touch up paint is more noticeable than leaving it alone sometimes because of how blotchy it comes out. I find that doing it very slowing with a toothpick works the best. It took me forever last time because I literally dotted it with the tip of the toothpick very slowly. Looks okay, but still noticeable.

 

[WRM1]

Kind of makes me glad we can't get a car in our garage, and have to unload on the driveway. Although, with a 2010 TE, I have enough other scratches this wouldn't bother me, plus there's the whole tire blowout ripped off the mudflap thing I have going on.

Seriously, take the advice above, and also look for a YouTube video on how to do this. Done reasonably well, it won't be noticeable. Done wrong, and your eyes will be drawn to it every time you look at the hatch, even though it's very small.

 

[Bergz]

Somewhere on here a member made a "limit strap" for the rear hatch so it wouldn't open all the way and interfere with a Batwing Awning. Same principle for the garage door. I looked at doing it myself but decided on just using pipe insulation on the parts of the garage door that would hit the hatch when open.

 

[Jivewalker]

i cut up a pool noodle into a short section, put a slit in it, and sllid it over the part of the garage door that always hits the hatch. I keep the other half in the back so I can use is to wedge between at other locations , like the parking garage i park in for work.