Tailgate Damage - Suggestions?

[jdtaylor42]

Did something stupid today. Really stupid. Wish I could say my wife did it but it was me and I was all alone eep: :frusty:

I went mountain biking and I have a hitch mount bike rack. Leaving the dirt parking lot after biking I backed into a stinking tree! Couldn't see using the camera since it was mostly blocked with the bike and rack and the tree was just behind my left shoulder so I couldn't see it in my side mirror and I didn't notice it in my rear-view mirror.

Basically it pushed my bike into the tailgate and bent it pretty good. I am currently working on trying to bang the metal back out as best I can but it surely is still going to be VERY noticeable. This is how it sits now. I am just getting started banging it out best I can.

So what are my options you guys think?

1) I am sure buying a new/used lift-gate would cost a fortune but has anyone done this? Anyone know an approximate cost? I highly doubt I could find something like that at a junkyard so would surely have to be from Toyota :wof:

2) I will swing by my local body shop to see what they say on Monday but body shops always charge a ton and usually they want to replace metal rather than work it and smooth it

3) Are there any aftermarket swing-out bumpers that have the tire on the drivers side? Personally I am not a huge fan of the jerry can's on the bumper but I did have plans to eventually get a swing-out so maybe I could move those plans forward and just cover the damage? ound:

Man I am pissed. Small damage is inevitable off-roading but that is pretty big. To make matters worse I bent the wheel and the rear triangle frame on my bike. What a bummer man

 

[N/A]

Did something stupid today. Really stupid. Wish I could say my wife did it but it was me and I was all alone eep: :frusty:

I went mountain biking and I have a hitch mount bike rack. Leaving the dirt parking lot after biking I backed into a stinking tree! Couldn't see using the camera since it was mostly blocked with the bike and rack and the tree was just behind my left shoulder so I couldn't see it in my side mirror and I didn't notice it in my rear-view mirror.

Basically it pushed my bike into the tailgate and bent it pretty good. I am currently working on trying to bang the metal back out as best I can but it surely is still going to be VERY noticeable. This is how it sits now. I am just getting started banging it out best I can.

So what are my options you guys think?

1) I am sure buying a new/used lift-gate would cost a fortune but has anyone done this? Anyone know an approximate cost? I highly doubt I could find something like that at a junkyard so would surely have to be from Toyota :wof:

2) I will swing by my local body shop to see what they say on Monday but body shops always charge a ton and usually they want to replace metal rather than work it and smooth it

3) Are there any aftermarket swing-out bumpers that have the tire on the drivers side? Personally I am not a huge fan of the jerry can's on the bumper but I did have plans to eventually get a swing-out so maybe I could move those plans forward and just cover the damage? ound:

Man I am pissed. Small damage is inevitable off-roading but that is pretty big. To make matters worse I bent the wheel and the rear triangle frame on my bike. What a bummer man

That isn't as bad as you probably think it is, a lot of that will pop out. A body shop can fix that much cheaper then buying a new one. There are Dent Repair places (sometimes called paintless dent repair) that can work magic on dents by working the dents out. I have done a lot of body work in my day and I didnt belive the dent guys could really fix much until I let one guy prove me wrong. I was shocked how good a job they can do. You have some paint damage and what looks like a small crease so they wouldn't be able to get it perfect but I bet they can it it quite a bit better.

 

[renau001]

uggh, that stinks, hate that happened for you...

hmm, I had been carrying my road bike inside but just decided that I would use my hitch mount bike rack that I had spent all that money on a long time ago, may I should rethink.

 

[bloodninja]

I'm sure you've already thought of this, but make an insurance claim? I mean, that is what it's there for. Unless you have an insane collision deductible.

 

[daddyscar]

That sucks. If damage is isolated to the tailgate, then it will likely be about $1200-1500 to fix. Save insurance claims for bigger accidents. If you have to file another claim in the next couple years, your premium will go up.

 

[Racehoss]

Buy a pawn shop bike to permanently mount on your rack and you'll never notice it anymore. Done.

 

[barryhiram]

Those damn trees move so fast!

I hate when that happens, looks like there's a body shop in your future.

 

[Antman]

That blows. Paintless dent repair FTW- probably only cost you around $300 bucks or so though...

 

[e60ral]

You'll need more than a quick cheap paintless dent repair because of the crease at the license plate.


This will cost more than a deductible to fix, so go ahead and make a claim

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Stop trying to fix it. You will do more damage than good.

More to follow. Wanted to get that out to you ASAP.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

That isn't as bad as you probably think it is, a lot of that will pop out. A body shop can fix that much cheaper then buying a new one. There are Dent Repair places (sometimes called paintless dent repair) that can work magic on dents by working the dents out. I have done a lot of body work in my day and I didnt belive the dent guys could really fix much until I let one guy prove me wrong. I was shocked how good a job they can do. You have some paint damage and what looks like a small crease so they wouldn't be able to get it perfect but I bet they can it it quite a bit better.

Dude. That is NOT a paintless dent repair damage. Not even remotely close. PDR does NOT mean remove multiple 8" creases from your tailgate. Come on. Get real.

<Insert Shaking Head Icon Here>

 

[Slow]

Man That sucks..You need a new shell or just cover it up. PDR is not a option with this type of damage and though it could be repaired the labor on buckles that size will approach replacement not to mention the location of the buckles being tough and the filler that will be needed to smooth it out in the end i would want to avoid. Good Luck Man

 

[I'm Kevin]

Time for a gobi ladder and a roof rack! :boink:

 

[jdtaylor42]

Yeah I think this is beyond paintless dent repair since there are so many different angles in this area. I am going to stop by the body shop tomorrow to see what they say but I think an insurance claim with a replacement may be in my future.

 

[acolle]

Luke over at 4x4 Labs makes a rear bumper that will relocate your spare RIGHT ON TOP OF THAT! I say you call Luke.

 

[K9trainer]

I know it sounds crazy, and if you have never seen a good PDR guy at work you won't believe it, but they can really do some amazing magic. Don't start banging on it though, you'll just make the repair worse.

 

[N/A]

Dude. That is NOT a paintless dent repair damage. Not even remotely close. PDR does NOT mean remove multiple 8" creases from your tailgate. Come on. Get real.

<Insert Shaking Head Icon Here>

Apparently in your rush to criticize, you skipped this part. "You have some paint damage and what looks like a small crease so they wouldn't be able to get it perfect but I bet they can it it quite a bit better."

So if you need me to elaborate, which I guess you do, that meant PDR wont fix PAINT, nor will it fix CREASES. I looked at the pic on my phone and could only see one definite crease. But I assumed any logical person would assume if they cant fix one crease they can't fix more.

I for the record have actually seen creases removed by it, but I wouldn't say that is common. Maybe your PDR guy isn't very good

 

[N/A]

For the record, I only said PDR would get it a lot better, NOT perfect. Given the OP said he was considering a swing out tire carrier to cover it up, I was assuming he wasn't looking for a show car like appearance.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Apparently in your rush to criticize, you skipped this part. "You have some paint damage and what looks like a small crease so they wouldn't be able to get it perfect but I bet they can it it quite a bit better."

So if you need me to elaborate, which I guess you do, that meant PDR wont fix PAINT, nor will it fix CREASES. I looked at the pic on my phone and could only see one definite crease. But I assumed any logical person would assume if they cant fix one crease they can't fix more.

I for the record have actually seen creases removed by it, but I wouldn't say that is common. Maybe your PDR guy isn't very good

Now don't get all butt hurt over it my friend.

PDR is meant for things like door dings and hail damage. Not collision work. That is collision repair.

I could take a hammer to it and slap 15 lbs of Bondo on it and spray it with a can of shake and shoot and make it look "better". Better does not equate to right. ;-)

 

[Engineer]

Interesting, looks like you have some shopping to do.

If you are a "must be perfect" kind of guy then just take it to body shops to get quotes to repair back to new and then decide if you want to get insurance involved. If you are ok with 80-90% get a PDR professional to look at it and make the evaluation of how much they can repair for what costs and see if it makes sense to go that route.

If you don't want insurance involved and the cheapest body shop is $1500 and the PDR is $300 I would likely go with the PDR. However I have a softball size dent that I have no intentions of getting fixed, so it depends on what you are comfy with.

P.S. If talk to a PDR guy let us know what they say. I have seen some videos of the work but never 1st hand.