Repairing Body Damage On 08 Sierra?

[timmerk]

I smashed the rear end of the side of my truck (around the Z71 sticker) and part of the wheel well. The paint was removed in some sections and bare metal is showing. I went to a few places to get quotes and they gave me different stories. One guy said it would be better if he could pop out the large dents (large being 1.5ft x 2ft) and repainting instead of doing a whole side panel replacement and the other guys said it would be better to do the side panel replacement and blending in the whole side of the car (doors all all).

 

What do you guys recommend? If I did the side panel replacement, they would be cutting and welding and removing the whole box off the frame. They claim is would be good as new and I couldn't tell, but I'm concerned that this large of a job would cause problems.

 

I've included a stock photo with where the dents are as I don't have a digital camera.

 

(The red lines show the edges of where the metal is smashed in and the green line is where the paint is gone)

[MS3DALE]

Well without actually seeing the damage its hard to give my opinion but.....If the dents are not too deep,and the guy can pop most of them out to where there would be very little filler used I would say go for that.

If not then panel replacement would be my choice.

BTW....How deep are the dents?

[GMAnimal]

Impossible to tell without a couple of different angles to look at.

[timmerk]

I would say 4-5 inches deep at the worse, and 2-3in avg.

[jrrod2004]

I would say 4-5 inches deep at the worse, and 2-3in avg.

 

 

panel replacement

 

(and that is coming from an insurance agent)

[dmax0305]

Panel. Done right you cant tell unless you do it for a living. You want to avoid body filler in a bed side especially in the center where people lean against it the most. Metal can flex a lot right there.

[007Poke]

I would say 4-5 inches deep at the worse, and 2-3in avg.

 

27 years in the biz - panel replacement.

[tobias]

Zero years in the biz and not an insurance agent. Panel replacement.

[MS3DALE]

Yep,With the dents being that deep....Panel replacement for sure,I wouldn't even think about fixing it.

[Chris's 07]

I had the same ting happen to me on the pass side and it was right on the body line for the wheel well and i got the whole bed side replaced.

[jrrod2004]

do it though your insurance and demand a lifetime guarantee

[HawkeyeOC]

Mine was popped out but it wasn't as deep or as extensive as yours. Yours looks more like a panel replacement.

[iscsidude]

Another option is to stop hitting things.

I've found it's a lot cheaper that way.

 

Leaves lots more money for mods.

 

Having said this, I will likely go out and find a telephone pole tomorrow.

[2000DV4.8]

Psh, just slap some bondo on there, it'll be fine.

 

Definitely sounds like panel replacement to me. How'd you get a dent that deep back there, jackknifed trailer?

[timmerk]

Psh, just slap some bondo on there, it'll be fine.

 

Definitely sounds like panel replacement to me. How'd you get a dent that deep back there, jackknifed trailer?

 

Exactly! It was my first time ever hauling a trailer, and I didn't make a wide enough turn to get out of the place I was in and had to put it in reverse. I didn't even notice that it was smashing the side of my truck! It's like tin foil