I had the truck halfway out of the garage to replace the rear pads. The other half came home and hit the garage door button... CRUNCH! Now there's a 1" wide dent where the garage door handle made contact and a hefty paint chip.

Any ideas on what to do? Take it to a body shop or call the insurance company? Touch it up, suck it up and deal with it?

Recommendations, please!

Thanks!

 

Where's the pics?

I think I would go to a body shop fist and get an estimate prior to calling the insurance co. Might be cheaper in the long run just to pay for it your self.. By the time you figure in deductibles and possible rate hikes

 

Did it crush the bed rails? if so I would have the dent smoothed out and have the bed Line-X'd.

 

If it's on top of the bed rails possibly a set of aluminum or plastic bed rail protectors can cover it up.
BTW, I use a towel to cover the electronic eye on the garage opener for when the vehicles is hanging half way out for maintenance. Because that almost happen to me once.

MikeyB

 

Thanks, folks. Pictures coming as soon as I find the camera. The damage is to the roof, right behind the windshield.

I think I'll start using the towel idea.

 

I wanna see pictures of the wife after she did it...

 

Camera is still at large, so I'm taking one home from work tonight. Should have found it before I posted

I don't have an ACTUAL shot, but it looked a lot like this:

 

Pics as promised. They don't show the dent very well, but imagine lightly taking a cold chisel to the roof.. it's about .020" deep.

 

Id live with it.

 

Seems like if you turn it into the insurance company you'll have them increase your rates by more than the cost of the damage. I'd just take it to the body shop and get an estimate. That will tell you if it is worth paying for or just getting a bottle of touch up paint to prevent rusting.

 

Option B:

What kind of accessories can you cover it up with?

 

If it's on top of the roof can you see it standing on the ground?

MikeyB

 

Thanks for the replies. Not going to turn it in to insurance. Like you said, would probably cost more in the long run. You can see it from the ground; it's right behind the windshield.

Never thought of that... anyone know where I can get a template for clearance lights? If I'm lucky, maybe a light would cover it. This might be the excuse I need to buy a set.

 

How about one of those windshield visors with the built in clearance lights.

MikeyB

 

Try the dry ice trick and see if the dent pulls out some. Then touch up paint. My ex backed her jeep into a pole once. I took it to one of those dent repair places and he was able to get the dent out. It was on the side right next to the tail light. I didn't think he'd be able but, he got it out. Was something like $250.