Both body shops I have been to told me this cannot be repaired due to the body lines. Quote for replacement, painted and installed is $1000.

 

Any competent shop should be able to fix that without replacing it.
Seems to me like most of the line would come back if they used a stud welder and pulled it out.

 

Shop around. My 2008 F-150 that I just got has 2 small dings on each rear wheel. The whole side of the truck has to be re-cleared. I got 2 quotes from reputable body shops.........one was $971......the other $475.......guess which one I am goin to???

 

I guess I should have taken pictures, because my damage was much worse than shown in your pic. Picture a trailer hitch coming loose and denting and scraping from the bottom of the tailgate to 7" up, to that indent you have in your pic. (Please don't ask).

I also had dings on the left end and right end of the tailgate. Reminder to self: do not put a screwdriver or the Rhino keys on the bumper and lower the tailgate, dummy.

Anyway, they made it like new, and I have the 3 coat metallic paint, which costs extra. My estimates were $975, $547, and $500. The $547 estimate is 10 minutes away, and they looked like a first-class body shop, so I went with them for the convenience.

 

Go to a different bodyshop. That's ridiculous. A bodyline actually HELPS a repair because it adds strength and stability to the panel. This is VERY fixable. I doubt the dealer will drop the price $1000. They can fix it for less than that and not lose it on the sale but I would def. negotiate a discount into the deal.

 

Update:


I had the tailgate repaired at a local shop for $550.


Looks perfect!


JD

 

It does have backup sensors. that's what those black circles are on the bumper.

 

I highly doubt someone backed into anything with that damage. Its pretty obvious there was something sitting on the rear bumper and the tailgate was lowered on to it.

Nice job on getting it fixed for $550!