alsatropine

iTrader: (2)

My boss skimmed a mailbox on mine. He knocked it out with a hammer and bondo it and it looks like nothing ever happened. Just remember to slap good paint on it. I had to respray mine cause the bondo bled through the paint. I think he was just in a hurry though. He was a body man for years...

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

As you can see by the numerous answers you've gotten, there are many variables to fixing this. But basically it all boils down to your budget, or how well you want this done.

Coincidentally, I'm working on a bedside right now. We replaced it because the owner was not happy with the Mom and pop body shop down the street. They just Bondo'd the bedside.

To do it right? New panel. Replace the bedside. Simple as that. Many shops today have compression welders now, that perfectly match factory welds. And your bedside will basically be as perfect as it was before. Even if the shop doesn't have a compression welder, you will have so few welds it shouldn't be a worry. As someone mentioned before, most of the bedside will be bonded on. And as someone mentioned before there still will be a little mud (Bondo), sure there will be...but would you rather have 2-3 small spots in hidden areas? Or one huge spot in the middle of a flat panel?


Here is an example...i apologize as this is a 2012 Toyota tundra, haha!



Pics of the welded spots. As you can see, they are minimal.







You could go the hammer and mud it route as well. I'm not saying this will not look nice...I'm saying its more of a gamble. Some body men, are better than others. And while some may get it looking perfect, some may not. And 3 months down the road you'll have sand scratch swell.

Basically it all depends on your budget as i mentioned before. And the only/best way to determine that is to shop around, shop to shop.

bobkyle2

If you plan on selling it, Why not go the cheapest route?

The customer you sell your truck too, is not going to know the difference.

Especial86

iTrader: (1)

I would just get a new bed and bolt it on yourself..
Call your local work body conversion facility, and check Craigslist. Then get a quote for paint from your body shop of choice. The bed can likely be had for around $500 in good shape, even with a tailgate! The paint will be another $500 to $700, and anything thing else that needs touching up on the truck should also be rolled into the cost of paint...

I'm not a big fan of bondo and massive dent pulling myself. Usually if you look hard enough you can tell it was repaired...

Melbeachmoose20

User-One is right. Someone backed into my old truck (98 Tacoma) at the same place on the bed and it was much worse. When it was getting fixed I went to the shop and looked at it after they hammered it out. It looked like bondo was not even needed they hammered it out so well. After it was all said and done you could not even tell.

STX4x405

Just called a salvage yard for a bed since my dad told me to, $1,500 and it's white so it needs to be painted... Wonder what he's gonna say about that lol new bedside or hammer and bondo is sounding pretty good right now

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

It all depends on your budget and future plans for the truck. But as some have said, if you're going to sell it...Bondo.

STX4x405

Yeah I'm definitely not keeping it for more than another year unless I dump 5 grand on knezats lift and 40's and a gear reduction, ill probably do the bondo if it can be done, my dad says it won't be able to be done

STX4x405

Here's better pics

21RRF150

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, bedside is twisted. And creased bottom to top. Still say new bedside for it to be right. But, like i said before...budget may lead to the Bondo