That looks pretty minor. I bet a good paintless dent repair guy could work that back into shape quickly and inexpensively. Then touch up with some factory scratch repair paint and you will have a 98 percent fix.
I had a good dent remover guy come and take a look. He said it’s not a good candidate because there’s no decent access behind the dent. So now I’m on the hunt for a good body/paint shop that will do the job without removing the window, etc. I want as good a job as possible and then an Aluminess ladder’s going right there.
Anybody got a good body shop recommendation in PDX?
Since you plan on putting in a ladder... Are you set on having that repair paint matched?
The paint behind my ladder it's super scratched up from sandy shoes rubbing it while using the ladder. I'll probably bedliner behind the ladder. If you did something similar (even white bedliner) it will greatly reduce the repair costs since matching and blending won't need to be done. I'd even be willing to just use body filler behind bedliner.
Since you plan on putting in a ladder... Are you set on having that repair paint matched?
The paint behind my ladder it's super scratched up from sandy shoes rubbing it while using the ladder. I'll probably bedliner behind the ladder. If you did something similar (even white bedliner) it will greatly reduce the repair costs since matching and blending won't need to be done. I'd even be willing to just use body filler behind bedliner.
Hey carringb. That sounds like a good idea! I don’t know jack about painting cars, but I try to keep the van looking good. Do you think I could have them do the body filler and then just a section wide enough to cover that and wide enough under the ladder? Just up to the indent and down to the indent maybe.
Hey carringb. That sounds like a good idea! I don’t know jack about painting cars, but I try to keep the van looking good. Do you think I could have them do the body filler and then just a section wide enough to cover that and wide enough under the ladder? Just up to the indent and down to the indent maybe.
Yup. They'll just mask off the edges with wire-embedded masking tape to create a clean edge. Lining up with the taillight edge would be very natural looking IMO. Other edge can be flush with edge of ladder or even inset slightly so it looks flush when you view the van from the front. With bedliner, you don't need to sand the body filler first, so any bedliner shop should be able to fill the dent.
you could also repair it conventionally and the put some clearbra behind the ladder once installed. when/if it starts showing signs of wear, it can be peeled off and reapplied or removed if you ever choose to get rid of the ladder.
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I decided to try Carringb’s approach because the ladder is going up in this area. Had the LineX shop repair the dent and shoot the area. It’s clearly whiter but I like it. $250 for the whole thing. I thought they did a nice job. Installing the Aluminess ladder is next up.
I like the bedliner idea and shouldn't be overly noticeable after the ladder goes on. My paint is scratched up after a little over a year of having my ladder one.
I like the bedliner idea and shouldn't be overly noticeable after the ladder goes on. My paint is scratched up after a little over a year of having my ladder one.
That’s what I thought. I’ll let you know how it goes!
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