First Body Damage

With less than 4000 miles on the new truck I have already had to have some minor body work done. In a major Homer Simpson “Duh” moment, I backed into a buddy’s car a couple weeks ago. No real major damage to his vehicle or mine, mostly just a bruised ego. Here are a coupe of shots that show the damage to the drivers’ side rear bumper and quarter panel behind the tire.





The paint-less dent removal guys do amazing work and got the body damage straightened out very nicely. Steve Cox at Dents Unlimited in Springfield, MO did the work.



I decided not to go back with the chrome bumper because I want the rear bumper to match the ARB front bumper and rock sliders that I will eventually install. I ordered a new bumper from the Toyota Parts Barn in Ohio. The new unpainted bumper ran about $189.00 with shipping. I primed and then painted the bumper with satin black paint from a rattle can. A big Thank You goes out to Gary Osborne at Toyota Parts Barn. He worked with me to find the right part number for the plain steel bumper even though the VIN indicated that only a chrome bumper was available for my truck.



Here’s the end result. It will take some time to get used to not seeing the chrome bumper but in time I think I will get used to it. Now… maybe I will take off those chrome badges.



dd

 

Looks good. I like the black look

 

I like it better than the chrome bumper!

 

Looks great!

 

That'll buff right out.

 

+1 on the black bumper. It looks much better. Now I need to find a good deal on one.

 

haha maybe i should back into my friends car and get an upgrade : )

 

New Bumper looks good. Did the chrome one rip off like that from a minor collision?

 

x2!

 

x3

 

My chrome bumper got damaged, I got it repaired and sprayed it black. Looks so much better.

 

x4

 

Looks a whole lot better!

 

Looks better now for sure. My truck is full of dings and scrathes. it is only 7 months old as well, but I really don't care because it is a lease. I have always been excessively anal retentive about my cars. I was the type to bring it to the body shop if I got a miniature rock chip in my hood. I am over those days because I have way bigger things to worry about than a stupid chip in my car.
Looks good though.

 

The only thing I was noticing was that it looks like there are silver screws or rivets holding on all the black plastic trim pieces. Is this true, or am I seeing things?

 

I see it too

 

You'll get over it. My truck was in a hail storm 10 years ago and the hood got 6-7 little dimples in it. I don't even notice them anymore.

 

Ha…

I wondered when/if anyone would mention those. Yes, they are stainless carriage bolts. The black plastic trim pieces are held on with plastic clips like all automotive trim is held on with these days. Seeing as how I am a bit ham-fisted there was no way I could remove the trim and the plastic clips not break. I drilled at the location of some of the plastic clips and put stainless fender washers and lock nuts. I think it is sufficiently attached. I will get around to painting the bolt heads black one of these days and hopefully they will blend right in.

Good eye.

dd

 

Yea - there comes a time when flaws just add character. After purchasing the truck in late July I’m just not ready for it to have so much “character” yet….

Now had this happened in Moab or something and I had a good story to tell, then I’d have just straightened it out as best as possible and went on. But seeing as how this happened in my own driveway, I didn’t want to explain it for the next ??? years.

dd