first case of trail rash

100% fits in the standard 3rd gen posts

 

Duct tape and bubble wrap

 

if it’s all cosmetic damage and it’s appearance doesn’t bother you, just address whatever needs protection against rust and move on.

My $.02

 

Worth the try, after i switch i also added my home insurance and my auto went down like 5 bucks a month. They also had the best home rate, i check with like 4 different company's, no one was able to beat them. They offer me an umbrella policy for 163 a year for a million dollar coverage. Just haven't pull the trigger on that one.

 

If it were me I'd look into what it would cost to fix it. With $2,500 deductible the cost to repair it might be less than your deductible. It's a brand new truck. Just my $.02

 

Trust me that is way more than 2,500 in damages...to get it fixed the right way anyway

 

It’s something I am considering. I’m going to get an estimate first. One other thing that makes me think about going that route is that I worry that the body shop won’t put everything back together correctly and I will have issues I’m the future that I wouldn’t if I just left it “stock”. I’ve never had major repairs done like this before. But then also I am considering getting lift, so what does it matter? Choices choices.

 

Looks like around 6-8k in damage.

Bed side replacement
mirror replacement
a pillar body work
fender body work
c pillar body work
replace both fender flares

Paint whole right side of truck and blend hood, bumper and tailgate

 

You're probably right, but it doesn't hurt to find out. Especially since it's a really new truck

 

I've never had body work done. Do I assume correctly that they will not use fiberglass and bondo for this type of repair? Assuming they will replace the sheet metal, does it come preprinted? If not, do I need to worry about the quality of the paint job compared to factory? Corrosion resistance?

 

Oh boy....no and you better hope they replace and use top quality paint. The good news, new paint is easier to match. Find a good, I mean the BEST body shop in your area. Start asking pros, they will know. My goodness.

 

The answer to your question of "fix it or leave it" is quite simple. So simple in fact that since I already knew the answer within 3 seconds that I decided to take the extra time to "learn" how to draw in MS Paint and came up with this handy diagram: Here is your answer:

 

This is getting a bit of topic, because I wasn't really off roading at the time I damaged my truck, but...

I think you might have things backwards. I think someone that buys a TRD OR and then never take it off the road is more likely buying the truck because of marketing/image than someone that does take it off the road. I bought a 2016 SR5 because I inherited a boat I needed to tow. I had off-roaded several trucks in my youth (grew up in the country), thought long and hard about what truck I needed, figured that was just a stage in my life, and decided on the SR5 because it seemed more practical than the TRD OR. Not too long after I bought it, I took my SR5 to an off-road event and fell in love with the sport again. I regretted not getting a TRD OR with a manual transmission. So 4 years later, I upgraded to a 2020 TRD OR MT with the intention of modifying for off-road use. Unfortunately, 1700 miles later I had a freak (and embarrassing) accident when doing something quite mundane.

 

Just fix it and move on. A quality body shop will do it right.

 

No judgement here, and you don't need to explain your reasons to a bunch of internet trolls. You bought your truck and you are enjoying it. Accidents happen. I crushed a rocker panel on my old Samurai. I scratched the shit out of a door on my Explorer. You do your best to not cause damage but it happens. I haven't had an opportunity to do any serious offloading with my truck but the day will come. I hope I don't inflict damage but that's the chance you take when you go off the pavement.

 

I crushed the rocker panel on my 1981 Datsun pickup on a boulder and I came close to with my 2016 SR5, thus my 2020 TRD OR had Mobtown Off-Road rock sliders installed in the first 500 miles.

 

The quarter panel will be replaced with a new one, the rest they they will pull the dents as good as they can, then they will bondo and smooth out the dents.

Looks like your truck is cement, so the paint should match pretty well. Metallic paint is very hard to match. But you will be pretty hard pressed to get a perfect match on the paint job. Depending on the angle you look at the paint, it will be noticeable what was painted. There will also be a difference in the orange peel on the clear coat (texture) the new painted areas may be smooth as glass if they wet sand and buff, while the rest of the truck will have some factory orange peel.

When its all said and done, your truck will be straight and it will mostly match, but it will never be the same. Next time, take it easy on the trees.

 

I used to ride dirt bikes. I started with the $200 variety. I felt like I had to have three of them just to have one that worked on a given day. I was constantly wrenching, dealing with breakdowns, and bullshit. Then I got a sweet deal on a 3 year old 1985 KDX 200 and from then on I spent my time riding dirt bikes instead of repairing them. Many years later I moved to the city and gave the KDX away to a buddy. He maintained for years and I got to ride once more 2 years ago on a trip out west that he invited me on. On the last day of the trip, the engine seized. It gave me one last hurrah! Good bye, baby. You treated me well.

 

I'll tell the trees that.

If that's the case, it might not even be worth it to me, especially if it means higher insurance rates. I do not want fiberglass and bondo. I've used that myself many years ago. I'm would only fix it to maintain resale value in the case I wanted/needed to sell it down the road. Do insurance companies share information about crashes and claims kinda like the credit bureaus? Otherwise you could just change insurance companies if they raised the rate. So much to learn...

 

I'd wait until the truck is beat to hell and tell the insurance the gremlins got to it. Your premiums will skyrocket since you're entirely to blame. I doubt they would pass the blame onto mother nature (that cruel mistress). All that being said...