Minor mishap a couple weeks ago, does this NEED to be repaired?

Had a minor mishap a couple weeks ago and noticed after the rain that it's now slightly rusting.

I don't mind the damage and cosmetics, just want to make sure this won't lead to any long term problems.

Do I need to get this repaired? Anyone familiar on how much it'd approximately run me?

 

You don't need to professionally repair it, but you ought to sand that area down and paint it, to prevent it rusting.

 

If looks don't matter probably $30-40 in paint, primer and sand paper leaving the dents.

 

As said above you really need to paint it. It looks like you are through to the bare metal and rust has started. It will rust quick so get some sand paper and sand the rust off and at least some primer over it. A really good self etching primer/sealer would be best. I would get it fixed right.

 

It should only cost you the amount of your deductible.

Or about $2500 (or more) since 3 panels are involved.

The less obvious problem is the crack in the paint about 8" above the top rust spot, at the curve of the cab. That will cause real problems if you don't get it opened up and then sealed underneath before it starts rusting too.

 

a body shop can pull those dents out enough to where a only small amount of bondo would be necessary. might be worth checking it out. tell them you just wand to fog in the new paint at that area. might want to address the cracking paint in the 2nd pic , up to the left.

if you just want to sand it down and paint some paint stores can match the exact color and put it in a spray can.

 

You’ll be fine just using some fine grit sand paper and painting it as others have mentioned.

I hit a boulder off roading and used a paint touch up for about $60 before getting it professionally fixed down the road for $2,000. Pictures are before and after touch up paint.

Experiences will differ

 

Thanks everybody! Appreciate all the responses

 

You definitely want to get the bare metal taken care of. For what it’s worth, this is a job I painted Friday, and it was around $4k total. Yours would be quite a bit cheaper just going off your pictures, not needing to get into the front door and fender.

 

Whoa! Is that what the Tacos look like with the bed removed?

 

Lol.

I got the same cab corner damage.

Been there since 2013.

It's on the passenger side, so I don't see it very often. I keep telling myself to fix it, but I never do.

I spray bomb it it every couple years and tell myself to get it fixed, but I promptly forget about it.

Truck has 225k miles. We peddle them at 300k.

I'll be honest, I ain't gonna fix it.

 

I’d get a 2 or 3 yo truck properly fixed, if it was over a decade old or over 100k miles, probably not.

 

1st, what happened?
2nd, the damage will cause bad MPG
3rd, i charge $25 for online estimates
4th, how often do you change your oil?

 

5.Let it rust coz its badge of honor?

 

Yes sir

 

Looks terrible

 

I might try to find a local PDR guy. they usually are pretty cheap and the decent ones can take most, if not all of the dents out. as far as pain, well if you were going to diy at least the dent wont look as bad

 

Not a great location for PDR. Cab corner is damaged where it curves from the side to the rear of the panel, very stiff. Door is damaged into the pinch seam where the skin meets the shell, no PDR access there.

PDR is best for hail, door dings, that kind of thing. It's not really a collision repair thing in most cases.

OP, if you don't fix it, it will continue to rust. If you really don't care about the appearance, buzz it down with some sandpaper, apply rust converter, and then rattle can it white.

 

Thanks! Any advice on how to handle that small crack above the bare metal?

Do I need to chip that open, apply some primer & repaint?

 

Yes, you need to get rid of any loose/chipped paint before doing anything else. If you don't get rid of every speck of rust, it's going to come back. That's why I suggested using a rust converter. Those are typically used on scalier rust, not fresh flash rust like you have, but you need to do something to prevent it from returning.