Automotivetouchup paint for entire bedside?

So I got really unlucky and had a popup branch javelin between my bedside from behind the cab. I'm having no luck finding a replacement bedside in my color, and even non color matched ones are $350-$500. I figure I'm just going to get a new oem one for about $400. I've seen people use duplicolor and automotivetouchup paint to fix scratches and do small parts like grills, but nothing too big. Would I be able to spray a new bedside and have it look OEM if I do it right? I figure its probably worth a try for $100 as opposed to paying a body shop easily 4x that. I'm just worried that you could see a color difference on such a big panel. Anyone have experience with this?

 

I guess it's time to make it a flat bed

 

Wow that's insane! Wish I had more to add but I really have no idea. Good luck!

 

Yeah... I rolled over a log and one of its branches spun up right between the bed and the cab. I expect a few dents and scratches but I want to get this fixed without paying an arm and a leg.

 

A body shop would feather onto the door.

If you have a compressor just do it right.

Prep and sanding are the hard part.

 

If I went to a body shop I'd just take the new panel to have it painted and replace it myself. Unfortunately it's my DD so I cant drop it off.

The only compressor I have is for OBA and I dont have a tank yet. I suppose it'd be a good excuse to get one, but I have zero experience with airbrush painting. And I'm guessing buying the equipment would cost a pretty penny.

 

nah, harbor freight. It'll be better than a can. You can color sand real paint.

 

Somebody told me that in person a few days ago lol. That's more than a few years down the line, if at all. In my dreams when it gets the SAS treatment I'll think about it.

 

After talking with my dad, I'm thinking a flatbed might be a reasonable option... I figured it would be expensive and a huge project, but for the price of "doing it right" we can likely make up a flatbed. Not to say a flatbed is easy, but after looking into it, it doesn't seem as involved as I thought. I still have a lot of thinking to do, but if I sell the shell and the other parts of the bed it may be a worthwhile endeavor. Plus I wont have to worry about damaging bedsides anymore.