What happened to my truck??

I am taking a survey of truck owners to try and solve a mystery:

Sometime in the last 10-14 days I picked up two very unusual dings on my truck. Right on top of the tailgate, one on each side near the edge of the tailgate, in the thick black plastic edging. The plastic is very hard and strong so whatever caused it had to have considerable force behind it. The one on the left side didn't hit square on top, you can see how it kind of dragged off to one side towards the bed. Whatever it was it had to be coming more or less straight downward when it hit. I have racked my brain thinking of all the places I've been and all the possibilities and I am flat stumped. There were no other marks on my truck which makes me doubt vandalism. I haven't had anything in the back of the truck that could have done it. Very puzzling. I only put the tailgate down when launching my boat and I haven't backed into anything; so it's not from backing into anything.

Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.

 

The first one looks almost perfectly circular, like the end of a broom handle where you'd screw on the broom part. and the second almost looks like it melted a little......

 

Looks like something hit it or fell on it. I have similar dings on my tailgate cap(mostly from me throwing stuff in the bed.) The plastic isn't the strongest and things like this will happen.

 

Some of my friends suggested that maybe I turned too sharp with the boat trailer behind me; but that could only account for the ding on the left. I am 100% certain I have not backed into anything with the tailgate down so that's out.

 

I have in one pretty much in the exact same place as the 2nd picture, but that's from my father backing it into a fire extinguisher at Metro HQ...

 

I have not loaned my truck to anyone; have not, ever, backed into anything with the gate down or up for that matter; and literally the only time the gate is down is when launching or trailering my boat and then as soon as I get clear of the ramp I put the tailgate back up. Very puzzling.

 

Welcome to TW member 158564

 

Early 4th celebrators shooting upwards - the trajectory angle was just right and you got a twofer of bullet indentations

 

I've gotten marks like that on the tailgate when I've hauled something and had it resting on the tailgate.

 

dont feel bad . i have countless dents in my drivers door from inconsiderate people opening their dòors and slamminģ into the side of the truçk . people with higher trucks backing into my tailgate with the trailer hitch . Now i try to always park in a corner spot to avoid further damage to the good sides of the truck .

 

somebody took a hammer to it

 

Contact with the hand crank on the trailer when backing up?

 

Have you been hauling threaded rod ?

 

I will call David Caruso.

 

This crossed my mind too...

 

If you did not back into something, it's entirely possible that someone else backed into your truck while it was sitting with tailgate was open. However, judging by the pictures of both dents, it seems like whatever made those dents came into the contact with the tailgate multiple times and at slightly different angles, soooo.... I would have a heart to heard with your boat trailer. And if that bitch tells you that its not at fault, it is probably lying.