Not cool

[MQZ]

looks creased to me. insurance. you wont get it fixed cheaper than your deductible. you back into something or were hit?

I backed into a trimmed branch from a tree that stuck out into the space I was lining up on both sides.

 

[MQZ]

At first told $1,000 to repair and paint... until they realized it was aluminum. Said the aluminum can't be manipulated and repaired. Need a new gate. Waiting for estimate. My research found a tailgate shell that runs $475 which requires swapping everything over if possible, paint, line-x touch up. Color matched shell is $1100 plus above. Moving towards insurance claim once I receive estimate.

 

[someday]

Get a 2nd opinion from PDR...paintless dent repair

 

[Johnny@Apollo-Optics]

Over $1500 would be robbery

Remove/install Tailgate step, remove & re-install applique, same for badging, paint, etc.

From the view of an insurance adjuster (which is my day job), im pretty confident our appraisal software would put this in the 2500-3000 range.

 

[someday]

Insurance claim, sure over $1500 but i wouldnt pay more than that out of pocket.

I would say back in the day front or rear bumper repaint was like $500 nowadays $1000. Prolly double for insurance

 

[ToadSmasher2K1]

Pay a tweaker to find a used one in an airport parking garage.

 

[someday]

Its a little harder with locking tailgates these days

 

[thatJeepguy]

It may not be fast but you can definitely find a gate in that color somewhere in salvage.

 

[MQZ]

Just an update to share on dent...
PDR couldn't help and most wouldn't due to aluminum and strength of such. One guy came out and started but wouldn't triumph with any repair. I even went in after PDR guy and used pressing tools and messed it up good with paint cracks and further uneven bulges. So I gave up and focused on a new shell.

Again, the shell unpainted was around $800 shipped. Shell color matched was $1500 shipped after researching more. These options did not include labor to swap parts. I almost bought one but wanted to check body shops one last time.

I ended up going to a shop who said they could fix no problem and did just that. No bonding material, repainted whole gate with them even removing and retaping applique. Looks new untouched. $900 cash... done. I was shown how Line x sprayed all inside tailgate shell cavities and coated wires and sensors and motor for power gate... so one of the sensors for flex step lock wasn't catching well when closed. But was an easy fix. They corrected that also.

So it is possible to fix outside of a PDR pop up or shell swap. Body shop did it... was surprised.

Appreciate all the direction and advice.

 

[HighwaySentinel]

So, what was their method to get it back to showroom quality without using any bonding material?