Today I was moving a few items, one of which is a large couch. My son and I were lifting it into a recycling dumpster when he lost control of it. Before I could manage to get it balanced he let go and it smashed down on the exterior of the bed. Damage is many small deep scratches just above the wheel well, and two on the upper section just below the rail top.

I was ready to cry when it first happend, barely 700 miles on the truck. I called Dodge dealer and he ordered the touch-up paint, I know this is not the fix but it may help a little temporarily.

I had already scheduled an appointment to have the bedliner done, and if I bring it over the rails a bit it will cover the upper damage.

Flares...they would cover the lower scratches...but I can't seem to find them for the 09 Ram. The issue here is I don't want to go extreme, just some basic clean flares...where can I find them?

If I don't go that route I guess its time to pay a body shop to fix it.

I am open to suggestions.

 

only flares I can find even near what I am looking for is the Bushwacker street flares, $400 seems high...anyone have a good source?

 

On topic about scratches beware of certain gas pumps, for sure the ones I know of are Petro Canada because I got my truck scratched by the pump because the vinyl covering they put on so that they can insert advertising get worn and then the steel behind it pokes thru and instant scratch as soon as that hits your truck, now I was prettymuch able to rub it out and there isn't bare metal so I am not taking the chance that some body shop will get overspray on my right headlight and on the inside of the windows only. LOL It happens trust me. The Arab guy cuz I am not sure which middle eastern country he was from but probably one of the ones that are always in a war he was an *** and a half he blamed my wife, then he just went in. Now this was 100 miles from my house on Wellington Rd. in London. We contacted customer service and they wanted pictures etc. which we had but I don't want their help I would just prefer not to buy gas there. They lost 4 vehicles just at my house that get gas and well we pay more sometimes rather than go there. I know that is stupid but I just can be bothered with them. Funny thing they never called back.

 

Bare metal? You have to prep and paint properly or that side will rust thru in a year you see how thin the metal on these trucks is?

 

yes bare metal...I do plan on getting it painted even if I end up doing it myself to save funds. The bed liner and flares will provide the coverage I need. I am guessing a body shop will charge more than 500 to fix it.

 

Do you have full coverage insurance? If so, this is covered and you can get it fixed for the cost of the deductable. It doesn't have to be someone else's fault.

 

true I could claim it on insurance and pay the deductable, but that would change my rate would it not?

 

im very interested in the answer to the above question

 

It didn't change mine...your mileage may vary.

I had two claims in one week! I was coming home from Florida and a chunk of Interstate bounced up and put three nice chips in the windshield. That was covered under "comp".

That same week I took the truck through the same touchless car wash I had used on my Hummer H3 for three years without incident. I didn't realize that the Dodge was so much wider that it wouldn't fit between the guide rails without scrubbing the sidewalls of those soft, sissy Goodyear HP's! In fact, those tires are so soft on the sidewall that they allowed the guide rail to gouge 3 of the 4 wheels. Those puppies were $420 each to replace at jobber prices! That claim was under "collision" and carried a higher deductable. I now wash by hand!

Both were fixed and paid without any change to my premium. My total out-of-pocket was $350.

 

It depends on your state law. In Delaware, they have the right to raise your price and they can add a surcharge to every bill to get all the money back for the claim if you are at fault. I had this problem with my old pickup. I damaged the door and it cost me $2000 to get it repaired. I ended up paying $500 more a year on my premium plus the $2000 back in installments over 6 years. I was pissed. They sent me a copy of the law. It doesn't help that a car insurance agent who is a senator in our state wrote the law. In addition, the insurance company claimed that accident to carfax and the truck had an accident record. In the end, it would have cost me less money not to claim it on insurance. Big lesson learned.