[Schmidty]

Well, it wasn't the best day today. My buddy and I went out with the dogs to shoot a few birds. Long story short, his dog got out of her kennel, and jumped over the tailgate while we were bow hunting, early in the morning, and really wanted back in bad. It scratched/destroyed my tailgate, and then decided it literally wanted in the truck. The driver side of my truck has plenty of scratches.

My buddy was more than apologetic, and of course told me to get an estimate. His dog irritated me, but my bud is always awesome.

Question: Is the paint job from a body shop as durable as the factory paint?

By the way, labs are great bird dogs and family dogs, but are dumb beyond that. I actually trained my german shepherd to hunt birds, and she is the best bird dog I've ever hunted with. By the way it's not a fluke; this is the second shepherd I've used.

 

[MorSmokPls]

Well, it wasn't the best day today. My buddy and I went out with the dogs to shoot a few birds. Long story short, his dog got out of her kennel, and jumped over the tailgate while we were bow hunting, early in the morning, and really wanted back in bad. It scratched/destroyed my tailgate, and then decided it literally wanted in the truck. The driver side of my truck has plenty of scratches.

My buddy was more than apologetic, and of course told me to get an estimate. His dog irritated me, but my bud is always awesome.

Question: Is the paint job from a body shop as durable as the factory paint?

By the way, labs are great bird dogs and family dogs, but are dumber than f*** beyond that. I actually trained my german shepherd to hunt birds, and she is the best bird dog I've ever hunted with. By the way it's not a fluke; this is the second shepherd I've used.

First, sorry about your truck. Second, I totally agree with the lab part. My buddy paid 2500 for an English lab. Spend all spring summer fall training him. Went out with him on opening day. Set decoys and settled in the blind/Jon boat. He wanted to take first shots for the dog. I said cool. Called some in. Buddy dropped two. The dog saw them drop. Buddy said go fetch, dog grabbed first decoy and started dragging the string back to boat. At the end of the day I had to physically take shotgun from buddy to save afore mentioned dogs life.

 

[FmaxTurboSi]

post some pics.

I'm thinking that a professional detailer could fix it. That dog has got to have some super sharp and even tougher nails to completely remove the clear coat.

 

[08QuadCTD]

I wonder if the clear coat is just scratched and the scratches can be wet sanded and buffed out.

Throw some pictures up.

And if you take your truck that your "real" insurance company uses, it will be just as good or not better than what the factory came with.

And when I say real insurance company, I mean State Farm, Allstate etc.

 

[13-3500]

At least a wet sand and buff or just a scuff and clear. easy job for any good shop. need pics

 

[Highway 4x4]

JMHO, but the paint from a quality body shop will probably be better than factory. But it's not going to be cheap.
Labs are used as service dogs more than any other breed. Size, temperament, intelligence, health, and lifespan are on the top. Very few Berners are used for hunting.

 

[TX NIGHT TRAIN]

Usually aftermarket is better IMO

 

[brownbear]

A dog would have no problem going all the way through the clear and the paint. I saw some unbelievable damage on a Toyota Tacoma once. Two dogs chased a varmint up the wheel well into the engine compartment. They tore with their paws at the fender for probably close to an hour trying to get through. There was no paint left, the whole inner fender well was torn up, and the flare was gone.

 

[brownbear]

Usually aftermarket is better IMO

I've had the opposite experience. I've never had an aftermarket paint job wear as well as the original, and I've purchased expensive paint jobs where they take it down to metal, then prime, base, and clear.

 

[TX NIGHT TRAIN]

I've had the opposite experience. I've never had an aftermarket paint job wear as well as the original, and I've purchased expensive paint jobs where they take it down to metal, then prime, base, and clear.

We have some bad a$$ body guys in our area. They can literally lay it on

 

[Schmidty]

Trust me, it's beyond wet sanding. Like I mentioned, life goes on, but it sucked to see the damage. My buds lab is a great hunter, and a great family dog, but dumber than f***in so many other ways. My shepherd hunts just as well, is a great family dog, plus smart. My bud just laughed in the end, and said this is the most expensive dog I've ever owned. I'm not sure how many times the dog has been stitched up b/c it runs through barbed fences instead of paying attention. $300 a pop for stitches. Great friend, great dog, just not that smart of a dog.

By the way, I have state farm. I'm assuming my buds insurance will cover this one?????? Odds are, he will just pay for it out of his pocket. I'm guessing it will cost about $2000.

 

[Highway 4x4]

How about one of those overlay jobs. Everything from chrome to flat black. How about cammo? maybe make it one of those billboards, get a corp sponsor Red Bull or Monster. Just think of the possibilities.

 

[MoparProud]

Question: Is the paint job from a body shop as durable as the factory paint?

No.

There is no aftermarket paint that will hold up like the factory paint. Based off of that, OEM is the best. Granted it won't win any shows with its mile deep finish, but it will last the longest by far.


I know what kind of scratches a dog does, and you're not looking at a simple fix; to do it right, it's getting resprayed.

Dogs aren't allowed around my trucks because of that; don't ride in the back and don't belong inside. My dad put his dog in the bed of the '03 and when I saw the scratches I went nuts.

 

[Highway 4x4]

I had an 03 that I used for my pups every day, always in the cab, never the bed. Went to dog shows and many long vacations. When I sold it this year there was no sign a dog had been within 100 feet of it. My 14, leather and all will be used the same and will stay the same, sold like new ten years from now. If my dog screws up my truck, it's my fault, not the dogs'. I am the one with the brain, well, bigger brain. Dogs in beds should be crated for the safety of the truck and the dog, and dogs in the cab should not be left alone for the same reasons.

 

[6 n a row]

i use my dog and truck on the ranch...minor scratches r part of life...my dog and my truck go everywhere together...is wut i do is get a chain and attach it too the gooseneck ball then trim it just so the border collie can get his head in the wind but not his front paws over the bed rail....problem solved...

 

[daMonk]

Not to disagree but our factory paint is very good , we all love these trucks But that deep swimming pool look comes from layers of clear applied by hand. These custom paint shops can dazzle the eye. Winter time is slow for custom shops and good time to negotiate a squirt. Tell us what state you live and let the forum make shop recommendations......looks like N.D. on your sig.

 

[Trowel2013]

No.

There is no aftermarket paint that will hold up like the factory paint. Based off of that, OEM is the best. Granted it won't win any shows with its mile deep finish, but it will last the longest by far.

I call BS. If the prep work is done right and paint and clear applied correctly it will look better and last longer. Of course you will pay $$$$ for a good job. Don't expect to go to Mayco and pay next to nothing and get a quality job.

 

[Schmidty]

The one "with a brain comment.". The dog somehow broke out of her kennel. My dog would never do that. Idiot dogs exist.

 

[Ratdog1]

Insurance claim won't raise your rate cuz you didn't hurt any other property . give them a call

 

[My427stang]

As a long time bodyman, just doing it on the side now, both resto and insurance repair, go to a higher end collision shop. (Not MAACO, more like a Carstar or equiv)

A good indicator, as silly as it is, if they have a waiting room and a bay to give estimates, it's probably a shop that deals in volume. Also don't be afraid to ask them for some before, after, and during looks at vehicles. They may not let you in the shop for insurance reasons, but they want your business, so they will figure some way to show you.

First, their repairs are guaranteed, so you can always go back, but as far as matching, materials and quality, they will be experts at it. There is no reason to fear a good repair, the paint is as good or even better and they'll make the problem disappear.

I am not sure of the statement above on OEM being better, first its the SAME, the same companies supply both, second the OEM use a lot less of it on the vehicle for cost, which can be better if guys over apply, but for the most part the repair will be equally done unless you go to some backwoods guy that doesn't stay current on the modern technology.

Odds are, you'll get it back as quick as overnight too. Modern materials I can repair a panel, shoot/blend it, buff it in the AM and deliver so I can move to the next one.

So much better than the old days, even 10 years ago