Repairing a large dent in a truck tailgate

[@jim21804]

Good job!! Most body shops would have replaced the tailgate. Put I credit you for tackling the job. That is how your learn and get better. I am just teaching myself bodywork and welding. Videos like this are helpful.

[@RienksWorks]

@@jim21804 Awesome! Thanks for your feedback! I agree and I watch videos to learn as well. And I make the videos to hopefully help someone else.

[@speedracer2336]

Most body shops just replace parts!

[@RienksWorks]

@ Yeah but no fun in that!

[@randymcdonald1419]

Awesome video! I have the exact same dent on my 67 C10. Now I know how to fix it. Thanks!

[@RienksWorks]

@@randymcdonald1419 Thank you sir. Good luck on yours and thanks for the feedback.

[@emptech]

If you do a patch like that again, a butt joint, unless you are doing a lap joint, I'd recommend that you weld a baking plate or strip to the tailgate first. Then you can clamp down the repair piece. It would not be as likely to burn through and would make it easier to fill in the kerf from your cutoff wheel. I do enjoy watching your video, I always learn something. I have some weld through paint, never tried it though. Jim

[@RienksWorks]

Thanks for the input Jim. I did think of something like that AFTER I finished of course. I'm just learning as I go and enjoy documenting what I'm doing. Thank you for the feedback as I'm sure it can help someone else. Ray.

[@RienksWorks]

Jim, I forgot to mention about the weld through paint. Honestly I'm not sure how great it is. Of course on this project you can't see the backside to check how it actually came out but I've noticed it kind of just burns away at the weld as noticed on some other projects. But I figure it probably is doing some good on the surrounding areas as regards to rust control. Regards, Ray

[@jackhuddleston6830]

Great job Sir. I have a dent in my tailgate on a 2015 GMC Sierra. Pretty much use it in my lawn buisness. That’s a giant hose you use in your shop too.

[@RienksWorks]

@@jackhuddleston6830 Thank you. Are you talking about air hose?

[@jackhuddleston6830]

@ no your vacuum hose you used on your air tools.

[@RienksWorks]

@ Oh gotcha. It’s just a shop vac I’m holding next to my work. It’s Rigid brand. I think the biggest Home Depot had at the time. I use it for dust collection when I’m doing woodworking. It’s mediocre for that purpose but works well for this.

[@SteveRoberson-t1x]

I love watching a craftsman work ,,nice job

[@RienksWorks]

@@SteveRoberson-t1x Thank you. I’m just winging it as I go.

[@donald4416]

Good job on metal Re-use I would did same thing , on your round sander the body work come out good but I try lay my sander down flat like glass and get best non-gouge so my work looks awesome 👌 but I got give you AAA 😀 great Job 👍

[@44thala49]

I have to attempt this same thing on a 96 c1500. Thanks for the confidence to try this.

[@RienksWorks]

@@44thala49 You can do it! I hope this helps you to just go for it! After all…can you make it worse? That was my approach. Let me know how it turns out. Good luck.

[@44thala49]

That is my thought process too; if it’s broken already then I don’t have to worry about breaking it. I bought a replacement tailgate, but if possible I’d like to use the original one due to this truck having sentimental value to me. I’ll get around to it soon and hopefully get it to the painter in January so I’ll try and remember to let you know how it turned out. I subbed by the way, so I wish you all the luck in the world with the channel. Take care.

[@RienksWorks]

@@44thala49 Thank you!

[@angel_dawn_morningstar]

99% better than it was ! Epic Thumbs Up ! Thanks fer sharing ! 😇❤

[@RienksWorks]

@@angel_dawn_morningstar Thank you!

[@mikeeslami1746]

Great Video !! Thank you for sharing your Wisdom.

[@RienksWorks]

@@mikeeslami1746 you are welcome! Thanks for watching and commenting. I appreciate that.

[@mikeeslami1746]

@ Yes, of course 🙏

[@MrSteelplate08]

Love watching these , keep it up

[@RienksWorks]

@@MrSteelplate08 thank you! I so appreciate you watching.

[@WCS442]

Reminds me of my first dent repair. 😂

[@robertsprafke9376]

I used to just wire brush the welds and shoot a little clear on it. Great conversation piece when people see it. It works on chrome bumpers also.

[@RienksWorks]

@@robertsprafke9376 Haha! If this was my truck I wouldn’t have even fixed it!

[@MScott-y4g]

WHEN YOU POP THE TOP that is called engineering when your studying your project.

[@RienksWorks]

@@MScott-y4g Right! Haha.

[@billsimmons7754]

Nice job. My only suggestions are as follows (this is coming from an amateur so this advice is may not be worth what you paid for it). When trying to stay on top of the weld with the grinding I would use a hard grinding wheel until most of the weld is nearly low enough. Also when sanding the filler with the RO sander I never attack at an angle. I always hold the sander flat. Other wise your just free handing trying to get it flat. And as you stated you should have used some tape to control the perimeter of the filler application.

[@RienksWorks]

@@billsimmons7754 Thank you for the input! Yeah I’m a novice. I just learn and figure things out as I go. Always appreciate feedback.

[@3gcraftsman]

Nice work. Where did you attach the ground clamp for the welder. Thanks

[@RienksWorks]

@@3gcraftsman Excellent question and I don’t remember. Oh, yes I do. I made a headache rack for this truck and it mounts through the top of the bed with mounts I made. I screwed one of the mounting bolts into it and used that. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for the feedback.

[@3gcraftsman]

makes sense. Thanks

[@nickenglezos687]

Hey there i just did this for someone who messed the tailgate up with a snowmobile.ripped the tailgate molding off.so we put an alum peace across

[@RienksWorks]

@@nickenglezos687 Nice. I hope it worked out. Thanks for the response.

[@TommyBradham]

Just ran across your channel. Is that a Triumph GT6 in the background?

[@RienksWorks]

@@TommyBradham Yes sir it is. 71. It’s in the works.

[@RustyStagg]

That's about the only way you can do it is to cut it out and reweld the metal is so strong and those tailgates formed really rigid Good job

[@RienksWorks]

@@RustyStagg Well that’s what I thought at the time but there are some valid comments here suggesting otherwise. Thank you for the feedback!

[@RustyStagg]

@RienksWorks You're very welcome take care

[@garyhaas6876]

You made that way harder than it had to be

[@RienksWorks]

@@garyhaas6876 That wouldn’t surprise me one bit as this is not my trade. I do it the way that makes sense to me at the time then I go for it. And I film it and put it out to either show a way to do it or perhaps how not to do it. And hopefully it solicits comments, wisdom, tips and tricks from others to help both me and anyone else watching that could use help. It’s about learning. So please share how you would have approached it. I appreciate the feedback.

[@garyhaas6876]

@RienksWorks you figure out where the low spot is , weld a piece of metal there , then pull out the dent , watch other you tubers to see what i am talking about

[@RienksWorks]

@@garyhaas6876 I understand what you’re talking about. I just didn’t think it would work that well due to the bend in the tailgate. But makes sense. I’d try that approach for sure for those reading this. Thanks for the input Gary.

[@drunkingsailor2359]

Far cry better, especially when your goint to cover with bed liner in the end. That was a nasty dent to work with in the beginning. KUDOS BROTHER.

[@RienksWorks]

@@drunkingsailor2359 Thank you!

[@Nonyabusiness911]

Don’t they make a tool Called a dent puller. Drill some holes and pull the dent out.

[@RienksWorks]

@@Nonyabusiness911 Yes they do. In fact I have a stud welder. However since the dent was on a sharp bend and I wanted to straighten the bottom of the tailgate as well this seemed like a better and easier option to me. I definitely could be wrong. Thanks for the feedback.

[@valerapopovich4135]

About 6 studs welded close to each other and pulled with flat body clamp, tap high spot under tension. Would reduce the repair area and avoid all the welding. Another very important thing: do not use body filler over self etching primer. There is a lot of info about it and also in the TDS of every body filler. It's something to do with acid and body filler components reacting with it. Hope it helps

[@RienksWorks]

@@valerapopovich4135 Thank you. Honestly I didn’t think I stood a chance with the studs but I probably should have tried. As for the primer…I only used the weld through on the underside and used an etch primer on the top side that I then used the bondo on. I assume that’s okay? I did not look at the TDS for that. Thank you for the advice and input. Much appreciated.

[@johnwinden8511]

Love that green color

[@SamRalls-ti1be]

I would have welded a tab on it first and pulled the stress out of it. Once the stress is relieved.....cut it and put a panel in it.....just my thought.

[@RienksWorks]

@@SamRalls-ti1be Thank you and good idea. That’s why I do the videos. To hopefully help others and gain wisdom from others who have ideas or more knowledge and experience. I appreciate the feedback!