I crashed my truck (Pictures on page 2)

[Unofficial]

Well, my biggest fear happened today. Crashing my pride and joy. It was my fault. It snowed and I slid into a telephone pole. I took out the rear quarter panel on the driver side along with the taillight. I put a pretty good size dent on the bumper too, but that was already bent. The paint job is only a year old, and the body WAS flawless. I banged on the metal until the tailgate would open and close, and the only thing I'm going to do for now is get the taillight back together so I can drive it.

I'm going to get a rear quarter panel and take it in to a body shop. I know the guy, so hopefully all this goes over well... I'll post some pictures later, if I'm up to the pain of doing so.

Edit: I can't take it into the body shop until the spring, so hopefully the winter goes fast and I can get this thing back to how it was, if not better.

[VileZambonie]

That sucks man! Put some weight in the bed and of course go slower! Everyone forgets and we're all guilty of going too fast in the snow, slush, ice, rain etc. Just glad you're alright. You can always replace any panel on these trucks fairly easily. Don't let it get you down, it'll look good as new soon enough.

[Lt.Del]

Don't lock the brakes up!!!  The truck turns into a sled then.  You want the wheels to roll to steer out.

We've all been there.  When I was the same age as you, I wrecked like three times. Luckily I had an old 68 mustang and radiators, hoods, fenders, were like $20 and I did my own painting.  Learned to do my own bodywork too.

Good luck with it and it sounds like you got the right idea to get 'er fixed. 

[78 Chevyrado]

That sucks man, I know how you feel. You'll get it back right again!   Good luck!

[joesgarage71]

  Not good.
I was out playing in the white stuff earlier, Did the bed stove the back of the cab on the right side?

[dunedigger]

Sorry to hear that.  Good luck with getting it back the way it was.  As always better nobody was hurt, the truck is repairable.

[JRConnieK10]

Glad to hear your ok. Be careful. Get her fixed she'll be fine.

[HAULIN IT]

Bummer! Sounds like it could have been allot worse though. Save up some bucks & get busy! Lorne

[Unofficial]

Thanks for the support guys, it really means a lot to me. I can't stop thinking about it. This truck has so much history behind it and I can't help but to feel guilty. The thing is, I know plenty about driving in the snow, never lock up the brakes, let off the gas if you fishtail, etc... I drive in this stuff constantly because I snow shovel for my dad's plowing customers. I have 300lbs in the back too. It's just a misfortune.

[eventhorizon66]

No need to feel guilty.  If you had been driving recklessly and someone got hurt, then you could feel guilty.  Regardless of how clean it was before, your truck's just a machine and it's fixable.  Glad to hear your OK.

[Unofficial]

I'm going to be calling my body shop soon, but does anyone have a fairly accurate guess on how much it would be to cut out the damaged quarter panel and replace it with one from Chris? It would have to be painted to match and everything also. I know he'll give me an estimate, but I was hoping for an experienced body work person on here to give me an opinion. I know it might be hard without pictures, but let's just say the whole quarter panel needs to be replaced, any ideas?

[JJSZABO]

Boy that suxs - glad to here you are OK!

You'll get her fixed up

[DnStClr]

I'm glad you didn't get hurt Unofficial. I did the same thing once in a 4 wheel drive Ford truck. Once it's going, there's just no control...isn't it great how those poles just seem to be in the wrong place?

[Blazin]

Well now your truck has a bit more history! Be thankfull it wasn't worse. Plus no one got hurt.
The rear quarter is bolted on. The only welds are the two short spots at the base of the post just inside the gate. Swap it your self then its just a matter of having the shop do the finish work and paint.

[bigkountry]

Hate to hear you wrecked, but like everyone has said...at least you are ok!