Here are 9 best DIY methods to remove dents from your truck roof. We have also added the required tools along with this step-by-step guide.
How to Remove Dents From Truck Roof? You can remove dents from truck roof by using hot water, dry ice, rubber mallet, truck dent repair kit, compressed air, and screws pulling method.
We have also explained the average cost of this procedure if you do it at home and also the expense if you take your vehicle to the workshop to fix all these issues.
How to Remove Dents From Truck Roof?
In this article, we have explained 9 fantastic techniques for removing dents from the pickup roof at home with a minimum budget. Before going into the details, let me explain the tools that you will need for this:
Tools Required
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Plunger
- Hot glue
- Hammer
- Compressed air can
- Hairdryer
- Body fuller
- Sandpaper
- Body putty
- Rags
- Truck polish
- Paint
- Gloves
- Plastic sheets
- Nuts and bolts
Use heat or hot water
This method uses the natural heat of the sun to pop out the dent from the pickup. In extreme summer, the scorching heat of summer can expand the parts.
When the natural heat from the sun is not sufficient, then you can apply hot water. Leave the vehicle there until it gets sufficiently warm, and the metal gets soft. Then you can remove it by using little pressure.
Hot water can easily fix dints from plastic body bumper. Warm some water in a pan until it gets to boil. Then apply it to the area where it is present.
The boiling water makes the plastic soft, and you can quickly push it out. Just place your hand behind the dint surface and slowly push it.
The heat and boiling water can fix the dints in no time, but it has a disadvantage of discoloring or fainting the paint of the vehicle. You can also use hair dryer s to heat the metal of the pickup and then fix it.
Use dry ice
Dry ice is also a good option to fix these on your vehicle. You can use it for all the metal parts of the pickup. Keep it away from the engine otherwise, you can notice that your truck is cranking but not starting.
You can use dry ice. Just wear some gloves and wrap the dry ice in a cloth or plastic sheet. Then apply it to the affected area. Rub the dry ice there for 10 to 15 minutes. Then check if the metal surface is plain and smooth.
After finishing the task, wipe out all the moisture present on the area with some dry cloth. Leaving moisture here can fade the paint color.
Rubber mallet
A rubber mallet is a kind of hammer that is made from rubber, and it has a long head. This mallet can quickly fix all the issues.
Before using it, make sure the head of the hammer is precisely the size of the dent present on the vehicle surface. Then locate the exact position and fix it.
Strike the affected area with a rubber mallet. Start striking lightly on the vehicle, after hitting for some time, check the metal. When it is fixed, stop striking the area.
Do not strike too hard to resolve it. Striking it with high force can even worsen the situation. You can also use this method to remove heavy rust from the truck frame.
With a flat Screwdriver
This tool is readily available at home. You need not collect any other thing to use it. Just take a screwdriver along with a hammer of any kind.
This method you can use when you do not have a rubber mallet. Just place the flat head of the screwdriver in the center of the affected metal.
Then tap it slowly with a hammer. Keep taping it until itis out. For deeper issues, tap the ara with little force and gradually increase it if it is still present.
With compressed air
Compressed air is widely used for removing a hollow surface on the trunk floor. You can use this method for other parts of your vehicle. Expansion followed contraction can make the process possible. You need a hairdryer and a can of compressed air.
Locate the position on your vehicle and then plug in the hairdryer. Make the surface hot by applying hot air from the dryer.
Make it red hot, and the heat will cause an expansion in the surface. After this, take a can of compressed air and compressed air into the target. The cold air will make the metallic surface to contract quickly. You can use it to remove bubbles when installing seat covers in your pickup.
Use plunger suction method
You can also use a household plunger, it is available in various width and sizes.
Choose a plunger whose width matches the diameter. To be more precise, you can measure the diameter of the metal.
Then apply some grease on the rubber lip of the plunger. Then place it and press the plunger.
By pressing it, you will create suction between plunger and surface. Keep pressing it until there is enough suction.
Then pull it apart from the metal, it automatically gets out when you pull the plunger. Sometimes a single try does not bring out any fruit.
Then you have to try it a few more times. Try for at least 2 to 3 times to fully fix the issue with your pickup.
Screws pulling method
Screws are also used for DIY methods, it is equally best for both small and larger holes on the metal. You will need screws wooden dowel and hot glue. Before starting, you will make some preparations.
First of all, attach the screws with the end of the wooden handle. This will act as a tool to fix the metal of your pickup.
Apply some hot glue on the other side of the dowel. Let the glue dry here when it is dried, start pulling it slowly.
This method does not cause any damage to metal or paint. Keep in mind the exact placement of screws and the required pulling force.
Use Truck Dent Repair Kit
When all the home treatments get fail is time to invest some money. You can buy special tool kits for repairing the pickups. These kits contain multiple pulling tools for all kinds of vehicles.
You can use them according to the situation. These tools are also easy to use and cause minimal damage.
You can buy any affordable equipment. There are hundreds of repairing packages available at the market.
Use dent fillers
Dent filler is a substance that adheres to metal well can be sanded, and it is long-lasting.
You can apply it when all the other options are of no help. Usually, some repairing experts do this procedure with accuracy.
First of all, get rid of the paint from the affected area with the help of sandpaper. Fix the paint a few inches more than the surface, after this mix the filler.
The body filler is a two-part mixer. Mix it on the plastic sheet where it does not adhere. After mixing it, you have a short time to apply it because it gets hard too quickly.
Apply the filler on the hollow surface and leave it for about half an hour there. After this take a 150 grit sandpaper and sand the filler. It will help in making the filler surface smooth and flat.
Now take body putty, and spreader spread it on the filler and again send the body putty off. Then spray three coats of primer and leave them to dry.
Finally, apply the color coat with the help of a spray gun. Apply three to four layers and leave it to dry. Add a dash cam on your pickup for better results.
Average cost
The average price of repairing dent at home varies from 100 to $200. The repairing kits are available in different ranges, like $60 to $100. The body filler cost you a lot. As you have to buy fillers, sandpapers, primers, and paint.
Body filler somehow costs $20 and primer $50 for repairs. The paint, along with a spray gun, costs approximately $100.
However, if you take your vehicle to a workshop for the same method, it can cost u a lot. On average, these cost around $500 to $800 depending on the pickup and the damage. We strongly recommend that you do this procedure at home with these easy DIY methods mentioned above.