on my Ranger. A friend suggested I get some paint on it before it starts to rust. So I went to a professional auto paint supply store and had a small touch up bottle custom made to match my truck's paint.($15.00) I tried the touch up paint on the underneath of my tailgate to check the color match, and I have to admit it was right on.

So the ding in my paint was right near my driver's side door on the door jam. Looks like somebody banged my truck with their car door, leaving a ding about 3/4" long, 1/16" wide, and you could see a little bit of primer, just enough to make it noticeable.

So I touched it up, using a small fine tipped paint brush, and put the paint on in three light coats, letting it dry between coats. Then I tried rubbing it out using some polishing compound I have, and it came out pretty good, not perfect, but better than what it was. Now it just looks like a light smudge mark. From 5 feet way you can barely see it. So while I was at it, I went over the truck and found a few more little scratches and touched them up as well. So that little $15.00 bottle of touch up paint has come in handy.

 

sounds like it worked out well. people are stupid

 

Like I said, it's not perfect but better than it was, and it won't turn into a rust problem.

You're right people can be stupid and careless. Just sit in a parking lot and watch the people for awhile. I did this last week and saw so many people that don't know how to park within the lines on the lot. After seeing what I saw in just a few minutes, I'm finding myself parking far away from other cars or parking spots close to the store, as that where the idiots want to park. I'm surprised I don't have more dings.

 

welcome to the club, I must have at least 10 dings from doors, ones real deep in the back drivers door, like a good 1/4 "

 

I love when I park at the empty end of the lot and I come back to that area still empty, yet I'm boxed in my 3 cars to my side and back.

 

Aw dude.

 

This is why my truck is primer atm.

 

Yeah, it happens all the time. Thats why I park as far out in the lot as possible, but some people still seem to think they need to park next to me and ding my doors. Those little touch up bottles are a really nice thing to have around.

 

That bottle of touch up paint will be your new best friend....LOL

I always find rock chips or small dings to touch up.

 

It already is my friend. At $15 dollars it sounds a little pricey, but what's the alternative ?? A can of Rustoleum ?? Not on my truck.

The $15 pays for the labor and skill of mixing the paint with the proper colors and chemicals that will match the original paint. They got the paint code off the truck's manufacturing label mounted on the driver's side door jam, and mixed it exactly right.

I also bought one of these touch up paint bottles right after I bought my truck two years ago, as there was a touch up needed on the inside of the tailgate. That was two years ago and that bottle of paint hardened up over the time. That repair has worked fine as I do not have a rust problem there now as I would have without doing the touch up.

They say it's always best to use freshly mixed paint. So is it worth it ?? Well what would a rust hole and a new paint job cost to fix later on down the road ?? I want my truck to look as good as possible when it's 10-15 years old.
At the rate I'm going this truck should last me for many years.

 

It's just a Ranger, I don't even care that much. Once I'm done lifting most cars doors will only make contact at my rocker panel anyway, right now they only hit at the bottom of the door.

 

"Just a Ranger" ??

This is my Ranger that is as new a vehicle that I can get. I can't afford a new one. After driving around a couple of beaters, I was thrilled to get this truck. It was a small miracle that I got the finances and financing to make the deal work. I'm still very happy to have it. It only has 39,000 miles on it, so mechanically it should last a long time. If I can keep the body looking good, that will help it to hold it's value. I'm planning on keeping this truck for a very long time, so It's worth it to me to keep it looking and running good.

Buying a new vehicle is out of the question for me right now. Owning a "like new" vehicle is the next best thing. I have to have something to drive, I can't just take a bus everywhere I need to go, so this truck is a real lifesaver for me.

Take care of the truck, and it'll take care of you.

 

Pics?

 

Driver's side door jam....



A close up....



and from a distance, you can barely see it.....

 

Slider/step bars ftw got a few dings on my fj ever since i put my rock sliders on ... i just hit the bars with a rattle can when ever someone fks there door up on them :)

 

Agreed I don't have many dings from doors..But sure got a hell of a lot of scratches and whatnot from rocks and trees..branches..etc.