Big dent in rear fender

This is my first post on this forum. I have an '03 Access Cab Stepside. I pulled a real bonehead move backing up my camper on a dark road and kinda reverse jack-knifed the rig. Made a nasty dent in the right rear fender. Didn't damage the tail light. I'm gonna repair it myself and I need to see some diagrams of the fender assembly so I can disassemble it enough to pound it out. I'll need to remove the plastic trim thing around the wheel opening and reattach or replace it, too. Can you all help me access the information I need to pull this fender apart and put it back together again?
Just had a thought...I'll have to remove the tail light assembly, can I pound it out from there?
Thank you.

 

Howdy and welcome. Put your truck info in your profile itself in case you stick around, it'll help others diagnose you quickly if you need help in the future. We have all service manuals online, I believe. See about the fourth or fifth line of this post, with all the links in it. That should get you to your year, then you scroll through to find the stuff you need.

 

Also, if you upload some pics, others may be able to get you a lot closer than just by your descriptions. It's very easy to do directly from your phone. You click the "Upload a File" button BELOW the text box where you're typing, then select photos, then you go through your phone just like you would if you were texting a photo to someone.

 

@BanksyB31 I think had a similar collision repair, he may have specific guidance. I would also say that, if you suck at body repair (and painting) it might be simpler, depending on where you live, to see if you can find a color-matched panel at a junkyard. You can search www.car-part.com to see if it's a panel sold separately of if you have to buy a whole bed or what.

 

Paint messed up? Amazing what those paintless dent repair guys can do.

 

Where the pics at?

 

Damn. I missed the part where this is a stepside.

 

The dent in the bumper is from the PO. I don't have any body work experience or tools, but I don't want to pay to get it fixed and what's the worst thing that could happen?

 

Worst thing that can happen is that you make it look even worse. Might as well give it a shot since it's bad already.

You could try to source a new(used) bed instead.

 

Now it’s a step-stepside!

Also I agree with DIY’ing it. Drill some holes and try to pull it out? Bondo those and paint? Profit? That same thread I linked above, just maybe a page or so above it, shows a guy’s front fender he redid in black and it turned out awesome.

 

Where do you live? Somebody on facebook market place near me has had a stepside he's parting out listed for about 4 months.

 

Honestly, after seeing the pics and watching some PDR videos recently, it's truly amazing. Google "PDR [your town]", many of them have a number where you can text photos and get a free quote! Have them do the dent and then you can DIY that little paint scuff.

 

They won’t be able to make it perfect but I bet they can get it close enough that just a Little bondo is needed.

 

Can you stuff a basket ball or a volley ball in the bed side and inflate it with a pump to push the dent out?

 

If you're planning to keep the truck for a longer time, best thing would be to replace that bed side sheet metal instead of trying to fix, and paint job shouldn't be too expensive, it doesn't need any blending. If you'll try to repair it, black paint will show any imperfection in metal work, bondo or paint job.

 

If you don't have much luck with the dent, normal access cab beds will fit fine. Bolt right up.

 

Take the tail light off, I think there’s enough space to push it out. If not go HF and get the dent removal kit and try it.

 

I've looked at the tail light from inside the fender and it doesn't look like I can release the tail light from under there. Youtube videos only show how to remove the tail light on standard beds. I don't remember if the bed liner has holes in it to access the tail light fasteners.
I think the dent would pop right out except for the bump above the tail light.
The professional PDR route seems like an excellent idea. The basketball trick might work, too. But of course I love to buy new tools and the HF PDR kit looks like something I need.

 

Looks like you could go from under as well.

 

Do you have a vocational high school near by? They used to live to get work like this and when I had a car painted they charged the cost of materials plus 10%.

 

I'm kinda stuck on this. My Owners Manual shows that by removing two fasteners, one from inside the tailgate opening and one from inside the bed, the tail light assembly will release (it's a stepside). I have a tonneau cover, a slide-out platform and a bedliner. So if I want to turn the forward fastener on the tail light I have to either remove the cover and the slide-out unit or cut a hole in my bedliner. I don't have a problem with cutting the hole, but I haven't made the time to do it yet.
I welcome your thoughts...
Oops. I'll post some pics.

 

They tend to be picky where I am. The schools won't take any vehicle older than 5 years because the instructors don't want them working on potentially rusted vehicles.

 

Take the wheel off and the rear wheel liner, that should have plenty of space for you to get the dent out.