Can this dent be fixed without replacing the bedside panel?

The scratch doesn't bother me too much, but the dent does. It looks like it could be "pulled" out with suction.

Any auto body people out there have any thoughts on this?

Not my truck, FYI. But one I am looking at right now. Thanks!

 

I'll share what the couple of PDR dudes I've used in the past shared with me.

• Large crease-free and paint chip-free/crack-free dents can usually be suctioned out, and edges finessed/feathered back to OEM where needed.
• The older the paint, the less pliable it is, and the harder it is to finesse/feather/dolly out the panel, making the work disappear.
• If it's creased, you're usually SOL, you won't be getting the metal back to the right shape without bondo, and if the paint is cracked or chipped, it also makes it difficult/impossible to conceal and prevent rusting.

That thing has a sizeable crease. IMHO you're gonna need body work for the actual crease there, but you can get the rest of the panel fairly straight with an hour of PDR from someone that's willing. But you may want to ask the same question in the Detailing subforum: https://www.tundras.com/forums/detailing.66/

 

That is a very noticeable crease. The shopping cart must have really crashed into it.

Thanks for the intel, @shifty` the search will go on, for now...

I don't mind picking up a truck that needs a little deferred maintenance TLC, but not a body work project just yet.

 

I would take a perfectly maintained truck with that bed side damage over one with a perfect body and deferred maintenance.

 

Truth, at least this you know you're in for $800-1200 and it's right there to see. Wanna know what a deferred-maintenance transfer case replacement costs? Yikes!

 

Hammer & dolly in the gouge, the soft dents should push out from the inside.

 

Nice! Some real world helpful feedback. Thanks @batman900

Edit: I just looked at your post. You did a nice job there. Hard to tell in the after photo that there was ever a dent in the first place.