Oopsie... dropped and dented my door this weekend

[Karl_in_Chicago]

I just don't understand why anyone who is taking the doors off for the 1st time would not have safety measures in place (like a big empty box under the door or help for another person) just in case something unexpected happens

Yup, I think when it's time I'll just drive over to the local Chuck E Cheese and right into the ball pit - safety first!

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[Stlrfan152]

I know several people in body shops and sent them pics. 1 guy said its gonna need a door, another said he thinks he can fix it but will need to see it first. I didnt get bags for them. I dont think it woulda helped in this situation. Bad part is I laughed every time I saw a pic of someone doing this. So many times doing my jeep I never imagined this would happen. I have to say the weight wasnt an issue, its the hinge design itself.

I try to have someone help. I haven't dropped my doors, but I can see how easily it could happen. If I hold the spots your suppose to and just have someone stabilize the back it goes much smoother. I like the hinge design just wish they gave a little more room to put the doors on, it's so easy to bump the door into the fender or hinge.

 

[Rockett]

I did the dreaded dropped my door this weekend. First time taking them off. Ive had jeeps for years and their hinge design is so much easier. When trying to hang the door I guess I didnt have the top part in and soon as I loosened my grip on the handle it felt to the driveway. I had to hammer it out just to close the door.

Ive seen several others do the same thing and wondering what the outcome was for repair. Was it able to fixed or did the door have to be replaced? Im going to get estimates today and curious what to expect.

Came very close to doing the same thing on Sunday. I caught the door at the last minute. Finished putting them on and went inside and ordered the door bags. Wow, they are not cheap.

 

[mike8675309]

The hinge on the Jeep is on the same side that you are holding the door which makes it easier to see alignment.
The hinge on the Bronco is obscured by the door sheet metal and is hard to see when you are lifting the door.
I've had someone help me when I took them off and put them on because of this.

Fixing this will be expensive if you don't have a buddy working at or owning a body shop. They could pull that out and adjust the metal to clean it up, but it might be too thin to make it look good. there are wrecked Broncos already. Maybe you can pick up a used door cheaply? Otherwise, your homeowner or auto insurance will cover it.

 

[Bruno]

Should we add a grippy rubber strip to the "holding areas" of the door?

 

[Mattwings]

I am not sure if they make a door skin, but IMO (I was an estimator for several years) that looks be the minimum you would need to repair the door properly. You can hammer and dolly the "frame" of the door without the skin and then replace the skin. Repairing the door as it will require a bunch of filler (not the actually intent of "filler") and is less likely to be a lasting repair. Maybe it's not as bad as it looks, but creases are generally difficult to remove.

 

[RaceRedBronco]

So sorry this happened. This is why i always use the door bags and keep my hand through the Handle/strap until I am 100% sure that the door has set. The door bags in my opinion are a great tool and I am very thankful I decided to get them. I also always have at least 1 other person help as I am terrified something will go wrong

 

[ChrisB351]

So sorry this happened. This is why i always use the door bags and keep my hand through the Handle/strap until I am 100% sure that the door has set. The door bags in my opinion are a great tool and I am very thankful I decided to get them. I also always have at least 1 other person help as I am terrified something will go wrong

Door bags wouldnt have helped the impact on the concrete unfortunately. Ive done jeep doors more time than I can count and was being careful but shit happens.

 

[Garemlin]

With as much of a PITA it is I highly doubt I'll ever take my doors off. Not a big fan of running doorless anyway. I don't feel like I'm missing much.

 

[710-oil-614]

Sorry for laughing and sorry to hear that man.

The doors aren't 100% the best and I usually found that they would sit up about a half inch for me and if I started to thread the nut on it would grab it enough and pull them down seated.

That's some body filler and paint. 2 weeks at the shop.

 

[RaceRedBronco]

Door bags wouldnt have helped the impact on the concrete unfortunately. Ive done jeep doors more time than I can count and was being careful but shit happens.

That is unfotunate and i am sure the additional weight of a 2 door didnt help. I have had mine slip off before and have been able to catch it since i still had my hand through the strap on the door bag. However being along there really may not be much that you could have done.

 

[broncobase1]

Ouch, that will be an expensive repair if you have it done professionally. The entire door will need to be repaired and re-painted.

You could do it on your own straightening it, some filler and lots and lots of sanding, rattle can primer, wet sand, rattle can finish multiple coats, more wet sanding, finally multiple coats of clear coat with polishing the finish. You have to be good at blending the paint, etc. with the current paint on the door. Being in the corner makes it somewhat easier. Still a lot of labor. I have done a few jobs like that with semi-good results and now know whey body shops charge so much- it's the labor.

I don't think I will ever remove my doors.

Unless you are a pro or really good, a DIY body/paint job on new $50K vehicle doesn't seem like a good decision to me. I had someone back into my door (not Bronco) a few months ago, costs $1800. The pros do an amazing job, I would pony up and get it done right.

 

[mike8675309]

Door bags wouldnt have helped the impact on the concrete unfortunately. Ive done jeep doors more time than I can count and was being careful but shit happens.

Door bags give you a handle that is positioned better, and allows one-handed holding of the door in place.

 

[Go Devils]

After seeing this, I will be adding foam protectors to the edges when I remove the doors. The ones that come with new TVs should work?

 

[wylieone46]

I used the alignment pin on the bottom. It was the top hinge that wasnt in and once it tilted back the bottom hinge just slid over the pin.

@ChrisB351 I did the exact same thing you did. My door had the pin in the bottom hinge as we are supposed to do and the door slipped off the top hinge without warning and the corner of my door got just as bent as yours. I went to a dent repair place and for $100, they did the best they could, but it is still bent. I am not sure if I am just going to live with it or look around at body shops to take a shot at it.

As others have said, I should have bought the door bags. The weight of the two door doors is no joke.

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