Door Ding Protection Options

[GoldenRivet]

I had my truck detailed, and now in certain light i can see all the door dings. the damned thing is pock marked - all 4 doors. people have no respect.

I hate people who have no regard for the belongings of others.

I am to the point of bolting 1/4 inch plate steel with goth punk rocker style half inch spikes welded on at half inch intervals on all 4 of my doors.

the options for door ding protection are STUPID and lacking and they look tacky.

anyone have any ideas?

my truck is solid black, and with the grill guard and side steps i will be putting on this summer - the black steel with spikes thing would actually look really mad max-ish and i think it would look cool as hell.

Im seriously considering it.

when someone door dings my truck i want it to look like their car door has been in a fight with a navy seal dog.

[krashkart]

I don't have any solution to the door-ding problem. But going along with your idea of steel plate and spikes (and to borrow an idea from a friend) I think you should complete the look by kicking out the windshield and replacing it with chainlink fence.

Just think of all the extra protein you'll get on the highway. Yum!

[Torplexed]

I'm thinking a simple bumper sticker stating in big red letters: DANGER, THIS VEHICLE PACKED WITH HIGH EXPLOSIVES should do it.

[Sailor Steve]

Truck? Did you say truck? A truck should have dings, and dents, and rust, and mud and grime. It sounds to me like what you want is a sissified city-boy sports car that only looks like a truck.

It needs to look like it's been workin', boy!

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Truck? Did you say truck? A truck should have dings, and dents, and rust, and mud and grime. It sounds to me like what you want is a sissified city-boy sports car that only looks like a truck.

It needs to look like it's been workin', boy!

Its brand new... its the first vehicle i ever purchased myself brand new LOL

yes its been covered in mud, dirt, dust and lord knows what else, and its been off the path of asphalt a time or two, but if i had my choice, i wouldnt have it all beat to hell and back especially since it has not even seen it's second birthday.

I'd like to drive it for a long time - and keep it running and looking good until the last piece stops moving before i have to pony up the cash for yet ANOTHER new car

[tater]

My last truck was used, and there was liberation in that, I have to say. I was of the mind that if someone dinged me and I could tell it was their car, I'd just swing my beater door wide and do worse to them. Myself, I never ding another car in any other situation. Never. I hold the door for the kids so they don't, either.

My new Rover I'm sort of protective of. Road dings, etc are not a problem, but some idiot who cannot even manage to stay evenly between two static lines in a parking lot? Grrr.

OT, but have you noticed that virtually anyone who feels the need to back into a parking space is a useless, clueless driver?

If I ran things I'd have the meter maids drive through parking lots ond ticket anyone outside of a 10% error in staying exactly between the lines. if you can't do that, you're a real danger among moving traffic.

[GoldenRivet]

what drives me insane is these guys who drive these huge pickup trucks and they dont know how to park them so they are half in one space and half in another.

and its always when the parking lot is filling up.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Truck? Did you say truck? A truck should have dings, and dents, and rust, and mud and grime. It sounds to me like what you want is a sissified city-boy sports car that only looks like a truck.

It needs to look like it's been workin', boy!

No no, you just described a Renault Clio

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Betonov

No no, you just described a Renault Clio

On the other hand I'm the guy who, when he put a new engine in his '65 Chevy panel truck, hauled the old one to the refurbishing shop and the new one home in the back of his Mustang II hatchback.

Not much is sacred in my little world.

[Armistead]

I agree, I got so mad the other day. I was well on my side of the white line and a lady pulled up almost next to me, about 4 kids piled out hitting the hell out of my truck with both doors, one put a big dent in it. I got out and angry, but matter of fact said she would have to pay for it. Next thing I know I'm being blasted by this black lady wearing a blonde wig, somehow it was my fault that the car next to her was too close to the white line so she had to pull up beside me. I couldn't even get in a word.

I called the police..I wish I didn't do it in front of her..she pulled out and parked in another space.. She totally denied it happened, even gave the cop a fit..

In the end it didn't matter, she had no insurance.....

[Betonov]

Observe the image of my car. The black plastic line on the side, is a dent protector. I even deliberately tried to make a dent with a number of cars, to check how effective it is and it even worked against an SUV. Any door will hit that plastic before it hits the metal.

Just a suggestion, maybe you can put something on that works the same way

Oh, one more thing. Any dents visible on this image are because of impacts with local flora and fauna

[Penguin]

My car is also as old as Rivet's truck and I can't understand why new cars don't have these protectors on the doors anymore. All my previous ones had them and it's not that other drivers are getting smarter...

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

I am to the point of bolting 1/4 inch plate steel with goth punk rocker style half inch spikes welded on at half inch intervals on all 4 of my doors.

This would actually look cool, but don't get those sissy 1/2 inch spikes, get some real ones:

[UnderseaLcpl]

Sadly, putting spikes or steel plates on the side of your truck would likely violate a number of Texas vehicle safety statutes, not to mention the liability if your ever got into an accident and either of those things damaged another person's car or (God forbid) injured them.

The best ways to prevent door dings are also the most practical:

1)Don't let anyone else drive it.
2) Don't park next to other vehicles, or even near where other vehicles might park. One can always use the exercise gained by walking from the back of the parking lot, anyway.
3) In situations where reasons 1 and 2 are not practical, employ a cheap, used, economy car or truck that you don't care about. One can be bought for less than the price of fixing multiple door dings, and you'll save money on gas.


If you really want to get creative you could sell advertising space on the sides of your truck to friends with businesses, provided that you insist upon 1/8"-thick magnetic signboards and strategically place them in areas likely to be dinged. If you don't have friends with businesses, go make some. Your realtor is a good place to start. Play your cards right, and you may even be able to earn a small commission by acting as a representative for whatever business your signs endorse.

[AVGWarhawk]

1. Never park at a Walmart parking lot if it can be avoided.
2. Never park between or next to a beat up car. The owner does not give a crap about his or others vehicles.
3. If at all possible park out at the very edge of the lot. Usually the slouches who care very little for others vehicles look for the spot closest to the store....even taking handicapped spots if it fits the bill(illegally to boot). Refer to #1 Walmart parking.
4. At the grocery store, do not park next to the cart corral in the lot. People push carts halfway from the corral in hopes it makes it into the chute often going in to cars. Not to mention wind taking carts across the lot.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

1. Never park at a Walmart parking lot if it can be avoided.
2. Never park between or next to a beat up car. The owner does not give a crap about his or others vehicles.
3. If at all possible park out at the very edge of the lot. Usually the slouches who care very little for others vehicles look for the spot closest to the store....even taking handicapped spots if it fits the bill(illegally to boot). Refer to #1 Walmart parking.
4. At the grocery store, do not park next to the cart corral in the lot. People push carts halfway from the corral in hopes it makes it into the chute often going in to cars. Not to mention wind taking carts across the lot.

Also applicable, though somewhat superfluous.