So I am driving home from the beach yesterday when I golf ball sized rock flies up from under the truck in front of me. There was nothing I could do but watch it smash into my hood going 80mph!! I now have what looks like a door ding right in the middle of my hood with a scratch about a 1/4" wide by 1 1/2" long all the way to the metal. Any advice on repairing it? I am sure the ding can be popped out easily, what worries me is the paint. Are they going to have to repaint my entire hood or will they be able to just paint the damage?

Been there before Bro, It's like Slooooooooow Motion when you see the rock coming, and you freeze and can't do sh!t about it, BOOM, M***RRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Sorry Bro. Been there except it was an entire retread that came off right in front of me and rolled right over my car--whole hood and windshield smashed to bits. It'll be up to you whether you cheap out on the repair. They will likely want to repaint the whole panel.

me too bud but I have a buddy who has PPG stuff and were doing a cerama coat clear coat on the hood, bumper and behind the side mirrors that stuff dries clear and is like invisible armour

Sorry to here that my man. I too join the rest with past dings, 80+mph rocks, etc and have had pea sized chips all over the front. I could have sworn that after it hit me, I began to lay mushroom clouds. I recently checked on some 3M clear bra which including tint of the front windows would run apprx $950. Needless to say I am shopping around but next to sway bar links, it is on top of my list. keep us posted on the repair and good luck.

I would be interested to hear more from Central Tex on the PPG amour...

Sorry to hear. Did you tell your insurance yet? You may want to be "specific" in how this rock impacted your car becuase it could mean the difference from them putting it under Collision or comp. My comp is lower deductible and I believe it has less of an impact on your record if you use comp.

But anyways, as was explained to me by State Farm folks (not openly, but through specific questioning) sometime ago.

If you impacted the rock before it hit the ground, after being tossed in the air by the other vehicle, then it is considered a falling object and comp will cover it.

If the rock bounced on the road before you hit it, you collided with the rock, and collision would cover it.

And lastly you can always argue that they are on "crack" and they may give in.

I was not going to use my insurance. I was planning on just dealing with it on my own. Can't be that much can it? I was thinking $500 on the high side hopefully more like $250. Am I way off? :confused:

Depends on what the going rate is in your area......but around here, to fix a dent/scratch and repaint a hood (good paint) would definitely be over $250.

Go get a quote from someplace. I could probably get the dent repaired & hood repainted for less than $500, or close to it. Even at $600-$700 I would rather pay out of pocket than deal with insurance, and risk them jacking my rates

My hood is factory and not made out of metal....I think it s fiberglass. Did some JCSRT8s come with metal hoods?

I wasnt in my jeep but a tire came off a semi in front of me and went right through my windshield at 70mph. I had to drive home Ace Ventura style and then get the windshield replaced. When on the highway I dont get behind trucks any more and when I do I keep a LONG distance between us.

I had a few rock chips but after a factory repaint for peeling I got the 3m clear bra. If you buy the piece on ebay and get a local guy to put it on its not 950 bucks. Mine was about 350 total. The kit is worth every cent.

As far as the repair goes, dont skimp. The jeep wouldnt do that to you:D

I wasnt in my jeep but a tire came off a semi in front of me and went right through my windshield at 70mph. I had to drive home Ace Ventura style and then get the windshield replaced. When on the highway I dont get behind trucks any more and when I do I keep a LONG distance between us.

I had a few rock chips but after a factory repaint for peeling I got the 3m clear bra. If you buy the piece on ebay and get a local guy to put it on its not 950 bucks. Mine was about 350 total. The kit is worth every cent.

As far as the repair goes, dont skimp. The jeep wouldnt do that to you:D

That's a very good point. The first place I looked was some local tint shop who jumped on the notion of the work and raised the price. Plenty of places to purchase on-line, just finding a reputable shop to apply.

PICS? Sorry to hear this bro. But yeah you see the rock flying in slow motion and you scream NOOOOOO! but you cant do anything about it.

I guess it could have been much worse. I was driving with my three daughters and I am still amazed the rock did not come threw the windshield. It did chip it right in front of the passenger seat where my 12 year old was sitting...

I would look into the best bodyshop in your area and have it repaired or use could always use the dent doctor. Post some pics when you get a chance.

You should have gotten the lic plate # and should of reported it , happened to me once and i reported the information such and the exact time and date and the company had sent me a check in the mail

does no one know what their hood is made of? do i have the only non metal hood? help me out here people.

That is terrible to hear...sorry man....hope it doenst cost you to much to repair

If its right in the middle maybe you can get a shop to fab up some kind of cowl or another type of scoop for air cooling. If you're gonna dish out all that dough to fix it you might as well mod it :D

Sux, but they'll need to repaint the whole hood.

does no one know what their hood is made of? do i have the only non metal hood? help me out here people.

What makes you think its not metal???? Some pics would help

Did you buy your new or used?

Sux, but they'll need to repaint the whole hood.

+1 Paint the whole hood, blending it can turn into a disaster if the don't know what there doing.

Also got to a good paint shop, matching panel to panel can be a B!tch

Jeep Trick...PM Sent
I don't want to highjack this thread. I think thats why everyone else has been ignoring me.
Lesson learned guys.

You should have gotten the lic plate # and should of reported it , happened to me once and i reported the information such and the exact time and date and the company had sent me a check in the mail

If the rock fell from the vehicle (like dump truck) then you have a case, but if it was already on the road then your screwed.

Damn that sucks man. Lets see some pics.

Not only will the entire hood have to be repainted, they will also have to blend in the front Fenders......

Depends how picky you are...maybe PDR and some color sanding by a body shop that knows what they are doing! A good one can work miracles.....

Do yourself a favor and dont let them blend it in have the entire hood repainted.

I am planning on having the entire hood repainted. I will post some pictures of the damage as soon as I can. The damage is not that bad but when I look at my beautiful beast with a ding on the hood and a nasty scratch, to me it looks like the end of the world. And no the rock did not fall off a truck it was kicked up off the ground by an 18 wheeler in front of me. Monday I am going to swing by some body shops and get some estimates. I hate body shops I have yet to see one produce any good results. If any of you know of a good shop in the central Florida area please let me know.