DIY Gutter Repair?

[shimmy]

I have done a little damage to my new Gren on the trail. Funny enough it was before she even hit 200 miles, and didn’t even notice till I got home. Anyway, I must have rolled over a boulder which rocked us into a tree right on the passenger side, and ended up with this bit crunch in the gutter and plastic trim. Is there any way to repair this myself (within reason, to make it at least straight again).

Picture is a bad angle but it’s crunched up about 30mm at the worst point.

My guess would be pull the plastic trim, warm it up with a heat gun and gentle prodding, but I’ve never done bodywork before. I don’t want to inadvertently make it _worse_. Advice appreciated!!

 

[Clark Kent]

I have done a little damage to my new Gren on the trail. Funny enough it was before she even hit 200 miles, and didn’t even notice till I got home. Anyway, I must have rolled over a boulder which rocked us into a tree right on the passenger side, and ended up with this bit crunch in the gutter and plastic trim. Is there any way to repair this myself (within reason, to make it at least straight again).

Picture is a bad angle but it’s crunched up about 30mm at the worst point.

View attachment 7914264

My guess would be pull the plastic trim, warm it up with a heat gun and gentle prodding, but I’ve never done bodywork before. I don’t want to inadvertently make it _worse_. Advice appreciated!!

Firstly, bad luck but at least it happened while you were out using your vehicle as intended not in a car park .

Your approach seems sound but if you're at all nervous about it this looks like an easy job for a mobile PDR guy (paintless dent removal). They will have the hammers, bars, tips and dollies to take care of it while keeping pressure away from the roof flange.

 

[rob88]

Pull the plastic trim off first. Use a dent puller on the metal; don't heat it. Work it out slowly with small tugs. You can then heat and reshape the plastic trim before re-installing it.