Pro Quality Dent Puller?

[fotochop]

having tried the $1.99 Harbor Freight version to no avail, I'm hoping someone may be able to point me to a high-quality dent puller, suction-cup, that might be able to work on this big soft dent in the rear of my rig:


any info appreciated..

[TWaugh]

Ding King, but I'm not sure it will work effectively on an indentation that size. Maybe if you worked in stages around the indent.

I too tried suction tools without much luck. I ended up removing the inner shell and then worked it out by hand. Needless to say, that is an extreme task.

DingKing.tv | Home

Tom Waugh

[68 TWind]

I had big dents in the rear of my Trade Wind on above window where someone in the past had backed it under a garage that was just a little low. I tried all the tricks that are posted on various forums and nothing worked. The aluminum in the shell is just too thick and tough to work like auto sheet metal. Since I was doing the bath and had the interior out, I removed the fiberglass end cap in the bath. I next had a guy who does the paintless dent repair at the local car dealership come by. He had fixed a couple of big dents in my daughters Accord and his work is amazing. The aluminum just would not work. He could not get enough leverage to "move" the metal. Don't waste time on that idea. The last resort was the old fashion way, very carefully using dollies and body hammers (Harbor Freight has them), I very gently worked the dents out. I had several creases that would not just push out. You will need someone on the outside to hold the dolly. It is tricky and you can make things worse if you are not very careful. A quick glance and you won't see my dings, close inspections you can but few people every notice.
Good luck.

[fotochop]

thanks, TW, I'm only considering it because there's a blog video in cyberspace from this couple that's fulltiming and the guy's father in law fixes this pretty substantial dent with a suction puller....dude makes it look so easy its crazy! ...but, yes, I know its gotta be tougher...

I had my lower bath out a year ago but just didn't have the jam to pull the upper cap out at the time (I was on the verge of AS burnout ;-)....now I'm wishing I had taken a breather and pulled the cap...

I also have an even bigger dent (with creases) in the front that looks like it may require full panel replacement...ugh...

[goransons]

how about renting or borrowing an glass suction cup? Also check with the body shops, I seem to recall someone using a hot melt type glue to attach small tabs onto surfaces and pull dents that way, glue then could be heated up slightly and popped off without leaving marks on the metal.

[hartusi]

I found an 18" dent on the rear corner of my 08 one morning and bought two of the Harbor Freight 4" ($4 or $5 each) suction cups. I sprayed some cooking oil on the area to increase the effective suction and used both suction cups at the same time. I actually was pleased at how well the dent popped out.

Dave Hartley
Seattle

[Zeppelinium]

Originally Posted by goransons

how about renting or borrowing an glass suction cup? Also check with the body shops, I seem to recall someone using a hot melt type glue to attach small tabs onto surfaces and pull dents that way, glue then could be heated up slightly and popped off without leaving marks on the metal.

I think that was ROYCE. Haven't seen him post for awhile.

I've had some success with the Harbor Freight cups. They work great if the shape of the dent allows them to get a grip.

Zep

[Yhottys]

We're thinking about purchasing the Body Buddy to pull out an intractable front curbside dent on our 1961 Bambi. Body Buddy Vacu-Dent Pneumatic Dent Puller
At $199 it's not cheap, but we've heard great things about it. We believe a member posted his experience with it on a similar thread.

However we've had incredible results using a suction cup similar to the image below. It helps to work on the dent when it's hot outside, or use a blow dryer at its maximum setting to heat up the aluminum, making it easier to manipulate. We pulled out a dent on our 1974 Tradewind similar to yours using it.

Good luck! Please let us know how things work out.

[Keyair]

I have been looking at these and like this one better...

Klutch Pneumatic Dent Puller | Auto Body Tools | Northern Tool + Equipment

[Chasmorgan]

I've used the Harbor Freight product with great results. Put a little water on the cup and the grip was enough to pull out a 12 inch divit! I agree that this is better done on a warm if not hot day. The result was not perfect but hard to detect unless you were looking for it.

[Keyair]

Check out my post asking for before and after pics.
There is a similar dent in the rear cap of one of them that came out pretty well.
I also just found that Klutch dent puller on Ebay cheaper...

[dlb435]

I bought a cheap vacuum type dent puller at Autozone and then connected it up to a 1 hp Gast vacuum pump. Spread on some KY jelly to get a good seal and was able to pull several good size dents out.
The trick here is to just have a 1 hp vacuum pump just laying around the house.

[SRW]

Try the Body Buddy Vacu-dent.

I have seen it work and it did a surprisingly good job on dents in several different Airstreams.

It requires a source of 85psig compressed air (strangely enough).

You can find it online at:

Auto Body Toolmart - Paint Booths, Shop Equipment, Dent Repair Tools

for about $200

[ALTE797]

I seem to recall a thread with a similar dent that was repaired by heating the dented area until it popped out !

[Tinsel Loaf]

The orange plastic dent puller from Harbor Freight will not work on your dent. The suction is good but when it breaks loose be ready to pick yourself up off the ground.
Try a vacu-dent first from a body shop first.
Tinsel

[Frank McFee]

I also have a dent that I would like to repair, but some of the suction cup tools will not get a grip. Looking from the rear, the dent is on the upper right hand corner above and to the right of the rear window. I think I can get to the dent from the inside if I could figure our how to remove the upper rear wall locker. I can not find any screws or way to remove the locker. The end panel next to the lift up door has no visiable way to remove. I can remove the door but I can not see any other fastners. This is a 2007 Bambi SE with the Safari interior. Has anyone removed this rear locker from this model? Any suggestions.
Frank

[AIR-Quarius]

Originally Posted by fotochop

having tried the $1.99 Harbor Freight version to no avail, I'm hoping someone may be able to point me to a high-quality dent puller, suction-cup, that might be able to work on this big soft dent in the rear of my rig:
Attachment 96492

any info appreciated..

Try going to a hospital pharmacy and look for a portable double suction cup handle (about a foot long)...they have two great suction cups and are designed to support the weight of a human being. Cost about twenty four bucks. It's white and in a plastic bag.

[TWaugh]

Try contacting "Shacksman" here on the forum with a PM. He brought a heck of a gadget with him to the Bash last summer and it did a fairly successful job reducing the effects of a large dent. It required an air compressor to supply the pressure to operate the suction cup (uses venturi effect to create vacuum). I missed getting him to try it on the dent in the front curb side of my Caravel. Maybe I can convince him to bring it to Bash II and help me out.

[Keyair]

Santa delivered early at the Keyair household!

[Zeppelinium]

Goody, goody. I go by your town now and then. Next time I get out there with the Overlander (and its dent), I'll stop by!

Zep