Proof!! I am NOT a perfect driver!

So here it goes… I live in a gated apartment complex. The gate style is 2 slow metal swinging gates and a quicker plastic one that goes up and down to let just one car through at a time. Well up till about a week ago the plastic gate would go up first, then you would just have to wait for the metal gates to open far enough so you could get through. But now they have it that the darn plastic one doesn't go up till the metal ones are open. So yesterday I pulled up and while waiting for the gates to open I leaned over to fix the passenger side seat belt (you know how makes all that noise if you don't put it between the seats). Looked back up, saw the metal gates were open, and I started forward… oops! Plastic gate wasn't up yet!

http://superjens.com/xterra/gate.mpg

Gate is fine, they have to replace it about once a month from folks hitting it and it was already bent from someone else.

The X was left with quite a bit of white scuffs that took me all of 5 minutes to remove with a wet paper towel, but after removing them I found that it left a nice foot long or so impression in the fender. Blah, first battle scar! Anyone have experience with dent wizard?

I have used the "paintless" dent repair before and have been happy with the results. You will have to have them look at it to make sure that they can fix it.

Good luck!

Why do they have a flimsy plastic gate protecting those big steel gates ?

The plastic one closes after you go thorough to keep other cars from going in/out behind you. The metal ones are too slow to prevent that... but one the exit i don't see why only 1 person can leave at time...

D'oh!

thats pretty funny.

That little gate didn't do much to stop you. I see you didn't even bother to stop and check the damage.

Actually the gate was plastic and I could see that it was fine when I went past it. I knew there would be at least a scuff mark on the X but I knew it would be the same then as it would be when I got to where I was going.

So the gate just flexed back? As long as it didnt get in the way of the steel gates closing it shouldn't be a problem.

Get a plunger, or a floor tile puller (for those with modular flooring at work) and try to pull out the dent with the suction. I have seen it done before successfully, but I have never tried it myself... flame on.

Looks like the dent is creased. Is it or just an illusion? If it is creased, forget a suction cup, head to the body shop...
Michael

I see those gates and I think of Bushwood Country Club from Caddyshack

I had a gate like that once, but of wood, kinda freak out like the gate in the video. The only thing tho, I was driving a Fedex truck and the gate decided to try to close before the truck cleared.

Truck 1...Gate 0

Yeah its cool, still there and trying to hit cars! That's actually the second time, the first was the day I moved in, and when I was pulling through with the 48' U-Haul it closed when I was half way through. Did the same thing then too, bent back into shape. Same gate hit my aunt and uncle's car as they were going through in a little Lumina. Thing sucks! I try to gun it though to keep from getting hit every time I go through. Not sure how many whack it takes to break it but they replace it about once a month it seems, sometimes there's just a little nub hanging there.

good thing i hit it when i did! Someone came along last week and ripped it off. They replaced it with a wooden one... which lasted all of 4 days as it was broken off yesterday. I dont think the wood would have been as forgiving!