Either someone hit me, or I hit someone. Either way my tailgate is very messed up.

There's 3 scratches about 8-12 inches long, then my pinstriping is a little scratched up.

My truck is a 96 reg cab, and it's two tone. Red pearl base, with a polar color white stripe going around it. The stripe is about 2-3 feet wide, and on top of the stripe, there's pinstriping , then it goes to red.

Is it possible for someone to tell me what I'm looking at for repainting?

I'll take pictures tomorrow.

 

vandalism maybe?

 

That's my vote, J. How can you hit or be hit on your tailgate without other damage? Unless someone's mirror did it, but that's pretty close since it should have creased or dented as well. Just scratches screams foul-play.

 

depending on the depth of the scratches maybe it can be covered with a good buff job (dont know if they did clearcoat in 96)

As far as painting, a tailgate on its own is pretty cheap to paint and you dont even have to leave your truck at the body shop. However, with all of that striping it may be pricey to replicate (several hundred dollars)

But your truck is a 96 (8 yrs old) is is worth it? Or just keep driving it and take that repaint money and put it towards your next truck.