Auto body repair & detailing: How is the best way to start?, drywall mudding and taping, patching drywall

Question
Hi Mike, I'm a retired engineer with plenty of time on my hands. I'm skilled enough to do fairly good woodwork and enjoy  things like drywall mudding and taping, but I have never tried any auto body work.  Now I find in have a "sideswipe" type dent that runs about 4 feet along the right bed panel of my 2002 Tundra.  The worse damage is just about the right rear tire where the panel sort of bows out.  I would like to do as much of the repair as possible as estimates run from $1100 to $800.  I follow directions well and would really like some help from a REAL pro.  What do you think?  I can attach a photo if you like.

Answer
There's a couple tools you will need for the job to start. I use a 3M Scotch wheel (about $12.00 @ the hardware store)to take off paint or a small body grinder. Then you will need a stud gun to weld pulling studs  in dent to be pulled (stud gun starts @ about $400.00). While pulling the dent little by little, tap the high spots down with a good flat body hammer(about $25.00). Cut the studs off and grind smooth. After all that, a couple light smears of body filler, block sand, prime, block sand again and paint. There is a lot more to fixing a dent than patching drywall and a lot more tools. If you have access to the right tools, you might be able to fix it yourself. Then comes paint and those tools. If you are buying the tools, it would be cheaper to have the shop fix it. A pint of color runs upwards to $80.00 plus clear. Cheap is about $100.00 plus per gallon.