Recommendations For Bodywork Repair.

[Paullus1959]

I’m currently in France and due to a number of reasons we arrived at our destination in the dark. Unfortunately, there was no other choice than to get onto our designated pitch which as it turned out was tricky even in daylight. Unfortunately, I managed to catch the offside panel above the window and the plastic wheel arch cover on a wooden building. So, after a 320 mile journey from Cherbourg, I dink the caravan less than 30 feet from the pitch.
The wheel arch trim will have to be replaced but I’m more concerned about the shallow groove I’ve put in the aluminium panel which measure about 24”long by 2” wide and about 1/4“ deep.
I’m hoping to avoid an insurance claim if possible. I have contacted one place near to home but I find it off putting when their reply starts with “Oh that’s going to be very expensive to fix” without even seeing it and based on a couple of photographs of a shiny, reflective white panel taken in bright sunshine.
Can anyone personally recommend somewhere where the damage can be made good within a radius of 80 miles of Uttoxeter, Staffs?
I’m absolutely gutted!

 

[Jcloughie]

I once got too close to a very tall hedge as a lorry was coming towards me. A high level branch left a long scratch above the window level. Not deep but it needed filling. I did claim on the insurance. And a good job was made of the filling. But I refused to accept it 3 times as they could not get the paint to blend in. It would have been better to paint the whole side. Perhaps I had a poor tradesman.

John

 

[otherclive]

This company may be able to help:

Plastic Caravan Repairs - Neil The Caravan Medic

Neil The Caravan Medic can complete plastic caravan repairs on the exterior of caravans or motorhomes. We use a range of methods to complete the plastic caravan repairs. Contact us today for a free no-obligation quote.

www.neilthecaravanmedic.co.uk

 

[Mr Plodd]

It's an aluminium side, not GRP. See original post!

 

[otherclive]

It's an aluminium side, not GRP. See original post!

If you open the link you will see their Gallery photos which include repairs to aluminium sidings. Slow down on the draw 😱

 

[Mel]

Dustydog is using someone in the South west who is well recommended. Can’t remember the name but I am sure someone will. He posted a thread about his prang.
Further than 80 miles from Uttoxeter but may be worth the journey to get a good job
Don’t give yourself a hard time, could happen to anyone. Put it behind you and enjoy your break

Edit. Found it: mjlovell

Motorhome & Caravan Repairs in Highbridge, Somerset - MJ Lovell Caravans

MJ Lovell Caravans - Caravan & Motorhome Repairs in Highbridge, Somerset

www.mjlovellcaravans.co.uk

Mel

 

[Buckman]

In Birmingham there is a company in Tipton called Premier Towing Centre. They have a very good reputation as repairing caravans is their main business.

 

[otherclive]

Dustydog is using someone in the South west who is well recommended. Can’t remember the name but I am sure someone will. He posted a thread about his prang.
Further than 80 miles from Uttoxeter but may be worth the journey to get a good job
Don’t give yourself a hard time, could happen to anyone. Put it behind you and enjoy your break

Edit. Found it: mjlovell

Motorhome & Caravan Repairs in Highbridge, Somerset - MJ Lovell Caravans

MJ Lovell Caravans - Caravan & Motorhome Repairs in Highbridge, Somerset

www.mjlovellcaravans.co.uk

Mel

I have a friend whose motorhome has been into Lovells for damp repairs at £10k and he’s very pleased with their service. I think Dusty had an earlier prang and I think he used lovells for that repair.

 

[Dustydog]

I’m currently in France and due to a number of reasons we arrived at our destination in the dark. Unfortunately, there was no other choice than to get onto our designated pitch which as it turned out was tricky even in daylight. Unfortunately, I managed to catch the offside panel above the window and the plastic wheel arch cover on a wooden building. So, after a 320 mile journey from Cherbourg, I dink the caravan less than 30 feet from the pitch.
The wheel arch trim will have to be replaced but I’m more concerned about the shallow groove I’ve put in the aluminium panel which measure about 24”long by 2” wide and about 1/4“ deep.
I’m hoping to avoid an insurance claim if possible. I have contacted one place near to home but I find it off putting when their reply starts with “Oh that’s going to be very expensive to fix” without even seeing it and based on a couple of photographs of a shiny, reflective white panel taken in bright sunshine.
Can anyone personally recommend somewhere where the damage can be made good within a radius of 80 miles of Uttoxeter, Staffs?
I’m absolutely gutted!

That’s real bad luck. You will have seen on here , back in July I bashed ours . Mel has kindly mentioned the firm MJ Lovell.160 mile round trip for me but we’ll worth it. There’s nothing too complicated for Martin and Sam Lovell.. Nearly £3k to fix . All approved by my insurer. Repairs start next month. Looking at yours the wheel arch should be easily replaced. Has any of the surrounding bodywork been damaged?
The aluminium panel is hard to see the damage with all the reflections .It looks like there is a vertical crease as well as the long horizontal ones?Any better pics? Mine is aluminium sides. Anyone who can fix plastics will do aluminium just as easily.
My neighbours mum drove into the Wyoming last year. It cost her £660 for a mobile body repairer who came to my place. Took him 4 hours. Very impressive. Here’s a pic of the damage about 18/24 inches long plus all the scuffs.
I’d start with Clive’s chap first.
Now go and enjoy your holiday, the caravan will be fixed as good as new👍

 

[Paullus1959]

Thank you for all the replies and kind words of support. I’m still mad at myself but there does seem to be every indication that the damage can be made good.
I contacted the dealer I bought it from earlier and one option mentioned was to replace the whole side panel. I’m just waiting for a price.
Premier Towing Centre as mentioned by Buckman has an impressive gallery of before and after pictures of awful damage and after repairs have been done. They are reasonably close to home also.
I will also contact The Caravan Medic and the others mentioned too.
I am thoroughly enjoying my holiday here but, as a consequence, trying to take photographs in bright sunshine of a white reflective surface that shows the damage in it full ugliness is proving tricky.

 

[Ukdave2002]

We have all scraped a car or caravan, don't beat your self up about it!

Last weekend I took advantage of the good weather and completed a similar repair myself; when we bought our caravan there was a shallow 9"ish long dent not dissimilar to yours. I'm quite familiar with bodywork as I restore old cars. Initially tried a glue pull and got around 70% of the dent out, its more tricky glue pulling on a bonded aluminium caravan panel than on a car panel, I didn't want to risk stretching the aluminium any more than it was or create a "volcano" dent ,so I decided to fill and paint . I had the paint mixed by a local firm and being white (thank god caravans are not red or yellow!) its very easy blend into to original paint, the repair is invisible. An experienced PDR tec, may get it out without filler & paint, but I doubt it.

Any of the mobile dent firms should be able to sort it out for you, filling and painting dents is what they do all day. They carry a complete set of paint mixers & tints so will be able to get the paint match right. It looks as if there is a graphic that has a dent in? that will almost certainly have to be replaced, you should be be able to get a replacement one. The wheel arch will just screw on; something that you could replace yourself?

 

[Paullus1959]

We have all scraped a car or caravan, don't beat your self up about it!

Last weekend I took advantage of the good weather and completed a similar repair myself; when we bought our caravan there was a shallow 9"ish long dent not dissimilar to yours. I'm quite familiar with bodywork as I restore old cars. Initially tried a glue pull and got around 70% of the dent out, its more tricky glue pulling on a bonded aluminium caravan panel than on a car panel, I didn't want to risk stretching the aluminium any more than it was or create a "volcano" dent ,so I decided to fill and paint . I had the paint mixed by a local firm and being white (thank god caravans are not red or yellow!) its very easy blend into to original paint, the repair is invisible. An experienced PDR tec, may get it out without filler & paint, but I doubt it.

Any of the mobile dent firms should be able to sort it out for you, filling and painting dents is what they do all day. They carry a complete set of paint mixers & tints so will be able to get the paint match right. It looks as if there is a graphic that has a dent in? that will almost certainly have to be replaced, you should be be able to get a replacement one. The wheel arch will just screw on; something that you could replace yourself?

Thanks Dave.
I think I’m going to go down the fill and spray route. Fortunately the graphic isn’t damaged but a small section of the ripple effect feature in the panel that runs the entire length of the panel is. I think a carefully thought out disguise with a graphic or badge will have to mask that after it’s repainted.

Further to my last though, I have contacted a couple of places including Premier Towing Centre who I’ve just got off the phone too. They contacted Coachman asking about a replacement side panel as one option. They have had a reply from Coachman basically stating that nothing at all is any longer produced or stocked for my model, the 2016 VIP 575/4. They thought this was very unusual and had never come across it before.
I find this absolutely unbelievable and nothing short of shocking quite frankly, as this exact model was made up until 2017.
How can they not stock any parts for a caravan that only stopped being made 6 years ago?

 

[Dustydog]

Thanks Dave.
I think I’m going to go down the fill and spray route. Fortunately the graphic isn’t damaged but a small section of the ripple effect feature in the panel that runs the entire length of the panel is. I think a carefully thought out disguise with a graphic or badge will have to mask that after it’s repainted.

Further to my last though, I have contacted a couple of places including Premier Towing Centre who I’ve just got off the phone too. They contacted Coachman asking about a replacement side panel as one option. They have had a reply from Coachman basically stating that nothing at all is any longer produced or stocked for my model, the 2016 VIP 575/4. They thought this was very unusual and had never come across it before.
I find this absolutely unbelievable and nothing short of shocking quite frankly, as this exact model was made up until 2017.
How can they not stock any parts for a caravan that only stopped being made 6 years ago?

I’m not surprised but disappointed with Coachman who are seen a cut above the rest. How long is your water ingress warranty?
I believe you have chosen the correct repair route . You won’t know it‘s been done. A whole side replacement is pretty major.

 

[Paullus1959]

I’m not surprised but disappointed with Coachman who are seen a cut above the rest. How long is your water ingress warranty?
I believe you have chosen the correct repair route . You won’t know it‘s been done. A whole side replacement is pretty major.

I managed to get a vague ballpark figure of between £8,000 to £10,000 for a complete side panel replacement. Somewhat eye-watering to say the least.
Fortunately, the panel isn't pierced so, still watertight.

I‘m still in France at the moment, leaving on Sunday. I just hope the groove I’ve added to the sidewall doesn’t affect the aerodynamics of my caravan too much 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Dustydog]

My latest damage has pierced the aluminium skin. The repairer and Insurers engineer assure me it is permanently repairable and nothing to worry about.

 

[Paullus1959]

What a joke but sadly a bad one!
I initially contacted Coachman about the damage. They basically fobbed me off and told me to contact the dealer I bought It from which I have done. The dealer has just replied saying they can’t do the repair as it’s beyond them but to contact Coachman directly.
Round and round we go. 🤣🤣🤣
Something that concerns me now though however is my caravan‘s ten year water ingress warranty. I have it serviced every year in accordance with the terms of the warranty. So, what happens if damp is discovered and parts which Coachman no longer stock or produce need to be replaced under warranty?
Is it just me who’s beginning to think this is whole thing is starting to stink?

 

[Buckman]

What a joke but sadly a bad one!
I initially contacted Coachman about the damage. They basically fobbed me off and told me to contact the dealer I bought It from which I have done. The dealer has just replied saying they can’t do the repair as it’s beyond them but to contact Coachman directly.
Round and round we go. 🤣🤣🤣
Something that concerns me now though however is my caravan‘s ten year water ingress warranty. I have it serviced every year in accordance with the terms of the warranty. So, what happens if damp is discovered and parts which Coachman no longer stock or produce need to be replaced under warranty?
Is it just me who’s beginning to think this is whole thing is starting to stink?

Maybe time to notify the insurance company and let them deal with it?

 

[Paullus1959]

Since I've returned home things have moved on. I took my caravan to a place close to home. The gentleman there clearly thought he'd got a pair of clueless old fa**s on his hands because he straightaway asked if we realised that we'd got a very expensive caravan on our hands. He then went on to wring his hands and shake his head stating that it was going to be a really tough job, he'd have to replace the whole side panel which involved lifting the roof and removing both the front and rear panels and he'd have to build a special jig but, he'd done that before and then there's the labour oh woe is me etc. etc.
He then plucked a figure based on his extensive experience of £10,000 to £15,000 to do the job. He then proceeded to pull a fat roll of £10 & £20 notes out of his pocket and started counting them while suggesting that obviously, it would be cheaper for cash! At which point, my wife decided she'd had enough of this nonsense and returned to the car. A totally objectionable individual to whom I wouldn't take a wheelbarrow to fix, even if he offered to do it for nothing. Before leaving I asked for a written quote for my insurance company. Needless to say, one hasn't materialized.

The loss adjuster viewed the damage on Sunday and we discussed the options. I made it clear to him that I didn't want to get rid of the caravan and would prefer to have the panel repaired rather than replaced.

Moving on, I've just had an email to say that the repair has been authorised and it will be done by Panelworks in Doncaster who have an excellent reputation.
Fingers are firmly crossed.

 

[Dustydog]

Good news! Another top drawer caravan repairer for our list.
We now have Highbridge South West and Doncaster South Yorks

 

[Paullus1959]

Good news! Another top drawer caravan repairer for our list.
We now have Highbridge South West and Doncaster South Yorks

The insurance guy who looked at my caravan explained to me that he has a pile of complaints on his desk regarding certain companies that carry out caravan repairs. He told me that Panelworks have never appeared in that pile, which is reassuring. He was interested in my experience at the local place I'd visited as well.

 

[Paullus1959]

***UPDATE***
My caravan is now with Panelworks in Doncaster having the work carried out. I'll update further when it's done.

 

[Buckman]

***UPDATE***
My caravan is now with Panelworks in Doncaster having the work carried out. I'll update further when it's done.

Thanks for the update and please to know that the issue is being resolved. Was a better price finally agreed?

 

[Dustydog]

Note to PCv Editors.
Maybe time you guys did an article on one our top caravan body repairers. People don’t understand just how specialised and difficult some of the work is . And why there good and bad out there,

 

[Paullus1959]

Thanks for the update and please to know that the issue is being resolved. Was a better price finally agreed?

Yes, the Panelworks price came in at less than £5000 for an invisible repair with a two-year warranty. Interestingly, a replacement panel only carries a 12-month warranty.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTi-7KTqSbw

 

[otherclive]

Nigel Hutson did an article on Panelworks back in 2012/13 They have consistently been given good reviews. Perhaps time for another article showing just what can be achieved by specialists companies.

Caravan body panels

A friend with a caravan that is no longer manufactured has damaged the rear corner and as a result it is to be written off by his insurance company. Can anyone help by advising where he may get second hand parts ie. breakers yard.

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