# RV and Specialty Vehicle Panel Replacement in Chino

> OCRV Center removes and replaces damaged body panels on RVs, vans, and commercial vehicles in our 35,000 sq ft Yorba Linda shop, fitting metal and fiberglass panels true to the body before refinish. All work is in shop only and insurance is billed direct.

When a panel is creased, punctured, or delaminated past the point of a clean repair, replacement is the honest fix. We strip the old panel, address whatever is behind it, then mount the new panel square to the surrounding body so the gaps and lines look factory. Every panel job is done in shop at our Yorba Linda facility.

## How we replace a body panel

A panel job starts by separating the damaged skin from the structure underneath, whether it is riveted, screwed, bonded, or welded. On laminated RV sidewalls that often means peeling back the outer skin without disturbing the framing and insulation beneath it. We inspect the substructure for hidden damage before anything new goes on, because a panel hung over a bent frame member will never sit right.

The replacement panel is then dry fit and adjusted until the body lines and gaps match the rest of the coach. We bond, rivet, or weld it per how the original was attached, seal the seams against water intrusion, then block, prime, and refinish so the new panel reads as part of the original body.

- Aluminum, steel, and composite sidewall skin replacement
- Filon and gel coat fiberglass panel replacement
- Substructure and framing inspection behind the old panel
- Bonded, riveted, and welded panel attachment to match the original
- Seam sealing and color matched refinish on every new panel

## Metal versus fiberglass panels

RVs and specialty vehicles mix materials, so the replacement method changes with the panel. Aluminum and steel skins are mechanically fastened or welded and worked flat before paint. Fiberglass and Filon panels are bonded and laminated, then the gel coat or paint surface is rebuilt over the repair. We work both in house, which means we are not forced to push you toward whichever material is easier for us.

## When the original panel is discontinued

On older motorhomes, vintage trailers, and specialty builds, the factory panel is frequently out of production. Rather than send you searching, we fabricate a replacement in metal or fiberglass to the original contour and mounting pattern. Having body, fiberglass, and fabrication under one roof is what lets us replace a panel that no parts counter still stocks.

## Frequently asked questions

### Should a damaged panel be repaired or replaced?

It depends on the damage. A shallow dent or small tear is usually repaired, but a panel that is creased through its body line, punctured, or delaminated across a large area is more reliably replaced. We assess it in shop and tell you which path actually holds up rather than which one bills more.

### Can you replace a panel if the original is no longer made?

Yes. When the factory panel is discontinued, we fabricate a replacement in metal or fiberglass to match the original contour and mounting points. That is one advantage of having body and fabrication shops together at our Yorba Linda facility.

### Will the new panel match the rest of my rig?

That is the goal. After the panel is fit and bonded, we block and prime it, then color match and blend the refinish into the adjacent panels so the repair reads as part of the original body.


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Source: https://oc-rv.com/services/panel-replacement/
OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Phone (949) 799-3387. In shop only; insurance billed direct.