At Your Service: Collision Centers
posted on 04/15/2008 10:04 in RV Services
Whether from an accident, water damage or mischief-makers, your RV’s body may need some specialized reconstruction at some point during its life.
The five most common RV body repairs are the result of collisions, roof and ceiling damage, passenger side damage, tire blowouts and vandalism. When the unthinkable happens, it is important to know what to do to ensure that your RV is repaired the right way, with the right parts to protect your investment and restore it to its original condition.
After an Accident
After making sure that everyone is okay, notify the authorities right away and make a formal report to preserve the facts of the accident. Your insurance company may request a copy of the police report for their records. After filing the report, contact your insurance carrier and speak to a claims representative. Provide as much detail of the accident as possible.
Choose a repair facility familiar with RV repair to evaluate the amount of damage that has occurred. Using a specialized RV repair facility instead of an automotive body shop helps ensure timely repairs by professionals who are accustomed to ordering RV parts, repairing RV body and structural components and matching paint or replacing graphics. Some RV owners make the mistake of bringing their unit to a large truck or auto repair center that may lack the equipment, trained personnel or access to RV parts to ensure timely, quality repair work. This can lead to inflated repair costs, unnecessary down time for your RV and unsatisfactory repairs. Auto body shops frequently don’t have the space to get your RV indoors, compromising the quality of the repairs, especially if paint work is required.
Dare to Compare
While you are not required to get multiple estimates before choosing a repair facility, it is a good idea to compare cost, professionalism, warranty on the repair and time estimates if there are multiple RV repair facilities in your area. Your insurance company can provide the names of repair facilities in your area that participate in their Direct Repair Program. This speeds up the repair process and provides you with a written guarantee on the repairs performed.
Scheduling Repair
Scheduling your RV’s repair depends on the repair facility’s schedule, how extensive the damage is and how much of a hurry you are in to get your RV back on the road. Some body and structural damage, such as to the roof, demands immediate attention to prevent further damage from weather exposure. If the damage is mostly cosmetic and doesn’t interfere with driving or using the RV, you can schedule repairs according to your schedule or when the repair facility’s schedule isn’t as busy.
The nature of the damage, the availability of parts and how busy the repair facility may be all determine how long repairs will take. More extensive repairs can take several weeks.
Avoiding Repairs
How do you avoid having body work done on your RV? There are some preventive measures you can take.
* Take a professional RV driving course. These specialized courses are offered throughout the country, and teach you accident avoidance techniques. Some insurance companies offer discounts for course completion.
* Know your RV’s height. First-time RVers may underestimate their vehicle’s height, resulting in collisions with bridges and overhangs. Check your RV owner’s manual or measure your RV at its highest point, allowing for rooftop accessories like air conditioners, vent covers and antennas. Post the overall height requirement where you can see it from the driver’s seat, and pay attention to height postings on bridges, overpasses, tunnels or service center canopies.
* Avoid tight turns. Many RVs have long rear overhangs that require wide turns to avoid clipping poles, curbs or other structure on corners. Watch your passenger side mirror and turn wide enough to avoid passenger side damage.
* Check your tires regularly. A blowout can cause damage to wheel wells, plumbing, holding tanks and the RV sidewall. Before each trip, check for proper tire inflation on all tires and look for excessive or unusual wear or damage to tire treads and sidewalls. It’s also a good idea to check lug nut torque to prevent losing a wheel, causing a serious accident and major damage.
* Don’t invite thieves and vandals. Park in well-lit, secure areas. Lock all doors and compartments when you leave the RV. Thieves look for easy targets, and will likely move on to a less-risky opportunity if your RV is secure and clearly visible to onlookers.
The Right Insurance
Make sure your insurance covers the specialized needs of RVs. Features to look for include full-time coverage if you live in your RV all or part of the year; personal effects coverage for the belongings and equipment inside your RV; towing expense coverage that pays for a larger tow truck required by most RVs and towing to the nearest facility equipped to do RV repairs; full RV replacement cost if your RV is a total loss, and suspension of coverage when the RV is not in use to reduce premium costs.
If you are facing RV body repairs, Camping World’s nationwide network of RV Collision Centers offer repair and renovation services for all types of RVs. Trained personnel who are familiar with RV construction and parts procurement from RV manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers will do the job in state-of-the-art repair facilities that easily accommodate the largest RVs.
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