A work van’s interior often sits directly against the body being repaired. Shelving, partitions and mounts can turn a straightforward-looking exterior dent into a job that also involves access from the load space.
What is fixed to the damaged area
The important equipment is the equipment near the repair. A storage unit may hide the back of a side panel; a step or rack may use attachments close to an impact. Product details and installation photographs help locate those connections.
An installation can also include wiring or plumbing. Removal needs to account for those connections and the relevant vehicle and equipment instructions, rather than treating the installation as loose cargo.
Loose cargo and permanent equipment are different
Tools and stock can often be removed by the business before intake. Fixed shelving, partitions and powered equipment may require a different arrangement. Establish which items will remain with the van when it is delivered.
An inventory and photographs record the equipment’s condition at handover. That gives the driver, business and repairer a common reference if an existing mark or missing loose item is raised later.
Access work belongs in the scope
The estimate should identify equipment that must be removed to reach the body repair and the work needed to put it back. If a specialist installer is involved, its responsibility and timing need to fit the body repair.
A price covering an exterior panel alone is different from one that includes removing and reinstalling interior equipment. Ford and Ram upfit resources provide background for the vehicle; the installed equipment also has its own instructions.
Putting the van back to work
The completed repair record should identify components disturbed during the job and any work performed by a separate installer. Keep those records together with the equipment inventory.
Before assigning the van to its next job, the business needs to review the loading and equipment functions that its work relies on. A finished body panel does not by itself describe the condition of every fitted accessory.
Sources & further reading
- Ford Pro: upfit publications
Vehicle-specific manuals should guide professional upfit work.
- Ram: upfit resources
Ram identifies its Body Builder’s Guide as a technical resource for equipment manufacturers and installers.
Prepared by Apex EP Solutions Group. The linked references provide background on vehicle equipment and repair requirements. The applicable repair method depends on the vehicle and damage.
Body repair at Orange Coast
Call Orange Coast Auto Body / RV to arrange an estimate at the Fountain Valley shop.