Collision Repair / In shop only
Major Collision Repair for Motorhomes and Trucks in Yorba Linda
Major collision repair covers impacts that reached structure. Frame correction, cap replacement, multi panel sidewall work and system rebuilds fall in this category. Jobs start near $20,000 and can exceed $150,000 at 100 to 800 or more labor hours, typically running six to sixteen weeks.
When a coach comes in on a wrecker the first question is not how much. It is whether the vehicle is worth repairing, and answering that honestly requires a real number rather than an estimate written from a photograph.
We tear these vehicles down before quoting a total because on a major hit the visible damage is routinely less than half the actual damage. Carriers make total loss decisions off numbers, and a number produced from the outside of a wrecked motorhome is not a reliable basis for writing off a $400,000 asset.
When does a collision become a structural repair?
The moment a datum point reads outside factory tolerance. That is the whole test and it is not a judgement call.
What causes it varies. A frontal impact into a chassis, a rear strike that loaded the frame in bending, a side impact into a slide opening, a rollover that deflected roof trusses, or a jackknife that torqued a fifth wheel pin box and the frame behind it. All of them show up as measurement.
What does a rollover repair actually involve?
Rollover is the most misunderstood repair in this category because the vehicle can look survivable and not be, or look destroyed and be entirely repairable.
The sequence is roof structure first, then sidewall framing, then the chassis. Roof trusses on a coach are not designed to carry the vehicle weight and they deflect predictably. Once they deflect, the sidewalls lose their top restraint and bow. Repair means restoring the roof structure to spec before anything is put back on the sides, because a sidewall reattached to a deflected roof will never sit right.
Interior systems have to be assumed compromised. Wiring, plumbing and LP lines all get inspected along their full run rather than at the visible break, because a rollover stretches runs at points nowhere near the impact.
Total loss versus repairable: how the decision gets made
A carrier compares repair cost against actual cash value, and above a threshold percentage the vehicle is totalled. That threshold varies by carrier and by state.
Two things owners rarely know. First, the ACV a carrier assigns is negotiable and is frequently based on comparables that do not reflect a coach with documented upgrades. Second, a repair estimate written from photographs tends to be low, which perversely can keep a vehicle out of total loss when it should be totalled, or the reverse once a supplement lands.
We supply a documented, teardown based repair figure so the decision is made against real numbers. Sometimes that confirms a total loss. Sometimes it saves a coach the carrier was ready to write off.
What does a major repair cost and how long does it take?
Structural work starts around $20,000 and the published ceiling on our collision line is $150,000 and up, at 100 to 800 or more labor hours.
Calendar time on these runs six to sixteen weeks. The long pole is almost never our shop hours. It is carrier supplement approval on a job with multiple supplements, and parts availability on caps, glass and structural components that are frequently built to order.
What Is Included
- 01Full teardown with photographic and dimensional documentation
- 02Frame and chassis correction to factory specification
- 03Roof truss and sidewall framing repair or replacement
- 04Front and rear cap replacement where required
- 05Full run inspection of wiring, plumbing and LP systems
- 06Slide mechanism realignment and operational verification
- 07Complete refinish with blend into undamaged panels
- 08ADAS scan and recalibration where equipped
- 09Post repair dimensional record supplied with the vehicle
Our Process and Timeline
Shop hours and calendar days are different things. These are the stages and the realistic duration of each.
- 011 to 2 days
Intake and total loss assessment
Vehicle documented in detail. If total loss is plausible we say so at intake rather than after weeks of work.
- 023 to 7 days
Teardown to structure
Damaged assemblies removed until structure is fully exposed. Every finding is photographed and measured.
- 035 to 15 days
Full supplement with evidence
A complete documented supplement goes to the carrier. Major jobs frequently need more than one as work progresses.
- 0410 to 30 days
Structural correction
Frame pulled and re measured. Roof and sidewall framing restored before any skin goes back on.
- 055 to 20 days
Systems restoration
Wiring, plumbing and LP inspected along full runs and repaired. Slides realigned and cycled.
- 0610 to 40 days
Body, paint, reassembly
Panels, caps, refinish in a 65 foot downdraft booth, full reassembly with new seals throughout.
- 072 to 3 days
Final inspection and documentation
Post repair measurement, systems verification, ADAS recalibration, and delivery with the full record.
Common Problems and How We Solve Them
The carrier declared the coach a total loss and I disagree.
SolutionWe produce a documented teardown based repair figure and an itemized upgrade record. Total loss decisions made against a photo estimate frequently change once real numbers exist.
The repair has needed three supplements and my carrier is pushing back.
SolutionMultiple supplements are normal on structural work because damage is discovered in stages. Each one goes over with photographs and measurements attached, which is what gets them approved.
The coach was repaired elsewhere and the slides no longer seal.
SolutionThat is usually a structural opening that was never returned to spec. We measure the slide opening, correct the structure, then realign the mechanism rather than shimming the seal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does major collision repair cost on a motorhome?
Structural work starts around $20,000 and runs past $150,000 on severe damage, at 100 to 800 or more labor hours at our posted $210 per hour body and paint rate.
How long will a major repair take?
Six to sixteen weeks typically. Carrier supplement approval and parts lead time on caps and structural components drive the calendar more than shop hours do.
Can a rolled motorhome be repaired?
Frequently yes. The determining factor is chassis condition and whether roof structure can be brought back to spec. We assess and measure before giving an opinion.
Will the coach be safe after a structural repair?
It is measured back to factory tolerance and the post repair dimensional record goes with the vehicle. That record is also what protects your disclosure position if you sell it later.
Do you handle the total loss negotiation?
We supply documentation. We are not public adjusters and we do not negotiate settlement on your behalf, but the evidence we produce is what those conversations turn on.
Vehicles We Perform This On
Related Services
We Can Help. Contact Us Today.
Bring the vehicle to our Yorba Linda facility and we will document the damage properly, work directly with your carrier, and give you a written figure built from published rates and real labor hours.
All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not offer mobile, roadside or fleet route service.