Commercial and Heavy Vehicles / In shop only
Refrigerated Truck Body Repair in Yorba Linda
A reefer body is an insulated sandwich panel, so a skin puncture is a thermal efficiency problem rather than a cosmetic one. Moisture entering the foam core degrades insulation permanently and the damage spreads well beyond the visible puncture.
This is the single most misunderstood repair in commercial vehicle work. A small puncture in a reefer skin looks like a cosmetic issue and is not.
The panel is a sandwich: outer skin, foam core, inner liner. The foam is the insulation and it is closed cell for a reason. Once water gets in, it stays in, and that section of wall stops insulating.
Why is a small puncture a big problem?
Because moisture migrates through the core well beyond the entry point, and it does not dry out. A wet core section conducts heat rather than resisting it, so the unit works harder in that area permanently, fuel consumption rises and temperature uniformity in the load space degrades.
It is also progressive. A wet core loses compressive strength, which means the panel starts flexing, which opens the puncture further and admits more water. That cycle does not stop on its own.
How is a reefer panel repaired properly?
The wet core section is removed rather than sealed over. Sealing the skin traps the moisture inside where it continues to do damage, and the panel will fail again around the repair.
Skin and liner repair runs $1,000 to $18,000 at 8 to 80 labor hours. The wide range reflects how far the wet core extends, which is not visible from outside and is why assessment matters before quoting.
- Wet core extent assessed before quoting, not assumed from the puncture size
- Wet core section removed rather than sealed over
- New core and skin installed with a proper vapour seal
- Inner liner restored so the load space stays cleanable
- All penetrations resealed to prevent recurrence
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does reefer skin and liner repair cost?
$1,000 to $18,000 at 8 to 80 labor hours. The range reflects how far the wet core extends, which is not visible from outside.
Can I just seal the puncture?
It will look fixed and continue getting worse. Sealing traps the moisture in the core where it keeps degrading insulation and compressive strength. The wet section has to come out.
How do I know if the core is wet?
Assessment. Visible symptoms include panel flexing, frost patterns in one area, and the unit working harder on one side. A small puncture with no symptoms may still have a wet area around it.
Do you service the refrigeration unit?
No. Body, insulated panel, skin and liner work only. Refrigeration unit service is specialist work for a reefer technician.
Services We Perform on This Vehicle
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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.