Jasper Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 My fab holiday was marred yesterday by a great big truck hitting my Hymer Van from behind when stationary in a traffic jam. It's going to be an insurance job as the inner wooden lining wall is badly cracked as well as the outer rear panel being bent (i won't even bother to describe the bike rack!). The insurance company want the repairs to be carried out by Truck East at Wellingborough. Has anyone heard of them and if so would you recommend. I am very sceptical as they don't mention motorhome repairs anywhere on their website. Alternatively I would appreciate any recommendations for a quality repair place preferably near Northamptonshire. Many thanks Jasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford60 Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 hi jasper, sorry to hear your news. if your insurer thinks a normal truck repairer can sort a motorhome they must be bonkers. however, how far are you into the claims procedure? it may be that you are dealing with a very junior member of staff. i would ask to speak to someone with motorhome knowledge. have you contacted the garage to see if they are able to carry out such repairs to a guaranteed standard. finally, if you are not happy with your insurers, can you name them so that the rest of us can avoid them. good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 You're going to have to leave it for some days, so I'm not sure that it's vital that the repairer is on your doorstep. I can thoroughly recommend DMR who are on the north Nottinghamshire/south Yorkshire border. http://www.motorhomebodyrepairs.co.uk/about-us/ I damaged my motorhome when I reversed into a low branch. A reputable repairer who'd done a job for me in the past said that I'd need a whole new back, which of course would have to be imported from Germany with the nightmare scenario of removing the old one with its electrics and bike rack etc. The quote was about £7000 plus the cost of the new back. They claimed that it was impossible to repair the damage as they couldn't get behind the hole to build it up. I wasn't worried about the cost as it was insured, but I was worried about the delay and the potential for many things to go wrong, so I phoned my contact at Hobby UK who recommended DMR who specialise in this kind of repair. He'd seen their work and was impressed. I booked it in and they kept it for a few days. They are superb and I cannot see that it's been damaged. They worked from outside the hole and gradually built up the gap and shaped it perfectly. The cost was about £1200 and no parts needed. Whilst I was there I saw a caravan that had been pierced by the forks of a fork lift truck, which had driven into the 'van. Again, it was like new. It really is worth the drive and if your wife can follow you and drive you home it's not that difficult. I live in Lancashire and it was well worth the journey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 Many thanks for your helpful replies. It's at a very early stage as it only happened late yesterday and so far have only spoken to an out of hours person at the insurers (who was actually helpful and did admit their knowledge was limited). I will have to wait until monday to speak to one of their motorhome specialists so things may change but I just want to be as prepared as possible so doing my homework. I am happy to travel to a good repairers and will look at DMR. I've also found Hambilton Engineering at Preston but don't know anything about them other than what's on their website. Thanks again Jasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corky 8 Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Be Careful which way you go, My insurance Co Saga asked for two quotes for the repair to the rear Corner Panel , (rear ended ) on my Rapido, I sent Photographs of the Damage as requested by both Repair centres, approx 2 week later I received a letter from my Insurers telling me I could take it to the Motorhome repair Centre in Glasgow, but unfortunately the Motorhome Repair Centre was not on their approved list and I would not be able to claim the Courtesy Car due to that fact, I asked for a Approved Repairer within reasonable traveling distance from my home, They didn't have one, if I was willing to travel to a destination some 200 to 300 miles, Claim I would be given the use of a Courtesy Car, plus even though it was not my fault my protected No Claims Bonus was Suspended,?????. I took it to Glasgow and travelled back by Train and Bus , Glasgow is a bit far for you to travel but they did do a Brilliant Job, and took me to the train station, Check with your Insurance Company to see if they have other Approved repair centres and what is available to you in the way of Courtesy Cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred22 Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Hi, I have not had to use them myself but I have heard good reports of Cannock Resprays in Cannock Staffs. 01543 572686. They have a web site. Just type in Cannock Resprays. Also see entry on this forum by Zydeco Joe Titled "has this happened to you" Sorry it is easier to find if you type "Cannock Resprays" into the search section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Jasper - 2014-08-02 4:13 PM Many thanks for your helpful replies. It's at a very early stage as it only happened late yesterday and so far have only spoken to an out of hours person at the insurers (who was actually helpful and did admit their knowledge was limited). I will have to wait until monday to speak to one of their motorhome specialists so things may change but I just want to be as prepared as possible so doing my homework. I am happy to travel to a good repairers and will look at DMR. I've also found Hambilton Engineering at Preston but don't know anything about them other than what's on their website. Thanks again Jasper Peter Hambildon will certainly do a good job and he's an unofficial Hymer specialist and does a lot of insurance work, including to major, near write-off jobs. That is undoubtedly the most certain way to get a proper repair done on a Hymer anywhere in UK. Most MH dealer send work of this type out anyway and so your job will go to the loacl Joe Soap caravan/MH repairer. Unfortunately Peter is unlikely to be able to do a quick job for you so expect to lose your MH for a while, probably the rest of the season. Apart from fitting your job into his busy callendar, he might have to wait for supplies from Germany, as is often the case. Talk to the insurer about hiring a motorhome to fill the gap. They might offer you a car but you are the "no fault" party so the cost of a replacement motorhome should be recoverable fom the other vehicle's insurer anyway.. Peter might also be able to hire you a replacement or give you advice. I think that's what I would do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zydeco Joe Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 fred22 - 2014-08-02 7:49 PM Hi, I have not had to use them myself but I have heard good reports of Cannock Resprays in Cannock Staffs. 01543 572686. They have a web site. Just type in Cannock Resprays. Also see entry on this forum by Zydeco Joe Titled "has this happened to you" Sorry it is easier to find if you type "Cannock Resprays" into the search section Yes a vote for Cannock resprays. I have had two jobs done by them this year one the "has this happened to you" and one only last week as like the poster of this thread someone ran into the back of us while we were parked up on a motorway service station and again a insurance job. Give Ian or Dave a ring and I'm sure they can sort your van and insurance company out. Go to a motorhome specialist not just any garage your van is worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Had Enough Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 StuartO - 2014-08-02 8:14 PM Peter Hambildon will certainly do a good job and he's an unofficial Hymer specialist and does a lot of insurance work, including to major, near write-off jobs. That is undoubtedly the most certain way to get a proper repair done on a Hymer anywhere in UK. To say that this is 'undoubtedly the most certain way' to have a Hymer repaired in Britain is plain silly. There are many first class motorhome body shops in the UK and they will have access to Hymer spares in just the same way as Hambildon. As you say, he is only an unofficial Hymer specialist and has no magic ingredient that makes him any different from other specialists. Does he have a special clean drying room for instance for baking large motorhomes which have been resprayed? The most important things to look for in a body shop are facilities, experience and customer recommendation and there are many other repairers who will tick all these boxes. The OP should view the various websites, see the pictures of work done and check the reputation of the body shop. I have no doubt that Hambildon can do a good job, but so can many others as I have found with DMR, which I have used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Thanks folks I will certainly follow up on your recommendations and keep you posted on the outcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Another possibility for you to try is Motorhome Coachcraft who are Insurance approved, though don't know if by all insurers http://www.motorhome.co.uk/ If you look at their website I can confirm that the pictures shown are genuine and their work is exceptional (friends van was repaired there after hitting low underpass in France and destroying the overcab see middle photo of Chauson) you would not have known after repair and it was relatively inexpensive. Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 Many thanks folks for your recommendations re repairers. I took the van to DMR near Doncaster and they were fantastic. Not only did they carry out a top quality repair but they have to be one of the most helpful and friendly companies I have ever dealt with. I now have my wee van back looking as good as new. Jasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 DMR are not too far North of me. I visited them maybe 7 or so years ago with a query, and got a guided tour. I ended up very impressed. At that time they were taking on major repair work for one of the better regarded dealers. Killing two birds with one stone, Premium Motorhomes are now next door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest peter Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 SMC in Newark are motorhome repairers. They used to do all Brownhills repairs until they started selling vans themselves. There we a few vans in for repair when I picked up my new van, including a very expensive one, so they must know what they are doing. Their workshop is massive and very well equipped, with two heated spray booths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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