Vans and commercial vehicles: the most common bodywork damage

A delivery van, a plumber's van, a gardening company's vehicle or a catering van all have something in common: they work hard, load and unload every day and park wherever they can. Their bodywork takes a very particular kind of punishment, and it is worth knowing about it in order to prevent it and fix it in time.

The damage we see most

• Rear corners and rear bumper. This is the area that suffers most: reversing at loading bays, in narrow streets and in car parks. The corners get pushed in and the bumper cracks or sags.
• Rear doors and tailgate. Knocks while loading, marks from pallets or trolleys, and hinges that, after repeated impacts, leave the door out of alignment.
• Sliding side door. The runners and door edge take knocks from goods and scrapes from bollards.
• Upper sides and roof. High vans catch branches, awnings, car park beams and canopies. Often this cannot be seen from the ground.
• Inside the load area. Interior panels get dented from inside by the load itself, and the dent can show on the outside.
• Underside and sills, on vehicles working on building sites, farms or dirt tracks.

The silent enemy: corrosion

On a van, chipped paint on a corner or door edge is very common, and in the south of Tenerife the marine air is unforgiving. Wherever bare metal is exposed, corrosion begins. In places such as the bottom of the rear doors, the wheel arches or the edges of the load floor, rust can spread unnoticed until it has already pitted the metal.

That is why, on commercial vehicles, fixing small knocks early makes even more sense than on a car. And when a repair is done, the protection must be properly restored: seam sealer on joints, underbody protection and treatment of inner areas that have been worked on.

Knocks that go deeper than they look

A heavy impact on a rear corner does not always stop at the outer panel. It may have shifted reinforcements, bumper mountings or the rear door frame. If after a knock the doors close less well, rattle or let dust or water into the load area, it should be looked at carefully. Where the structure has been affected, measurements are checked on the chassis jig to bring it back into position.

How to reduce damage

• Protection in the load area: interior panels or linings that stop goods hitting the metal.
• Secure the load properly, so it does not shift on bends or when stopping sharply.
• Mind the vehicle's height in underground car parks and areas with awnings.
• Check the van regularly, including the top and the underside, and log any damage.
• Train drivers to report every knock, however small it seems.

Signage matters too

Most company vans carry signage. If a panel with vinyl needs repairing and painting, the usual approach is to remove the lettering on that area and replace it afterwards. It helps to have the artwork or the signage supplier's details to hand so the van goes back on the road with its full livery. We will let you know in advance which panels are affected.

If your business runs vans or commercial vehicles in the south of Tenerife, have a look at what we offer businesses and fleets and at our anti-corrosion treatment service, or simply ask for a quote.