Pleasure-Way Repair: Factory High Roofs Instead of Molded Tops
Written by RV Systems Lead, RV Systems and Electrical Lead, OCRV Center. Reviewed by Structural Repair Lead
In shortPleasure-Way keeps the factory van roof rather than cutting the shell for a fiberglass top. That single decision turns a roof strike into a dealer supported sheet metal repair.
What is different about repairing a Pleasure-Way?
Pleasure-Way builds inside the factory high roof rather than adding a molded fiberglass top, so roof damage is repaired as Mercedes or Ram sheet metal. That makes a Yorba Linda repair for a Rancho Santa Margarita owner faster than on a converted low roof van.
- Plateau is Sprinter based, Ascent and Lexor use the ProMaster
- The factory roof means dealer parts for a roof strike
- Tofino adds a pop top with fabric and a lift mechanism
- Conversion parts ship from Saskatoon with customs time
- Built in
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Roof strategy
- Factory high roof retainedNo cut and bonded fiberglass top
- Body rate
- $210 per hour
- Systems rate
- $260 per hourAppliances, electrical and pop top mechanisms
- Estimate
- $150 written scopeCredited in full against an authorized repair
Last verified
Pleasure-Way makes small numbers of very well finished vans in Saskatchewan, and it makes one engineering decision that matters enormously in a collision: it builds inside the factory high roof instead of cutting the shell and bonding on a fiberglass top.
If you have ever priced a molded roof repair on a converted van, you know why that is good news. A roof strike on a Plateau is a Mercedes panel with a Mercedes part number, and Mercedes commercial dealers stock those.
Factory roof versus molded top, in a repair
Many Class B builders start with a low roof van, cut the roof out and bond a molded fiberglass top in its place. That gives interior height and creates a permanent repair liability: the molded top is brand specific, the bond line is a stress and water path, and a strike means composite work on a part nobody else makes.
Pleasure-Way avoids that entirely by specifying the manufacturer's high roof shell. A dent or a puncture in that roof is repaired the way a fleet van is repaired: panel work or panel replacement with dealer parts, refinished in automotive paint. It is a genuinely better outcome after damage.
Automotive finish and what that demands
These vans wear automotive grade paint over factory panels, sometimes with a two tone treatment. Refinishing them means working to automotive standards rather than recreational vehicle standards: correct primer for the substrate, matched to the manufacturer's code and then verified against the aged panel, blended into adjacent panels at a body line.
That is ordinary work in our booth and it is worth stating, because a van finished with recreational vehicle practice looks wrong immediately. Orange peel and a hard edge blend that pass unnoticed on a fifth wheel are obvious on a van parked next to other vans.
The Tofino pop top
The Tofino trades interior height for a pop top, which adds fabric, a lift mechanism and a seal line to the maintenance list. Fabric ages in ultraviolet exposure, zippers fail, and the lift geometry drifts if a corner is forced when the top is partly latched.
We repair or replace fabric, service the lift, and check that the top seats evenly all the way around before renewing seals. As with any lifting structure, geometry first and seals second, because a new seal on a top that closes crooked gets crushed on one side and stays open on the other.
Small volume building and parts patience
Pleasure-Way builds in small numbers, which produces a well finished van and a thin parts pipeline. Conversion specific components come from Saskatoon with freight and customs attached, and quantities on hand are modest compared with a mass market builder.
We check availability before writing a scope and we quote fabrication for interior components where the wait is unacceptable. Cabinet parts, trim and mounting hardware are all reproducible. The chassis half of the estimate remains fast regardless, which is what usually lets us return the van on schedule.
Rates and our standing
Van body and refinish work bills at $210 per hour with paint supplies at $55 per paint hour. Appliances, electrical, plumbing and pop top mechanisms bill at $260. A written estimate is $150 and is credited in full when the repair is authorized. Jobs over $2,000 take a 50 percent deposit.
OCRV Center is an independent shop with no dealer agreement or affiliation with Pleasure-Way Industries. All work is performed in shop at Yorba Linda. These vans drive themselves in easily from Rancho Santa Margarita, which is a genuine advantage over anything that needs towing.
Pleasure-Way Industries lines we work on
- Plateau on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis
- Ascent and Ontour on the Ram ProMaster
- Lexor, the long running ProMaster based model
- Tofino, the compact unit with a pop top
- Rekon on the four wheel drive Ford Transit
Parts. Pleasure-Way builds in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in relatively small volumes, so conversion specific parts come from Canada with freight and customs time attached. The important construction decision is that these vans keep the factory high roof rather than cutting the shell for a molded fiberglass top, which means a roof strike is a Mercedes or Ram body panel repair with dealer parts rather than a composite mold problem.
What we see on this brand
- Roof panel damage from height strikes, repaired as van sheet metal
- Tofino pop top fabric and lift mechanism wear
- Cabinetry and appliance mount loosening from vibration
- Rear door seal and alignment issues after impact
- Awning rail fastening pulling from the van body
Appendix: questions and answers
- What happens if I hit a parking structure in my Plateau?
- It becomes a van sheet metal repair rather than a composite job, because Pleasure-Way keeps the factory high roof. The panel is repaired or replaced with dealer parts and refinished in automotive paint. That is considerably faster and cheaper than repairing a bonded fiberglass top.
- Does a camper van need automotive paint standards?
- Yes, because it parks next to other vans. Orange peel and a hard blend edge that nobody notices on a fifth wheel are obvious on a van. We use the correct primer for the substrate, match to code then verify against the aged panel, and blend to a body line.
- My Tofino top does not seal evenly. What is wrong?
- The lift geometry has drifted, usually after a corner was forced while the top was partly latched. We check that the top seats evenly all the way around and correct the mechanism first, then renew seal material. Replacing the seal first leaves it crushed on one side.
- How long do Pleasure-Way conversion parts take?
- Longer than a mass market brand, because volumes are small and parts ship from Saskatoon with customs processing. We confirm availability before writing a scope. Where the wait is unacceptable we quote fabrication for interior components, and the chassis half of the job proceeds on schedule.
- Can I drive my van in rather than towing it?
- In most cases yes, and it makes scheduling much easier. If the van is drivable, bring it to the Yorba Linda shop during posted hours. If a collision left it undrivable, we discuss towing before it arrives rather than sorting it out at the curb.
- Can the galley cabinetry be removed to reach a damaged wall?
- Usually, and on a Class B it is often the only way in. Pleasure-Way builds cabinetry as a bonded module rather than a set of loose boxes, so removal follows a documented sequence rather than a matter of pulling screws. We photograph and label every fastener and gas line before anything moves, because a van interior does not tolerate an approximate reassembly.
Open a file on this repair
Tell us the vehicle, what happened and whether a claim is open. We will tell you what the scope looks like and what it takes to get you back on the road.
Or call (949) 799-3387