How to identify a replacement caravan or motorhome rear panel

Caravan Panels · Buying guide

Finding the right replacement rear panel for your caravan or motorhome starts with the actual panel, not just the vehicle badge. Compare the complete outline, dimensions, moulded profile and openings before ordering.

Whether you are replacing a damaged lower section or identifying a larger rear moulding, this guide will help you gather the information needed to shortlist a part. It is an identification and buying guide, not a removal, structural-repair or installation manual.

1. Identify which rear section you need

Photograph the whole rear of the vehicle and mark the damaged section. Note whether you need a full rear panel, upper moulding, lower panel, corner section or a separate light surround. Do not assume a product described as a rear panel includes the complete rear assembly.

Record the caravan or motorhome manufacturer, exact model, year and any safely visible part reference. For a motorhome, include the conversion brand and model as well as the base vehicle if known. The chassis badge alone does not identify the rear body moulding.

Listing numbers such as “001” are product references, not model years or confirmation that a part fits every vehicle from that manufacturer.

2. Use this measurement checklist

Record measurements in millimetres on a labelled sketch. Use a fixed orientation: looking at the rear of the vehicle from outside. Mark left, right, top and bottom, and label each measuring point.

• Overall width: record the widest outer points, explaining whether side returns are included.
• Overall height: measure at the centre and at each end if the upper or lower edge changes shape.
• Face width and wraparound sections: distinguish the rear-facing surface from sections that turn around the sides. Do not compare a straight-line width with a measurement following the curved surface.
• Projection and profile: record accessible depth, raised areas, steps, lips, flanges and edge returns.
• Recesses and openings: note the size and position of light recesses, number-plate areas, windows, locker openings, vents and any other features relevant to the panel.
• Fixing points: record visible holes, tabs and mounting areas. Measure to hole centres from labelled edges where accessible.
• Panel joins: show how the part meets side skirts, corner mouldings, the upper rear section and other adjoining bodywork.

Measure only what is safely accessible with the vehicle parked securely. Do not remove fittings, climb onto unstable supports or crawl beneath an unsupported vehicle to obtain a dimension. Mark broken, distorted, hidden or missing sections as unconfirmed. Photographs are not scale drawings.

3. Compare the full shape and moulded details

Compare the top and bottom edges, corner shapes, moulded lines and the depth of the panel. Similar dimensions do not establish a matching profile or a suitable join with the surrounding bodywork.

4. Check lights, number-plate areas and other openings

Record the dimensions and positions of relevant recesses and openings from two labelled edges. Where safely visible, note the references on existing light units and include close-up photographs. A moulded recess is not necessarily a finished cut-out.

Do not assume lights, reflectors, number-plate fittings, windows, seals, wiring or brackets are included with a body panel. Confirm what the listing supplies and whether existing components are compatible with the replacement.

Tell us about cameras, sensors, racks or other accessories attached to the area. Do not assume a replacement panel can carry an accessory load or accept new holes without product-specific confirmation.

5. Confirm material, finish and preparation

Check each listing's stated material and whether the part is an original or aftermarket replacement. Do not assume every panel in a manufacturer collection has the same construction.

Confirm the supplied colour and finish, whether painting or preparation is required, and what dimensions are provided. Existing bodywork may have aged or been repaired, so ask about matching rather than relying on screen colour alone.

Ask whether the panel is supplied with pre-cut openings or pre-drilled holes and whether any flanges need product-specific preparation. Do not assume a panel is ready to fit solely because its photograph resembles the finished vehicle.

6. Resolve repair and fitting questions first

If the old panel is cracked, loose or leaking, have a competent caravan or motorhome repairer assess the underlying structure, mounting points and adjoining bodywork. A replacement outer panel does not establish that hidden damage or water ingress has been resolved.

Confirm the chosen panel's support, fixing and sealing requirements before fitting. Do not cut, trim, drill, paint or bond it until its suitability and permitted alterations have been checked. Do not alter structural parts or electrical fittings to force an unsuitable panel to fit.

For a large moulding, plan safe handling and access with the installer. Inspect the delivered panel and check fit before irreversible preparation or installation.

7. Send a useful set of photos

Include a straight-on view of the complete rear, views of both corners, close-ups of panel joins and relevant recesses, and any visible part reference. Mark the section you need on one photo and provide the measurement sketch separately.

If damage has changed the panel's shape, explain which dimensions are reliable. If a section is missing, show the surrounding bodywork rather than guessing its original outline.

Find a replacement rear panel

Browse Motorhome Rear Panels for motorhome options. For a caravan example range, browse Swift Caravan Rear Panels. If your caravan is another make, contact us with its details rather than assuming Swift fitment.

Identify the section, compare its actual shape and dimensions, and confirm the unresolved details before ordering. Careful checks now are better than discovering a mismatch after cutting or fitting.