Who actually makes the defender repair panels?

I've got a bulkhead to do -

Loads of the repair panels are now powdercoated for some reason.

I want to get the bulkhead dipped when it's done, so want bare panels.


I mailed YRM, who always used to claim that they made all the parts themselves, thinking I could just get one without powdercoat, and they said no. Or rather yes but they would charge me for stripping the powder....

I mailed another place, again, a "no".


I'm thinking, basically, that all these places that claim to make the panels are box shifters and it would be nice to actually find out who makes them.


The one I mailed about this morning is the vent panel - the one that does the whole vent and comes with the hinges pre spot welded on.

But it's the same with others also.

julianf said:

I've got a bulkhead to do -

Loads of the repair panels are now powdercoated for some reason.

I want to get the bulkhead dipped when it's done, so want bare panels.


I mailed YRM, who always used to claim that they made all the parts themselves, thinking I could just get one without powdercoat, and they said no. Or rather yes but they would charge me for stripping the powder....

I mailed another place, again, a "no".


I'm thinking, basically, that all these places that claim to make the panels are box shifters and it would be nice to actually find out who makes them.


The one I mailed about this morning is the vent panel - the one that does the whole vent and comes with the hinges pre spot welded on.

But it's the same with others also.

Click to expand...

Is it still financially worth buying panels, repairing you old one, and then getting acid and hot dip galved?
I have a bulkhead that is salvageable but needs some repair and am trying to work out if it is worth it or not. The price of new ones has come down (and you can now get them) you can now get a new galv bulkhead for £1200, I paid £1000 for my second hand dipped one several years ago now fitted to my 110, and paid £1000 even more years ago to get my series bulkhead repaired and galvanised (before I could weld well enough to do the repairs myself). If the new ones were available then for the current prices I would not have bothered with the refubished ones. The repair panels have gone up in price and the dipping is not cheap even before you factor in any of your time and labour.

A lot of panels are made in the UK. Paintman make their own I believe. Try them.
The problem with YRM, and probably many others, is that they make a lot of panels on a production line. So one guy has to go down there (or ask their supplier), and pull one off the line for you.
As a famous black lady once said, "Ain't nobody got time for dat!"

As above. Try paintman panels. Great quality, only place I’ll go now.

Here you go, best of both worlds ...