Carl Owens Paint and Body

Carl Owens Paint and Body is a collision and body shop based in Tyler, Texas, at 2415 E. Erwin Street. You bring the RV to its shop, though it also coordinates pickup and delivery to make the process easier.

It works on collision repair, paint jobs and frame work for RVs, travel trailers and recreational vehicles, alongside the trucks, school buses and heavy equipment it also services. Its facility spans several acres with six paint booths, including a 65-foot booth, and it handles fiberglass and aluminum panel repair, composite material restoration and resealing for East Texas's humid climate. It serves Tyler and surrounding East Texas towns including Longview, Texarkana, Kilgore, Marshall and Athens.

No hourly labor rate, trip fee or diagnostic fee is published, so ask about cost and turnaround when you call. There is no stated hours of operation either. The shop has been restoring vehicles since 1965, a long run that usually means it has handled the oddball repairs that come with older rigs, not just the routine ones. It holds preferred shop status with multiple insurance companies, which can mean a smoother claim if your damage is from a collision, and its repairs are warranty backed.

This is a good fit for an RV owner dealing with collision damage, a roof or fiberglass problem, or paint and resealing work, rather than a mechanical breakdown, and who does not mind bringing or shipping the rig to Tyler.