car-craft

Have You Heard About Coffee & Collision?

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:52:20 GMT

Catch Up on ETC’s Heavy-Duty Collision Repair Series

As part of the Elizabeth Truck Center family, we’re always happy to share resources that give customers a closer look at the work that goes into heavy-duty collision repair. One of those is ETC’s Coffee & Collision series, where host Rob, along with special guests like Dave Vespa and others from the ETC team, sits down to talk trucks, collision repair, and the questions that come up in the shop every day.

In the latest installment, Episode 12, Rob tackles an important question: What does chassis damage really mean for your truck? He explains why properly diagnosing the affected area is such an important first step. Understanding where the damage occurred and how it has impacted the chassis helps determine the right repair process and what it will take to get the truck safely back on the road.

Check out Episode 12 here , and if this is your first introduction to Coffee & Collision, there’s plenty more to catch up on. You can watch the entire series on the Elizabeth Truck Center Facebook page .

Have a collision repair question you’d like to see covered in a future episode? Send it over to info@elizabethtruckcenter.com . From all of us at Car Craft Truck Works, when it comes to heavy-duty collision repair, trust The Truck Collision Guys.

Repairing the Trucks Communities Count On

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:55:39 GMT

Specialized Collision Repair for Fire Trucks and Emergency Vehicles

When a fire truck or emergency vehicle is damaged, getting it properly repaired and back into service matters to an entire community. At Car Craft Truck Works and Elizabeth Truck Center, our teams specialize in collision repair for fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles. These aren’t ordinary trucks, and repairing them calls for the experience, precision, and attention to detail that specialized vehicles demand. From collision damage and bodywork to paint and refinishing, every repair is approached with one goal in mind: getting these hardworking vehicles back where they belong—serving the communities that rely on them. You can count on us, so your community can keep counting on you.

You’re Not Supposed to See This Part

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:37:49 GMT

Inside a Full Cab Swap at Car Craft Truck Works

Most people only see a truck before the work begins and after it rolls out of the shop. This is what happens in between. With the entire cab in the air and the truck stripped down to its core, there’s nowhere for the details to hide. A full cab swap requires careful planning and precision at every stage, from teardown and removal to making sure everything is ready to come back together exactly as it should. This is also the stage where shortcuts can be tempting—but that’s not how we work at Car Craft Truck Works . Every move is calculated and every detail gets the attention it deserves because the goal isn’t simply to put the truck back together. It’s to return a hardworking truck to the road ready to perform. Check out the video here for a behind-the-scenes look at a part of the repair process most people never get to see.

Part 2: The Finished Kenworth Makes Its Debut

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:00:09 GMT

“The Puppy” Is Ready to Roll

In Part 1, we showed you the work that went into rebuilding this wrecked Kenworth. Now it’s time for the payoff. Panel by panel and line by line, the Car Craft Truck Works team transformed this truck from a damaged rig into a finished build designed to turn heads. With the repairs complete and the finishing touches in place, she’s officially ready to get back on the road.

Check out the Part 2 video here to see the finished transformation and get a closer look at all the details that brought this Kenworth together. And a build like this deserved a name of its own. Meet “The Puppy.” From major collision damage to the final reveal, this is what our team does best. Follow Car Craft Truck Works for more repairs, rebuilds, and behind-the-scenes looks from the shop.

Part 1: Brian Breaks Down the Damage

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 18:07:10 GMT

From Wrecked to “The Puppy”

Before you can rebuild a wrecked truck, you have to know exactly what you’re dealing with. This Kenworth came into Car Craft Truck Works with some serious front-end damage—and Brian is giving us the full tour. The hood had been pushed back so far that the condenser was actually left with an imprint of the Mack logo from the grille. And that was just the beginning. From damaged tubing and the fan to a melted air cooler tube, cracked windshield, and more, Brian walks through the different areas that will need attention before this truck is ready to return to the road. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Brian video without a few of his usual antics along the way. But behind the fun, he’s all business when it comes to assessing the damage and determining what it will take to make this truck right again. Check out the video here for the full damage walk-around, then stay tuned for Part 2 next week, when we reveal the finished truck—and introduce you to “The Puppy.”

Built for Work. Rebuilt for More.

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:49:28 GMT

Giving a Hardworking Peterbilt 388 Dump Truck a Fresh Start

Years of hard work, heavy loads, and harsh weather had taken their toll on this Peterbilt 388 dump truck. Layers of rust and corrosion covered the dump body, but underneath was a truck with plenty of work still ahead of it. That’s where the Car Craft Truck Works team came in. Our crew stripped the body down, cut through the corrosion, and carefully prepped the metal surface by surface. With the groundwork complete, it was time for a full-body repaint that completely transformed the look of this hardworking truck. Check out the video here to see the process from the worn, rusted starting point through the finished transformation. A fresh finish can do more than change the way a truck looks. For this Peterbilt, it marked the start of its next chapter—back on the road and ready to work.

Breaking Down the Damage

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:01:48 GMT

A Closer Look at What It Takes to Bring a Work Truck Back

When a truck like this rolls into the shop, you don't just look at the damage—you break it down. In the video below, Brian walks us around this damaged garbage truck, pointing out what happened, what needs attention, and what it's going to take to bring this truck back to life. It's a behind-the-scenes look at how an experienced eye assesses a truck before the real repair work begins. And stick around until the end, when Lou gets called in for a quick lesson from Brian on cab-overs. There's always something to learn around the shop.

Follow the Repair

This walk-around is only the beginning. Watch Brian break it down here , then stay tuned to our blog and social channels as we follow this garbage truck through the repair process and get it back where it belongs—on the road and back to work.

From Wrecked to Refined

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:03:15 GMT

Part 1: See What Goes Into a Comeback Like This

Some repairs are about getting a truck back on the road. Others are an opportunity to create something that stands out once it gets there. This Western Star came through the doors at Car Craft Truck Works with extensive front-end and cab damage that required serious attention. Our team tore into it and began bringing the truck back piece by piece—from rebuilding the front end and restoring the body to preparing it for a complete fresh paint job and custom pinstriping. Every stage requires precision, craftsmanship, and an eye toward the finished product. Because with a project like this, the goal isn't simply to make the damage disappear. It's to transform the truck into something even better than what rolled into our shop.

Part 1: The Build

Click here to watch Part 1 and go behind the scenes as our Car Craft team tackles the repair and rebuilding process that lays the groundwork for the finished transformation. But don't expect us to give away the ending just yet. Part 2 is all about the reveal, when the fresh paint, custom pinstriping, and countless details finally come together. Follow our social channels so you don't miss Part 2. Trust us—the final look is worth the wait.

Every Cut. Every Weld. Every Detail.

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 22:00:59 GMT

Precision Is What Brings a Truck Back to Life

At Car Craft Truck Works, restoring a damaged truck is about much more than replacing parts—it's about rebuilding it the right way. This Isuzu NPR arrived with extensive cab damage, requiring our technicians to strip the damaged components away and begin reconstructing the truck from the ground up. This video takes you behind the scenes of this critical stage , where you'll see the team removing the damaged cab floor, fabricating a brand-new replacement, and carefully measuring, fitting, and welding every component back into place.

The Work You Don't Always See

Long before fresh paint, polished panels, and final assembly, there's the structural work that determines the quality and longevity of the repair. Every cut, every weld, and every measurement is completed with precision to ensure the truck is restored to factory standards and ready to return to service safely. It's this behind-the-scenes craftsmanship that transforms a severely damaged truck into one that's built to perform for years to come. This Izuzu still has a few chapters left to tell. Follow our blog and social media channels as we continue documenting the rebuild and reveal how this project comes together from the inside out.

From Damage to Drive-Ready

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:27:42 GMT

Every Great Repair Starts with a Complete Teardown

For nearly 40 years, Car Craft Truck Works has helped fleets, municipalities, owner-operators, and emergency service providers get their commercial vehicles back on the road with expert collision repair and craftsmanship they can trust. As a third-generation, family-owned company, we've built our reputation by tackling everything from routine repairs to the most complex rebuilds—all with precision, efficiency, and a commitment to doing the job right.

Not every truck that rolls through our shop needs a simple repair.

This Peterbilt arrived with extensive cab damage that required a complete teardown before the real rebuilding could begin. While some might see a truck that's beyond saving, our team sees the opportunity to restore it safely, structurally, and the right way.

As you'll see in this video , every stage of the process demands careful planning and attention to detail. From structural repairs and panel replacement to precise measurements, there are no shortcuts when it comes to returning a commercial truck to factory-quality condition. The work that happens before paint is applied is what ultimately determines the quality, safety, and longevity of the finished repair.

This is just the beginning of this Peterbilt's journey. Stay tuned as we continue to document the transformation—from complete teardown to a fully rebuilt truck that's ready to get back to work.