Replacement Vehicle Body Panel with Integral Accessory Mounts

A body panel apparatus for mounting a compressed air coupler onto a vehicle in place of an existing panel mounted on existing mounts of the vehicle, the body panel apparatus comprising:

• a panel body having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface;
• a plurality of panel mounts on the panel body arranged to mount the panel body on said existing mounts of the vehicle such that said exterior surface forms a portion of an exterior body surface of the vehicle;
• a socket on the panel body comprising a socket opening in the exterior surface and socket walls about the socket opening protruding inwardly from the interior surface to an inner end surface at a distal end of the socket;
• a mounting aperture formed in the end surface of the socket so as to be arranged to receive the compressed air coupler mounted therein such that the compressed air coupler is at least partly recessed relative to the exterior surface of the panel body.

A body panel apparatus for mounting an electrical outlet onto a vehicle in place of an existing panel mounted on existing mounts of the vehicle wherein the electrical outlet includes a housing having an electrical connection at a forward end of the housing and mounting apertures in the housing at a location rearwardly of the electrical connection, the body panel apparatus comprising:

• a panel body having an exterior surface and an opposing interior surface, the panel body including a breakout section defined by a line of weakness formed on the interior surface to extend about a boundary of the breakout section;
• a plurality of panel mounts on the panel body arranged to mount the panel body on said existing mounts of the vehicle such that said exterior surface forms a portion of an exterior body surface of the vehicle;
• a plurality of outlet mounting posts integrally formed on the interior surface of the panel body to protrude inwardly from the interior surface in proximity to the breakout section;
• and
• an outlet adapter plate having a first flange mounted onto the outlet mounting posts and a second flange protruding inwardly from the interior surface of the panel body, the second flange including a plurality of mounting apertures therein arranged for alignment with the mounting apertures in the housing of the electrical outlet such that the second flange is arranged to support the housing of the electrical outlet fastened thereon when the electrical connection at the forward end of the housing is adjacent to and aligned with the breakout section.