Decals Bubbling ALL over RV

[deannelsonrn]

I just got my 2012 351DS out of storage and look at what I found!....Maybe 100 bubbles ALL over my RV.I have taken nothing but great care of this RV....has anyone ever had this problem?....Did you get it fixed?....Was it under warranty?....

[bubbles]

Chances are that a straight pin (pricking and pressing down) would be the tool used by a repair facility but you can do that and save time and travel. Of course it's your call. Don't think warming up will make them go away but maybe so.

[Coach 350]

You have air under the decal causing this. Get a small pin and hair dryer. Slightly warm the area and Pop bubble. Use a credit card to smooth surface out. Saw a pro do this in a sign shop. If it is under warranty, this is what the dealer would do.


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[sewingcybermom]

yep, 3C is right. I make vinyl decals for sign shops and it is odd that they weren't there before and they appeared after storage. let it sit in the sun for a couple of days to get warm and re-check. That's a lot of bubbles to prick and flatten. If you chose to do that, put a piece of freezer paper over your decal before smoothing out the vinyl with your burnishing tool (credit card, squeegie, etc) so you don't make a mistake and catch the edge of your cc on a little hole and tear the vinyl.

However, if it's still under warranty, I would definitely contact them to repair. It should not be doing this and any holes/pin pricks you make may null that warranty repair.

[dicky1243]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Chances are that a straight pin (pricking and pressing down) would be the tool used by a repair facility but you can do that and save time and travel. Of course it's your call. Don't think warming up will make them go away but maybe so.

Bubbles I hate to disagree with you but that process would allow moisture to infiltrate in behind the bubble, My experience at 3M was when we put decals on trailers we would use a heat gun and a roller tool to shrink the vinyl to adhere to the siding of the trl. this will work in your case as well, it just takes a little patience to do all. Its cheap add effective.

[dicky1243]

Originally Posted by sewingcybermom

yep, 3C is right. I make vinyl decals for sign shops and it is odd that they weren't there before and they appeared after storage. let it sit in the sun for a couple of days to get warm and re-check. That's a lot of bubbles to prick and flatten. If you chose to do that, put a piece of freezer paper over your decal before smoothing out the vinyl with your burnishing tool (credit card, squeegie, etc) so you don't make a mistake and catch the edge of your cc on a little hole and tear the vinyl.

However, if it's still under warranty, I would definitely contact them to repair. It should not be doing this and any holes/pin pricks you make may null that warranty repair.

You're on the right track with the heat but easier to use a heat gun and roller like 3M does on their decals faster than waiting for the sun to maybe get the job done

[WDK]

......that sounds so scary to me.....I have tried that pin pricking idea on other stuff....not my coach and perhaps while a pro may do the same.....all it takes is one wrinkle in just one bubble to piss you off because unless you remove the decal and start all over, your only going to get one shot at each.

WDK

[dicky1243]

Originally Posted by deannelsonrn

I just got my 2012 351DS out of storage and look at what I found!....Maybe 100 bubbles ALL over my RV.I have taken nothing but great care of this RV....has anyone ever had this problem?....Did you get it fixed?....Was it under warranty?....

Dean, 3M uses a low heat gun and a roller to get rid of the bubbles some you can role to the edge practice on an inconspicous spot this is what i do.

[dicky1243]

Originally Posted by WDK

......that sounds so scary to me.....I have tried that pin pricking idea on other stuff....not my coach and perhaps while a pro may do the same.....all it takes is one wrinkle in just one bubble to piss you off because unless you remove the decal and start all over, your only going to get one shot at each.

WDK

True pricking is not good it will allow moisture in behind and cause worse problem 3M uses a heat gun and a roller to get rid of the bubbles on the trailers we put decals on.

[DBsRedVett]

My sister did on her FR3, FR replaced and it also need a paint job in places, swirl marks were coming thru the paint.

[BOBFIDY]

Had some decals cracked and broken on our Salem and at the FROG Rally in Goshen 2 years ago the factory folks removed the bad decals and replaced with brand new. Have more that need attention at Goshen this year.

[tyke8319]

I sure as h*** wouldn't use a "HEATGUN"!! Mine on low temp is 600 degrees...almost to the melting point of lead!!! If you don't know how to use a heat gun bubbles will be the least of your concerns.
I changed all my decals on my 2004 a while Cedar Crk. a while back and wound up with a few bubbles; par for the course. I took a razor blade, made a 1/8" cut, rolled out the air under the bubble and the tiny slit sealed up perfectly. I'm in Northern CA and since then I've been to Key west and Dawson City through all kinds of rain and foul weather...not a hint of water getting under the bubble. I think part of the trick is pressing the back of your finger nail over the area of the slit to really seal it will.

[Coach 350]

Use a hairdryer and on low heat. Heat gun will get-to hot,


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[mark0224]

Hair dryer on low don't use a heat gun it will melt the decal. Heat guns are for stripping paint and will remove the decal if you use it on them.

[MMattox]

Don't count on FR doing anything for you 2012? no chance......It will be your fault one way or another.

[dicky1243]

Originally Posted by mark0224

Hair dryer on low don't use a heat gun it will melt the decal. Heat guns are for stripping paint and will remove the decal if you use it on them.

If you know what you're doing a heat gun on low won't burn decal but mi guess 3M does it wrong according to you guys here on the forum.

[cjd10]

Originally Posted by deannelsonrn

I just got my 2012 351DS out of storage and look at what I found!....Maybe 100 bubbles ALL over my RV.I have taken nothing but great care of this RV....has anyone ever had this problem?....Did you get it fixed?....Was it under warranty?....

Wow! You would think that the bubbles would have showed up before now.
I know I would be sick seeing that if I were you. Be sure to post what they say the cause might be and why just now showing up.

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by cjd10

Wow! You would think that the bubbles would have showed up before now.
I know I would be sick seeing that if I were you. Be sure to post what they say the cause might be and why just now showing up.

Agree, fault now showing up is not air. Most likely it's moisture trapped in the space through out the storage period. Wall surfaces will allow moisture to migrate, up to the vinyl decal. Did you use DH or rid - ex?

[mark0224]

Originally Posted by dicky1243

If you know what you're doing a heat gun on low won't burn decal but mi guess 3M does it wrong according to you guys here on the forum.

Maybe using a professional grade heat gun and being a professional using it ok but very few here are professionals when it comes to this and a heat gun used by one who does't do this for a living could be costly. For most here use a hair dryer be smart. No where in my original comment said anything about pro's not knowing what they were doing I was simply stating play it safe.

[rampddc]

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