Hints on removing decals/stickers

[ChrisPBacon]

Anyone know how the decals can be removed from the trailer without damaging the paint?

It seems that every side of our Rockwood 8263MBR has a dozen or so stickers, almost none of which are the easy peel type. I don’t need a sticker advertising RV life, and while it’s commendable that Forest River supports cancer patients and the fight against the scourge of the 20th/21st centuries, I think it’s just a bit unnecessary.

[BehindBars]

Originally Posted by ChrisPBacon

Anyone know how the decals can be removed from the trailer without damaging the paint?

It seems that every side of our Rockwood 8263MBR has a dozen or so stickers, almost none of which are the easy peel type. I don’t need a sticker advertising RV life, and while it’s commendable that Forest River supports cancer patients and the fight against the scourge of the 20th/21st centuries, I think it’s just a bit unnecessary.

The day I bought my new RV home, I removed around 30 stickers from the inside and outside. I relocated the RVIA sticker from the outside to the door jamb. I would have removed the model name and brand advertising, too, but they are under the full body paint clearcoat. The stickers peel easy when they are new, and a little heat from a heat gun or hair dryer helps if they are stubborn. Get under a corner with a plastic razor type scraper and peel gently. Clean adhesive residue with mild paint thinner/alcohol/adhesive remover. The older the stickers get, the more difficult they may be to remove, so get them off as soon as you can.

With the stickers gone, I now just have to remember the best that I can that gasoline and LP are flammable.

[Ox Brown]

I did the same on all three of my RVs over the years. I would do it on a hot day and peel slowly from a corner and go real, real slow. They would usually come off clean, but if they didn't, I'd use the removed sticker and "stick" it back on the residue to peel off the remaining residue. If that didn't work, then I'd use Goo Gone to clean it up.

I did this on the inside as well and removed 10-15 stickers on the walls, blinds, stove, vent hood, etc.

As mentioned, I to will have to commit to memory that LP is flammable, use the stove with the glass cover up, and people could be killed by the string on the blinds.

[ChrisPBacon]

Originally Posted by Ox Brown

I did the same on all three of my RVs over the years. I would do it on a hot day and peel slowly from a corner and go real, real slow. They would usually come off clean, but if they didn't, I'd use the removed sticker and "stick" it back on the residue to peel off the remaining residue. If that didn't work, then I'd use Goo Gone to clean it up.

I did this on the inside as well and removed 10-15 stickers on the walls, blinds, stove, vent hood, etc.

As mentioned, I to will have to commit to memory that LP is flammable, use the stove with the glass cover up, and people could be killed by the string on the blinds.

And the one reminding you to duck when taking your 11’ 7” trailer through the 7’ 0” drive-thru.

I chipped away at two such stickers for longer than I cared to in the broiling Arizona sun. I read you loud and clear: no easy way.

[Werk]

Just saw a new Ferrari in town driving around with dealers name on the license plate frame from Portland. Seriously. I used a hair dryer and cleaned the goo up with WD 40

[RedScooter]

Thoroughly warm sticker (not hot) with hair dryer on low heat. Carefully lift corner and keep sticker warm while lifting slowly. If it doesn't come off easily, go to plan B.

I don't know what Plan B is.

[camper_Lucy]

this stuff works well.


https://www.amazon.com/Motsenbockers...%2C166&sr=8-10

[2plus1]

Originally Posted by Werk

Just saw a new Ferrari in town driving around with dealers name on the license plate frame from Portland.

I went to pick up our new truck and found that the dealer had decaled the back window, license plate frame and tail gate. I asked to speak to the owner and politely informed him that I had contracts to rent that space for $300/mo. and that I would be happy to let him pay me instead. They were removed before I signed the paperwork. Had I been asked I would have allowed the one on the tail gate.

When we traded in our 5th Wheel with the Decal map of the USA with almost all the States filled in the dealer was real quick to remove that. He looked at me and said, "I can't call it a low miler that way."

As to all the stickers I remove from the trailer if they actually have info on them I stick them to the blank pages in the owners manual for the next owner.

Paul

[free83118]

GraphXoff. Look online for it. Absolutely amazing stuff but not real cheap. The “Crusader” decal across the front of my 10 year old fiver was getting in bad shape. I took probably the bottom fifth of the decal off last year and it took about 7 hours with a heat gun and razor blades. And that was only because that part of the decal wasn’t in such bad shape. The upper 4/5 was worn and cracking and I was getting off maybe 1/4” at a time as it kept tearing. GraphXoff is painted on the decal. You let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes and it scraped right off with a plastic razor. It took me less than 90 minutes to remove the decal and wash the cap afterwards. For decals that are in better shape it may take two coats. I wish I knew about this stuff last year. It would have saved me hours of work. There are numerous you tube videos showing people using it. I really questioned the videos but I was getting desperate and after using it, I am a believer. My decal was probably 6’ by 3&1/2’ and less than 90 minutes of work. It took just under the 16 oz bottle to remove it.
Link to distributor. https://www.autotrimdesign.net/Graph...mover_GROG.asp My trailer is Fiberglas, by the way. No harm to the gel coat.

[ChrisPBacon]

Originally Posted by camper_Lucy

this stuff works well.


https://www.amazon.com/Motsenbockers...%2C166&sr=8-10

Thank you very much!

I’d done a search on the internet for products that remove stickers… and got the customary responses about sticker prices, pot stickers, emoji stickers… nothing useful. I appreciate your help very much.

[ChrisPBacon]

Originally Posted by 2plus1

I went to pick up our new truck and found that the dealer had decaled the back window, license plate frame and tail gate. I asked to speak to the owner and politely informed him that I had contracts to rent that space for $300/mo. and that I would be happy to let him pay me instead. They were removed before I signed the paperwork. Had I been asked I would have allowed the one on the tail gate.

When we traded in our 5th Wheel with the Decal map of the USA with almost all the States filled in the dealer was real quick to remove that. He looked at me nand said, "I can't call it a low miler that way."

As to all the stickers I remove from the trailer if they actually have info on them I stick them to the blank pages in the owners manual for the next owner.

Paul

The Dodge Ram 1500 I own was purchased in Washington State, and the Dodge dealer in Arizona who first serviced it put a dealership decal on the tailgate — and removed the metal license plate frames, replacing them with cheap plastic frames with the dealer name on them.

The decal I caught before my bill was paid, and I asked the service manager to have it removed pronto, which he did. The substitution of the metal frames wasn’t noticed until some time later. When I got in touch with the service manager, he blew me off, stating that they didn’t do that. The general manager did read my Yelp review that day and I got a call from the embarrassed service manager… and had replacements for the metal frames in the next week.

Turns out that the kid who put the dealership sticker on the tailgate stole the two license plate frames. He was looking for work about 5 minutes after the service manager and I ended our phone conversation.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by ChrisPBacon

... Turns out that the kid who put the dealership sticker on the tailgate stole the two license plate frames. He was looking for work about 5 minutes after the service manager and I ended our phone conversation.

Did the kid steal them, which is why they were removed? Or was he following orders to swap theirs for yours, then took them home rather than throw them away?

[ChrisPBacon]

Originally Posted by chriscowles

Did the kid steal them, which is why they were removed? Or was he following orders to swap theirs for yours, then took them home rather than throw them away?

Don’t know. Service manager just said that he was gone, implying theft.

[ragtyme]

Originally Posted by ChrisPBacon

Anyone know how the decals can be removed from the trailer without damaging the paint?

It seems that every side of our Rockwood 8263MBR has a dozen or so stickers, almost none of which are the easy peel type. I don’t need a sticker advertising RV life, and while it’s commendable that Forest River supports cancer patients and the fight against the scourge of the 20th/21st centuries, I think it’s just a bit unnecessary.

We very carefully use a heat gun here at our dealership along with Acrysol solvent to remove any remaining adhesive.

[pcsdpo]

I'm a label hater too.
The gentle heat and peeling slowly are the way to start.

Another technique I use is to soften the adhesive with simple paint thinner (WD 40 also works usually), sometimes soaked into a paper towel that is then covered with "plastic wrap" or a piece of a polyethylene bag and applied to the surface of the lable for a few minutes.

Sometimes that doesn't work and I get the sandpaper out . . . Ok, not how you'd think. Very gently, hand sand the surface of the label with fine (220P Grit?) (avoiding the edges where you might accidentally sand the surface from which you are trying to remove the sticker . . .just keep your sanding within the borders of the label itself). The goal here is just to score the coated surface of the sticker with the fine sandpaper. This then will allow you to apply the paint thinner as above outlined, which then can penetrate the label an soften the adhesive.

Just be very careful with the sandpaper and only score the surface of the label. Also make sure that the surface from which you are removing the sticker/label is not affected by the thinner or WD 40 (aka test in an inconspicuous location).

[gw1800]

You can buy plastic 'razor' blades. Won't dig into the paint. Most Home Improvement store carry them. If you use a heat gun, be very careful not to overheat the sticker or the paint. A hair dryer is a better way. Acrysol or prepsol to remove remaining adhesive. I had a few decals on the front of mine that were cracking and wrinkling. Took all of the off.

[IsItFast]

As others have said, heat is your friend. We use a product called "Vinyl Off" that helps old (and new) decals come off in one section instead of just coming off in small sections. Here is a page I send my customers to when they ask about decal removal: Decal Removal Instructions

[Aussieguy]

medium heat and a plastic scraper .... gets the bulk off
found the chemical stuff has a hard time to get past the first vinyl layer (or whatever it is they use)

stubborn sticky ones gingerly used a real, one sided razor SLOWLLLY
did not damage any paint or gelcoat

remainder of the glue residue wd40 / oil / many petroleum products will remove it.

persistence and elbow grease ...
I had 4 layers of them annual boat registration stickers (they are nasty big ones here in Florida)

plus 2 layers of the the boat numbers ... lazy previous owner just slapped new over old

took about a day to do both sides of the boat
---------------------------------------------------
Had some real hard to remove stickers on my new acrylic bathtub ...
Olive oil was recommended by manufacturer ........ it worked great !

[srappleby]

This is what I’m using to remove the moldy Diamond Shield film from the front of my motorhome. The spray, along with plastic razors, is doing great. Pretty slow work but, my “decal” is about 45 sq/ft.

Hope it helps.


Steve

[Boomerweps]

Planning on attacking some of the excess decals next camping trip.
I bought some decal remover spray, a pack of plastic razor scrapers, and a rubber buffing wheel off Amazon. Perfect for a cigar, an adult beverage, and nothing else to do
Want to have that done before polish waxing my TT. Paint is looking a little faded. That I’ll work on during the following camping trip where the sites have one bar on the phone. Can only receive messages and email, no internet and can send nothing from the campsites.