Forum Discussion

Shaung's avatar
Shaung
Explorer
Nov 19, 2013

Has anyone found a good way to remove decals

I'm looking for a good way to remove my decals that are starting to peel around the edges .I called the manufacturer and we are in the process of having them send me out new decals.Ive read countless post and websites but I'm still lost.The 5th wheel is only 4 years old so I'm hoping the glues not to difficult to remove.Has anyone found a way to do this that's sure to work?

18 Replies

  • JimMartin's avatar
    JimMartin
    Explorer
    Nov 27, 2013
    Just did mine. Tried a heat gun but the decals were to old and cracked. I ended up using a 3M eraser wheel. Used a 4" x 5/8" wheel on my drill. Worked great on my 14 year old decals. Just be careful not to go to fast! You can burn (yellow) the fiberglass. Very the speed on the drill. Used mineral sprites to clean up the up after.
  • mikestock's avatar
    mikestock
    Explorer
    Nov 26, 2013
    Shaung wrote:
    I spoke to a local mobile detailer and he suggested brake cleaner and a heat gun but I'm not sure what the brake cleaner will do to the gelcoat.


    That is exactly the way I have done it on my Montana fifth wheels (2 of them). They are notorious. The brake cleaner removes the residue after pulling the decals off. Leaves them clean and ready for the replacement decal.
  • Veebyes's avatar
    Veebyes
    Explorer II
    Nov 26, 2013
    Heat gun, on low, much quicker than a hair drier. Be sure to use a plastic scraper/spreader not a putty knife.
  • diveman52's avatar
    diveman52
    Explorer
    Nov 23, 2013
    I used a pressure washer to blast off the junky Gulf Stream logos from my coach worked well and did not harm the paint at all.
  • mdamerell's avatar
    mdamerell
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    At work they us a heat gun and a plastic scrapper to clean off old decals off trucks. If they get a stubborn one, then they break out the 3M eraser wheel
  • Wadcutter's avatar
    Wadcutter
    Nomad
    Nov 20, 2013
    To remove decals from our squad cars we use a heat gun on low setting. They'll peel right off. Something like Goo Gone will remove any remaining glue.
    Don't use anything abrasive nor an erasure. Even those which claim non-abrasive are still abrasive to a degree. You'll take the shine off your gelcoat.
  • RVTravler's avatar
    RVTravler
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    robrose1 wrote:
    I use my DW's hair dryer on low heat. They usually come right off unless the decals are cracking. I used goop to get the glue off then I buffed the rig. Test goop first because it can take the paint off.


    I have some decals that look like a dried up river bed. How would one get those off?
  • Shaung's avatar
    Shaung
    Explorer
    Nov 19, 2013
    I spoke to a local mobile detailer and he suggested brake cleaner and a heat gun but I'm not sure what the brake cleaner will do to the gelcoat.
  • Ron3rd's avatar
    Ron3rd
    Explorer III
    Nov 19, 2013
    JRandall wrote:
    I used a hair dryer and a plastic scraper. Heat up the decal with the scraper running slightly behind the hair dryer. Once it heats up, it comes off fairly easily. Then as someone else suggested clean any residue with GOOP. Be careful, it does get hot. If you use a plastic scraper, you can avoid gouges into the fiberglass that invariably happens with a metal one. Good luck!


    That's the best way to go IMO. I wanted a bit more power and the wife frowned on using her hair dryer, so for about 9 bucks I bought the cheap Harbor Freight heat gun that is always on sale. High and low settings included no extra charge!

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