Decal Removal and Replacement

Smkettner: You're going to need more than one, probably more than two.

Make sure you get the arbor that goes into the drill chuck. Also you're going to need a corded drill, the battery ones just don't get the job done.

newman fulltimer wrote:
you need the 3m stripping wheel

Just one for the whole RV? My trailer is 26'

Has anyone had a shop, body shop, rv shop, something like that, remove and replace their decals? If so what would an approximate cost be? I haven't talked to anyone yet, but was wondering, $500, $1500, $2500?

I just talked to a good shop in Phoenix about removing and replacing the decals on our 40' class A. Their work is first class, however, it ain't cheap. For our rig, it's about four grand. It takes five days to do most class As. One day more for ours as these particular decals take a bit more work.

I had removed some decals from another rig and had used a heat gun and razor blades. I got them off but damaged some gel coat in the process. The professional told me to never use a heat gun for that reason, to use the 3M eraser deal instead (that's what they use).

I used to do vinyl signs and would not recommend installing over existing graphics. Over time, UV breaks down the adhesive and the vinyl may also shrink.

The best product I've used to prep surfaces to remove adhesive and wax is called Rapid Prep. Great product for installing graphics and they also make an application fluid called Rapic Tac that works well.

yeah my graphics already have adhesive on them and I have only 4 small graphics to replace. I did order the 3M Removal Wheel and adhesive removal from Amazon. As mentioned I did 1 small removal the other day with a heat gun and it wasn't fun...I actually scuffed the gel coat of trailer but it will be covered with new graphic. I will wait until 3M Wheel arrives to tackle the remaining 3. The graphics being replace are not pealing at all and maybe got discolored from cleaning roof and having cleaner drip down back corners of trailer. Who knows....

Be careful using soap and water. I just found out today, that some decals are specially made to be installed dry!!!!

Our 2009 Keystone Montana's 5th wheel's graphics faded and peeled withing 2 years. Keystone sent us replacement graphics. Then it dawned on me, do all the work to remove the poor quality graphics to replace them with the same poor quality graphics is not a good decision.

I did remove the worst of the graphics with a 3M large stripe removal tool. It's about a 3" diameter by 5/8" thick item that looks like one of those white sweet gum erasers. Put it in a variable speed drill motor and use a very low speed and most of it comes off. Not hard work but time consuming. Too much speed and pressure and the wheel egg shapes and makes the job harder. Wipe down well with liquid adhesive remover and the glue left behind goes away.

After use a buffing wheel and a very mild rubbing compound and the ghost images fade away. Took me about 12 houes working a couple hours at a time to get it done.

Not going to help you in Rhode Island, but there are a couple places in Mesa, AZ and San Bernadino, CA that have web sites that show what appears to be good quality painted graphics. Had a rough estimate of $2100 for our replacement and we get to design it.

Thanks for the info, that may help me make up my mind whether to tackle it on my own or not. I'm a cheap son-of-a-gun, but that also looks like a lot of work. :)

37' Class A with 2 slides, to remove and replace decals --- $1750 in 2005 for a poor job.

Has anyone had a shop, body shop, rv shop, something like that, remove and replace their decals? If so what would an approximate cost be? I haven't talked to anyone yet, but was wondering, $500, $1500, $2500?