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Sticker and residue removal

lwbfl
Explorer
Explorer
My new TT came with stickers all over it and I want to remove them. What's the best way to get the adhesive off the fiberglass and 3M decals after peeling off the unwanted stickers?
1976 Myself and Wife
2009 DD
3 Doggies
2016 Chevy Z71
2021 Coachmen Apex 253RLS
22 REPLIES 22

bigred1cav
Explorer
Explorer
peanut butter

ivbinconned
Explorer II
Explorer II
None of the above!
GraphXOff

https://www.autotrimdesign.net/previewimage.asp?pid=25&prodtype=productgroup

Wonderful stuff. Goes on like liquid honey.let sit for a bit. Then use a plastic scraper like a windshield scraper and scrape it off.

I removed all the grafics on our trailer that were the inspiration of someone with a cows tail and a pail of paint.
GraphXOff
Ram and 34 ft Cedar Creek

JoeH
Explorer III
Explorer III
lwbfl wrote:
Lynnmor wrote:
Warm with a hair dryer and wipe with WD-40. Works well on some adhesives, fair on others.


They are pretty new so the stickers come off easily, just wasn't sure if WD-40 was OK to use on the fiberglass skin. I know it's wonderful on metal bumpers and chrome! I have some marine wax I used on the old camper and I hope it will hide the "dull" spots left behind.

WD-40 works pretty good-- I just removed an old sticker that was on a
boat for 15 years... sprayed it down, let it soak and rubbed with a paper towel and plastic scrapper.... took a few iterations, but it came off cleanly.
Joe
2013 Dutch Star 4338- all electric
Toad is 2015 F-150 with bikes,kayaks and Harley aboard

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
Diamond c wrote:
Finger nail polish remover but test I it in a small spot to make sure it only takes off what you want removed


Nail polish remover is nothing but glorified acetone. Try taking her to Lowes next time she needs some. Add some baby oil to it.

See what kind of reaction you get. You might be doing some early season camping.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
First line of the first response hits it pretty good.

Depending on age & material quality the decal will be easy or the other way. A hair dryer or heat gun on low along with patience & a non scratching putty knife of some sort will get the decal off.

The remaining adhesive is the fun part. Yeah, the expensive packaged for the job products work but I like cheap that works. Stuff that might already be laying around. Lacquer thinners dissolve all kinds of things. Acetone is another excellent cleaner that will not harm gelcoat. One more little known cleaner is Naptha. It will remove residue that another cleaner might leave behind.

Finish off with a good marine cleaner wax & the surface should be like new.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995

lwbfl
Explorer
Explorer
dedmiston wrote:


Don't forget the mattress tags. :R


Yeah, I'd hate for the helicopters to swoop in as I'm cutting that one off!
1976 Myself and Wife
2009 DD
3 Doggies
2016 Chevy Z71
2021 Coachmen Apex 253RLS

dedmiston
Moderator
Moderator
CharlesinGA wrote:
I'm going to ask, what kind of stickers do you want to remove? the large decorative decals? or the stickers at the water fill, Power, the one on the front left with tire sizes, weights, etc on it?

If the latter, think twice before you remove them. The manufacturer installed those stickers for a reason, or several reasons. The large one on the front left, with tire sizes, weights, etc, is REQUIRED by Federal DOT, It would be akin to removing the VIN numbers off your car. The one on the power connection is REQUIRED by the National Electric Code. I don't know for sure, but I suspect the one on the water fill is probably required by some plumbing code. The sticker near the propane bottles is, I think, a DOT required sticker, cannot recall for sure. Code compliance is required by the RVIA who issues the serial numbered oval sticker on the outside near the door. Removing the stickers would certainly prevent the trailer from being exported to Canada, but might also cause issues elsewhere. Supposedly a few (vary rare if actually any at all) campgrounds make having the RVIA sticker (and hence the others) a requirement, to weed out the schoolies, ambulance conversions, cargo trailer conversions, etc.

Possibly I am picky about such things, but.... If I encountered a trailer that were missing such stickers, ESPECIALLY the DOT sticker on the front left, and the RVIA sticker, I would walk away from the deal, even if it were being given to me............

They don't put those stickers on there for the fun of it, the manufacturers do it because they have to. If they could not do it, they would not.

Charles


Don't forget the mattress tags. :R

2014 RAM 3500 Diesel 4x4 Dually long bed. B&W RVK3600 hitch โ€ข 2015 Crossroads Elevation Homestead Toy Hauler ("The Taj Mahauler") โ€ข <\br >Toys:

  • 18 Can Am Maverick x3
  • 05 Yamaha WR450
  • 07 Honda CRF250X
  • 05 Honda CRF230
  • 06 Honda CRF230

lwbfl
Explorer
Explorer
time2roll wrote:
Rapid Remover and an eraser wheel both on amazon. Still a lot of work for 10+ year baked on and pealing decals to get removed.
I removed some of the worst and gave up on the rest for now. Just part of the patina.


The advertisements only.
1976 Myself and Wife
2009 DD
3 Doggies
2016 Chevy Z71
2021 Coachmen Apex 253RLS

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Rapid Remover and an eraser wheel both on amazon. Still a lot of work for 10+ year baked on and pealing decals to get removed.
I removed some of the worst and gave up on the rest for now. Just part of the patina.

CharlesinGA
Explorer
Explorer
I'm going to ask, what kind of stickers do you want to remove? the large decorative decals? or the stickers at the water fill, Power, the one on the front left with tire sizes, weights, etc on it?

If the latter, think twice before you remove them. The manufacturer installed those stickers for a reason, or several reasons. The large one on the front left, with tire sizes, weights, etc, is REQUIRED by Federal DOT, It would be akin to removing the VIN numbers off your car. The one on the power connection is REQUIRED by the National Electric Code. I don't know for sure, but I suspect the one on the water fill is probably required by some plumbing code. The sticker near the propane bottles is, I think, a DOT required sticker, cannot recall for sure. Code compliance is required by the RVIA who issues the serial numbered oval sticker on the outside near the door. Removing the stickers would certainly prevent the trailer from being exported to Canada, but might also cause issues elsewhere. Supposedly a few (vary rare if actually any at all) campgrounds make having the RVIA sticker (and hence the others) a requirement, to weed out the schoolies, ambulance conversions, cargo trailer conversions, etc.

Possibly I am picky about such things, but.... If I encountered a trailer that were missing such stickers, ESPECIALLY the DOT sticker on the front left, and the RVIA sticker, I would walk away from the deal, even if it were being given to me............

They don't put those stickers on there for the fun of it, the manufacturers do it because they have to. If they could not do it, they would not.

Charles
'03 Ram 2500 CTD, 5.9HO six speed, PacBrake Exh Brake, std cab, long bed, Leer top and 2008 Bigfoot 25B21RB.. previously (both gone) 2008 Thor/Dutchman Freedom Spirit 180 & 2007 Winnebago View 23H Motorhome.

12thgenusa
Explorer
Explorer
Another vote for Rapid Remover. I just redid all the graphics on my trailer in 2019. Ten-year old graphics. Heat gun works to remove the graphics. Actually I found the heat gun too hot even on low, tended to make the graphics too soft and tear apart. I used a hair blower on low and it was just right. One quart of Rapid Remover removed the glue residue from the whole trailer with a little left over, some of which I just used to remove glue remaining from a seven-year old clear bra on a car I am getting ready to sell.


2007 Tundra DC 4X4 5.7, Alcan custom rear springs, 2009 Cougar 245RKS, 370 watts ET solar, Victron BMV-712, Victron SmartSolar 100/30, 200AH LiP04 bank, ProWatt 2000.

Durb
Explorer
Explorer
I used gorilla tape to hold a failed awning in place. Once removed, the tape left a terrible amount of residue. I used Tech brake cleaner from Walmart to clean it off. I was apprehensive at first but it cleaned easily with no damage to the fiberglass.

This is a testimonial, not a recommendation.

Diamond_c
Nomad
Nomad
Finger nail polish remover but test I it in a small spot to make sure it only takes off what you want removed

IB853347201
Nomad
Nomad
GooGone! Available at Walmart
2010 Suncruiser