Removing dealer decals

[Dbasdan]

They make a rubber wheel that you mount in a drill to remove graphics and stickers. I believe Harbor Freight even has them. Most auto body supply stores carry them. Amazon too.

[Nanph]

Originally Posted by Eggcentric

Unfortunately the decals will leave a shadow, which is very difficult to remove because the gel coat has oxidized and the areas under the decals will be a different color. We returned a brand new 5th wheel because after a year the decals that the factory installed then removed and re installed using different decals left a shadow that they tried grinding out and repainting it did not work.

A very good point to consider. Mine wasn’t really a different colour but was raised where the decals had been- especially the middle stripe and 4500
# on my trillium. I suppose it would be the lesser of two evils based on individual taste.

[Eggcentric]

Originally Posted by Dbasdan

They make a rubber wheel that you mount in a drill to remove graphics and stickers. I believe Harbor Freight even has them. Most auto body supply stores carry them. Amazon too.

Getting the decals off is easy, fixing the difference in color on the gelcoat is very difficult.

[Eggcentric]

Originally Posted by Nanph

A very good point to consider. Mine wasn’t really a different colour but was raised where the decals had been- especially the middle stripe and 4500
# on my trillium. I suppose it would be the lesser of two evils based on individual taste.

On our trailer Peak Industries made two brands, frontier and vanguard, they built it as one and then to put it into the RV show they swapped the decals because the dealer was Vanguard, then once the trailer had spent a winter in AZ, you could see the shadows. They tried to get rid of the shadow because the resale value was nil,
"what brand is this, are you cheating trying to pass it off as a higher quality rig than you bought" etc.
I am told that the factory shipped a new nose to the dealer, but they did nothing about the sides and rear.
Hope the new owner is OK with it.

[Herb Sutton]

I stripped all the stripes off a Casita using a cheap heat gun from Harbor Freight.
An old credit card makes a good scraper but doesn't gouge the fiberglass.
Either mineral spirit or Glue Gone will remove adhesive residue.

I have taken dealer stickers off my car much the same way.

[Harold S.]

A few years back I ordered a new Ford Ranger. (One of the last to be made in 2011.) In my contract with the dealership I had stipulated that there be no decals or advertising anywhere on the truck or our contract would be null and void. I also stipulated that I didn't want the typical Ford decal identifying it as a "Sport 4X4" on it either. When the truck finally arrived at the dealership I saw the "Sport 4X4" decal on it and had the dealership manager called. I showed him my copy of our agreement and if he wanted final payment he would have to meet the contract stipulations. He immediately had his body-shop department use a heat gun to remove it. Later, I tossed the dealership's plastic license plate holder in the recycling bin. I am in total agreement... why should you be providing free advertising for them? Besides, it looks much cleaner and sleeker without the decals. I have a lovely refurbished 1977 Trillium. The "Trillium" flower symbol is part of the structure of the door... all that's needed for anyone to figure out it's maker.

[bigangelman]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

Besides the heat gun, a plastic razor blade is very helpful to coax decals loose.

It is likely that the color you're seeing is not paint but tint in the outer gelcoat layer. Common cleaners like acetone or Goo-Gone should be safe.

Please do not assume acetone is anything like GooGone! Acetone has the potential to do harm, unless you're very skilled at doing things like that I would say stay away! GooGone will get the job done. Gel coat and clear coat are very similar, the differences are in fiberglass, they paint the mold first in reverse order when compared to painting your car.