Removing dealer decals

[neilff]

We own a 2019 Trillium Outback that is bedazzled with dealer decals. I'm tempted to remove them but curious how to do so without damaging the paint underneath.

I've done this same operation on a car previously using a heat gun and patience. Should the same apply to fibreglass paint? And what about residues, will goo gone be safe?

[Dennis mn]

When we purchased the 2020 Scamp, the dealer replaced the Scamp tire cover with one of their's. I went to the Scamp factory to have some things added, and they, very kindly gave me a Scamp cover to replace the dealer one; however, the one I was given will not fit the 15” tires of my Scamp. Back to the topic of this thread, I see no reason to not use the same approach as with dealing with a steel bodied car. I don't believe that Goo Gone will effect Gell Coat.

[neilff]

Cool - I'll give it a spot test in an inconspicuous place before I go wild. Just want to make sure I'm not doing anything entirely foolish before hand.

[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.

[Casita Greg]

First thing I did when I picked up my trailer was to peel every stinking decal off of it. They are not paying me any royalties to advertise their products, so why should I? I think they are ugly and ruin the lines of the trailer, just me. I even threw out their crummy ugly advertisement spare tire cover. In fact, I don't even carry the spare on the trailer either, to prevent wearing a black ring into the fiberglass gel coat. It now lives in my pickup when we travel, I didn't want to eventually wind up with any "ghost shadows" on my fiberglass of old peeling decals down the road. Funny thing, when those decals were brand new they just peeled right off with my fingernail. I think it looks a lot better and "cleaner" without all that unsolicited garbage all over it like grafitti.

[neilff]

Originally Posted by Casita Greg

First thing I did when I picked up my trailer was to peel every stinking decal off of it. They are not paying me any royalties to advertise their products, so why should I?.

Amen to that, exactly my thinking. The extra wheel cover is a whole other level, its got the dealers email, phone number, address on it...

[Casita Greg]

Originally Posted by neilff

Amen to that, exactly my thinking. The extra wheel cover is a whole other level, its got the dealers email, phone number, address on it...

If you don't mind being a free rolling billboard ad for them, and that you don't make a Nickel from them for doing their advertising, I guess that's OK. Not for me though...

This is where I carry my spare now. Easy to get to, takes up minimal space, and doesn't rub against my gelcoat.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Casita Greg

If you don't mind being a free rolling billboard ad for them, and that you don't make a Nickel from them for doing their advertising, I guess that's OK. Not for me though...

What's on your tow vehicle? Any branding there?

[Casita Greg]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

What's on your tow vehicle? Any branding there?

Just the usual brand medallions, but NO STINKING DECALS!!!!

[Rusty01]

WD40 and a plastic scraper will remove the residue from the decals. It will also aid the heat gun while removing the larger sections. Nice looking trailer by the way.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

What's on your tow vehicle? Any branding there?

“If a man never contradicts himself, the reason must be that he virtually never says anything at all.”
― Erwin Schrödinger

[Glenn Baglo]

One needn't shout, especially if not totally pure.

[parmm]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

What's on your tow vehicle? Any branding there?

1. Life Member - Veterans of Foreign Wars
2. Life Member - Disabled American Veteran
3. Survivor **** Creek Canoe Club - been up and back, no paddle

[Gilda]

IMHO*. In hindsight, if I were I to order a new trailer I would require that they NOT install the decals in the first place. Yes, the trailer looks cleaner and more refined without them.

*IMHO - In My Humble Opinion

[parmm]

Originally Posted by Gilda

IMHO*. In hindsight, if I were I to order a new trailer I would require that they NOT install the decalsthey in the first place. Yes, the trailer looks cleaner and more refined without them.

*IMHO - In My Humble Opinion

But do you realize what they have to pay for national advertising? But they don't pay us, or give us a discount any where near that!!! That want to put a advertising decaL on my trailer, they have to pay!!!

[JuliusB]

we have a 1973 Trillium 1300 that I am pretty sure had original decals on it! I went to an automotive store like Lordco or Napa and there is a hard plastic wheel (about 4-5" in diameter) that fits onto a drill......it removed all decals in seconds but it did cost $65 Cdn. I tried the razor blade option but it is very slow and has potential to damage the fibreglass!

[Jon in AZ]

I'm happy to have my trailer wear the Scamp logo and to serve as a brand ambassador when we're stopped. If I were buying a new trailer, I'd skip the oversized factory badging in favor of smaller versions sold on the website.

When I removed the cracked and fading decals on my used Scamp, there was significant ghosting in the gelcoat, so I elected to replace them with the same larger "Scamp" logo (minus the stripes), but in gold to match my tow vehicle. Travel decals hide ghosting on the gravel guard. Decided to have fun there, since the whole thing can be replaced if a future owner wants a clean slate.


Plastic razor blades are softer than the gelcoat and I have not experienced any damage from their use. I did, however, have a problem with the 3M Stripe-Off wheel. The red ink on my Scamp decals was powdery from UV exposure and smeared into the pores of the surrounding gelcoat, leaving pinkish stains that would not completely buff out.

So back to the blade. It was tedious with older, dried-out decals, but the blade left no residue. Newer decals should only need the blade to lift a corner and, once started with heat applied, peel off in one piece.

When it comes to tow vehicles, I've always removed dealer decals from every vehicle I have purchased. I have yet to find a dealer for whom I'm willing to serve as an ambassador.

[vin]

I have had great success by leaving the camper sit in the sun till good and hot, starting on a corner with a fingernail, pull and then pour mineral spirits behind the decal to release the adhesive. No damage, no sticky residue.

[Nanph]

http://https://www.princessauto.com/...t/PA0008570970Buy a decal remover wheel. They sell them on Amazon but cheaper from princess Auto. It’s like one of those old art erasers that spins on a drill. They don’t cause any damage to the trailer paint. It’s pretty satisfying to watch those decals come off.

[Eggcentric]

Originally Posted by neilff

We own a 2019 Trillium Outback that is bedazzled with dealer decals. I'm tempted to remove them but curious how to do so without damaging the paint underneath.

I've done this same operation on a car previously using a heat gun and patience. Should the same apply to fibreglass paint? And what about residues, will goo gone be safe?

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.