hwybnb wrote:

I completely re-stripped a 30' MH about the same age as yours.

The first task is to remove the old vinyl stripes. There are several methods. The best choice, aside from cost, depends on how long the old decals have been there and what condition they are in.

The easiest way to remove the old stripes is with a 3M product called Woodgrain and Decal Remover 08907. It is a spray that emulsifies when you apply it, making it foam up and stick to the side of the RV where it dissolves the stripes so that they can be easily scraped off with a plastic scraper. This stuff works like a charm but is expensive. It is about $25 per can retail and it will take several cans to do the job. You can buy it from places that sell supplies to auto body shops. You can find it cheaper on the Internet but shipping costs might eat up most of the saving.

Alternate methods are to use a heat gun and scraper, or to use what is called an eraser wheel. The wheel is what a lot of professional shops use. It is rubber wheel that goes on a drill motor and rubs off the old decals.

No matter what method you use to get the old stuff off you are going to be left with some adhesive residue. Again 3M comes to the rescue with two good products. One is Woodgrain and Decal Adhesive Remover 08908, which has an emulsifier like the 08997. It works better than anything else I have tried but like the other 3M stuff it is expensive. 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner 08987 is cheaper but does not work as good because it does not emulsify and stick like the 08908 does.

A perfectly clean surface is essential to a successful job so don't skimp on that part. I used isopropyl alcohol for a final cleanup.

After you get the old strips off you will probably find that you can still see where they were because the siding under them has not weathered. For that reason you will probably have to put the new strips on in the same pattern, or with wider stripes that cover the footprint of the old ones.

I bought my replacement stripes from the link below. It has been a while since I bought from them but I think they still produce vinyl stripes in a variety of colors and widths:

Vinyl Graphics

They will send you a sample card that has all of the colors.