Shiltsy
Twin Cities, MN
New Member
Joined: 07/11/2011
View Profile
 Offline
|
The decals on our 2004 Allegro were badly checked and peeling when we bought it last summer. The dealership agreed to provide new decals, but not pay for removal/installation. After a couple quotes pushing $2000, I decided to at least REMOVE the old ones by myself. Last weekend I tackled the project with a blowdryer, $75 gallon of Vinyl-off and a plastic putty knife. After taking about 3-4 hours to get 1/3 of the way through the project, I put an ad on craigslist offering $100 cash for someone to do the rest. I had a guy at my house helping out an hour later.
Lessons learned:
- Vinyl off was not a miracle cure. It probably helped a bit, but heat did more than the chemicals by far. If I had it to do over again, I would try one of the other products out there.
- Used "Rapid Remover" to get rid of leftover adhesive after the decal was removed. This product is amazing. It broke down the adhesive in about a minute.
- Blowdryer worked just fine for applying heat. I wouldn't buy an expensive heat gun.
- Get a helper from craigslist and cut your time in half!
- Be more careful on the painted steel door. I really trashed the paint on the door. Paint on the metal surface seems to break down with vinyl-off.
Found a sign shop to install the factory decals for about $150-190. That work is scheduled a couple weeks from now.
Here are some before/after pics. I'll update them once the new decals are installed!
http://gallery.me.com/shiltsy#100128
---
2004 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 28DA
Dual Slides
Banks Power
HID Headlight Mod
|
MountainAir05
New Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
3M has a wheel that you attach to the drill. Works great
|
jerseyjim
New Jersey
Senior Member
Joined: 09/02/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
MOUNTAINAIR05: More info, please?
|
Oasisbob
Portland Oregon 97266
Senior Member
Joined: 11/18/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks for taking the time to share what you learned. This kind of info is what makes this forum great.
Oasis Bob
Wonderful wife & 4 Really Fun kids
2008 KIA Sedona 3.8L 24 valve V-6
2001 Bantam Trail Lite B-19
HAPPY TRAILS
|
concord32
Indianapolis
Full Member
Joined: 11/28/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Gumout carb cleaner works great to take off the glue. Just remember to spray on the rag not the project. When your done wipe with wet cloth and rewax.
2011 Coachmen Concord 32' Triton V-10 1-slide.
|
|
|
BB_TX
McKinney, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 04/04/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Someone posted here some time ago about using a wall paper steamer to remove them. They posted a picture that showed the decal just peeling off behind the steamer. I think they can be rented at Home Depot, or bought for about $50.
Have not tried it but it would seem the steamer would be safer than a heat gun as the temp would not be as high and less chance of damaging the surface.
|
ecoast
NW NJ's Highlands
Senior Member
Joined: 06/01/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
jerseyjim wrote:MOUNTAINAIR05: More info, please?
3m stripe removal tool is a series of discs on an arbor.
get it from a body shop supply (or eBay, amazon)
07 5.9 CTD & 2000 Northstar Laredo TC towing 87 Samurai ORV on dual axle trailer
|
Shiltsy
Twin Cities, MN
New Member
Joined: 07/11/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
My Dad used the 3M wheel on his decals and overall, I'd say he invested just as much time and was probably a little more sore at the end of the day..... The other thing I learned is that all decals are not created equal! The good quality decals from Tiffin were not peeling or cracking and they came off in one big piece. The crappy gold/silver decals were peeling and extremely hard to get off.
|
wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
Senior Member
Joined: 07/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
The power of STEAM... I don't have it any more but I used to have a steam gun, this unit would blast decals, bumper stickers, scotch tape and loose paint like nobody's business.
I've cleaned out moldy refrigerators, Dog poop off a porch floor, and more with it.
It is one fantastic cleaner.. Just water, no dangerous chemicals.
When I dispatched tow trucks I took it to work, the toilet was .. Well, black, I pointed the gun and squeezed the triggure and 1.5 pints of water later the toilet was well.. White.
The night dispatcher said "You must have used some powerful stuff" I told him water.. He did not believe me.... Just water, at 220 degrees (Yes, 8 degrees ABOVE boiling)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
|
TEO
Inverness, FL, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/07/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I removed the decals on my 2002 Journey while on vacation in Arizona. It was late May of 2008 and the Arizona sun did the job. After the sun beat down on one side, I lifted a corner of the decal and slowly peeled it off. As the sun moved around the motorhome I was able to get all the decals off, though the side that got only the late afternoon sun had to be scraped off.
Paul
Paul & Helen
2002 Winnebago Journey DL
1999 Jeep Cherokee toad 
Yellow Lab, Jodie, Chocolate Lab, Coco  , and Lab/Golden mix, Sandy.
FMCA 98905
http://ptempesta.blogspot.com
|
|
|
