How to Remove Old RV Decals- DIY

Only a few years ago, the idea that I might need to remove RV decals was NOWHERE on my radar. Purchasing an RV was one of those way-in-the-future ideas. We didn’t have the time or the energy. Then suddenly you realize retirement is within your grasp and those future plans were within reach.

Why Would You Want to Remove RV Decals?

I bought my first used rig from an individual, but first I watched a lot of videos about things to look for, and not a single one of them referenced the appearance of the RV’s exterior. My wife and I found one nearby; were satisfied with its condition and it met our other criteria, so we bought it and pulled it home.

It was then that I saw how ugly it was, the old decals looked a mess and I couldn’t stand it. This problem was bigger than using goo gone on a paper towel as an adhesive remover could solve- I wanted to find the best way to replace the RV decals.

Let’s face it, we RV owners are usually particular about the looks of our RV exterior. I located replacement decals and used trial-and-error(s). I’m not an expert, but I want to help others, so I want to discuss some things I learned about RV decal removal in my situation. It’s a meticulous process and usually isn’t much fun, but new decals make all the difference

Processes to Remove RV Decals

There are several combinations of surface materials and types of decals so understand at the outset your situation might take some trial and error. Physical strength isn’t necessary. The best method to get the best result is usually also the easy way.

1st Level of Difficulty: Removing Small, Peeling Decals

Let’s start this conversation with what I think is the easiest situation. Small, peeling decals, such as individual letters on a film surface are probably the most basic problem.

The first step is the use of heat. Park outside of direct sunlight and apply heat, then slowly lift and pull the decal up and off. The principle here is to cause the decal adhesive to soften and become slightly warmer than the fiberglass surface, so the bond weakens. Use a heat gun if you choose, but a hairdryer is almost always sufficient. It doesn’t take much heat.

Use an old credit card, plastic putty knife, or a plastic scraper like you would a plastic razor blade with one hand and a blow dryer on medium heat with the other. Once you get the process started it is pretty easy.

2nd Level of Difficulty: Removing Dry-Appearing Vinyl Decals

Let’s move to the next scenario, dry-appearing vinyl decals. Heat might not work with these. This might be the time for a handheld drill and a 3M Stripe Remover. This is fundamentally an eraser wheel that doesn’t require much elbow grease.

Simply begin at an edge of the hardened vinyl and apply light pressure. It flakes the old vinyl from the surface of your rig and leaves it clean without damage so long as you don’t apply too much pressure.

The next step will be to use a commercial product like goof off to remove any residue.

3rd Level of Difficulty: Removing Large, Cracked Vinyl Graphics

Next up the difficulty level are large, cracked vinyl graphics. Some of these will leave a sticky residue.

Eraser wheels only smear glue residue all over your gel coat and will leave fiberglass surfaces a mess. Mineral spirits don’t work. Heat won’t work on these.

The good news is there are products that will eat through the old stickers without hurting your RV’s exterior surface. Different products yield different results, so test a small area before you fully commit.

GraphXoff works like a paint stripper would on wood or metal but are safe on coated and catalyzed surfaces. It is the last resort, but it dissolves paints and graphics to the point where they liquify and you can gently scrape them away with a scraper or the edge of a hard plastic squeegee.

Final Step to Remove RV Decals

No matter which way you use to remove the RV’s decals, you’ll have some uneven ghost images. The last step is to get rid of the ghosting.

Some have suggested using ghost away oxidation remover but that is a heavy-duty oxidation remover and you have to use it on the entire rig.

Others recommend wet sanding your clear coat. I haven’t tried that, but it doesn’t sound like anything I want to do.

I recommend Meguiar’s Oxidation Remover as the best option. It removes ghost images by microscopically smoothing the surface area. Use a clean rag, sanding and rotary buffing aren’t necessary. Physical strength isn’t necessary.

Thanks for Reading How to Remove RV Decals

Unfortunately, we didn’t begin blogging until AFTER we had sold our original RV so we don’t have before and after pictures of our own. We have a newer model now, but the one constant with RV decals is their inability to age well. And RV owners are typically pretty particular about how their RV’s exterior appears.

Have you removed decals on your RV? Send us pictures or any more ideas if you have them. If you are looking for a replacement, try using this link. OR use THIS link to create a personalized decal to cover up in an individual way.

Want to know more about our RV and how we chose it? Click HERE. For more information about us, click HERE.