Removing Sun Baked Decals From RV | RV DIY

RVs are not only your camping and traveling buddy but also a vehicle to show off. And they also come with Decals, whether from the past owners or from the factory. And like any other foreign object, they get baked in the sun and develop cracks, meltdowns, and damage with age.

And you know how bad it looks on your perfectly clean RV. You just want to tear it off with your fingertips or scrap it off with a knife. This is not the best idea after you thought about it, as it will damage the exterior paint and whatnot. So what is the best practice for removing sun-baked decals from RV, is the question.

Well, the answer is pretty simple. You deal fire with fire. In this case, a heat gun, scraper, and an adhesive remover. Don’t worry, none of these will damage your RV as long as you follow the steps we are going to walk you through.

Also, we are going to through some tips about what to do and what not to do in the end. 

How To Remove Sun Baked Decals From RV On Your Own

Even if you have no prior experience with whatsoever sticker or decal removal, you can remove your RV decals on your own. Equipped with the right tools and technique, you will not damage your RV in any way. Come on! You just heat and scrape! And a little use of WD 40 is always the fun part. 

So before we start, you will need the following equipment. More like getting ready for your battle!

• A heat gun or blow dryer. (one will do)
• Putty knife or plastic paint scraper.
• Goo Gone or WD 40.
• Rags or microfiber cloth.

And with the power equipped in you, you may now proceed with the steps. 

Step 1: Start With A Clean Rv Exterior

As you are going to apply heat to remove the decals, other elements will tend to bake into your RV. So a thorough wash of your RV is necessary. If it is already washed and clean as day, avoid this step.

Step 2: Heat A Small Portion With A Dryer Or Heat Gun

Start with a heat gun or dryer, and the putty knife or paint scraper. Remember, a heat gun is more powerful than a blow dryer. So make sure the settings are at a minimum and don’t keep on heating for too long. It will cause more damage than good.

Heat a small portion of the decal and pull it off. You can use the knife or scraper for better help. A second person would be of great help as one can heat and the other can remove the decal.

Step 3: Slow And Steady Is The Key

Any form of work needs a lot of patience and time to be perfect. Especially when you are removing your RV decals. It is based on the exterior. Do not rush it or force scrape it. This will harm and cost you later on.

Go slow, take a break, and proceed. 

Step 4: Remove The Remaining Adhesive

When all of the decals are removed, you will have some adhesive remaining. Some will go off with the decal. You can use an adhesive remover like Goo Gone or our dear friend WD 40 to finish it off. Apply it and let it sit for some time.

After a good 20 minutes, use a rug or microfiber cloth to rub the adhesive off. If there is any remaining adhesive, repeat the process. 

Step 5: Treat For Any Oxidation

Older decals will cause oxidation in your RV. The older it is, the harder it is to remove. You can go for an oxidation remover and treat it. And after that, you will be left with a clean shiny new RV.

What To Do If The RV Decal Is Stubborn?

Pencil eraser! We all used it, and have it in our homes. Haha, you don’t have to use that on your RV. but a Decal Removal Wheel, which resembles an old pencil eraser. This roller wheel of a device can slowly take off any stubborn decal that is not coming off with anything. Roll it over your decal after you sprayed it with WD 40. And it will come off easily. But be cautious, fiberglass RV exteriors don’t deal well with this wheel. So best don’t use it on them.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

How do you remove stickers from outside RV?

You can remove stickers from outside the RV by heating them up and pealing them off. For the remaining adhesive, use an adhesive remover or WD 40 laying in your garage, and wipe them off with a rag. 

How do I make my RV decals look new again?

If your RV decals are not too damaged, you can use a cleaning agent and wax them to make them look new again. 

What is the best product to restore RV decals?

3M Marine Fiberglass Cleaner and Wax, Rejuvenate restorer wipes or Max’s RV Vinyle Decal & Graphic Restorer are best for RV decal restoration. 

Conclusion

Nobody likes a faded, cracked decal on their RV. It’s like a broken board or hole in the wall of your home. So stripping it off is the best idea. Just be patient when you are working on it, and don’t rush it. Otherwise, it will start to cost more than what you were intended for.