How do I replace my RV’s cracked and faded decals?

Dear Dave,
Can I remove the stripes from the outside of the RV? They’re starting to crack. How do I do it without tearing the fiberglass? Or can I replace them? Is there paint for these stripes? Whichever will be easier. She is starting to look very old and she is far from that. She stays out all winter long in a campground, so I figure that’s the reason for the peeling or cracking, plus the sun. I am in an area of a lot of sun and no shade. She is washed every spring and well taken care of, but those stripes are getting to me. Help!! —Janine, 2006 Jayco Jay Flight

Dear Janine,
There are various types of decals or “stripes,” as you call them. I believe Dustin Simpson referred to them as 3-, 5-, and 7-year decals, which is a little generic depending on the type and how they are taken care of.

Types of vinyl

According to my source at Sharpline, the premier manufacturer of decals for the RV industry, there are two manufacturing processes: cast vinyl and calendered vinyl.

Cast vinyl is a higher grade material that is thinner and will last longer. It is made by drying and curing a liquid mixture into a thin, flexible sheet. It is more expensive.

Calendered vinyl is produced by extruding a heated mixture through calendering rollers and is thicker but does not last as long. It is less expensive. They are often referred to as intermediate or short-term films.

As I have stated many times, the RV industry is typically in a race to the bottom. So, most RV manufacturers are going to choose the least-expensive option as most buyers are not aware of the difference in quality.

Exposure to the sun will dry the vinyl out and it will fade, crack, and blister fairly quickly the more it is exposed and not treated. You can remove the old vinyl; however, it is quite labor intensive.

Removing old vinyl decals

The first step to remove the old vinyl would be to use a heat gun on low setting and a plastic putty knife to see if they will peel off. If they are severely cracked, you may need to use a buffer wheel to remove them. The best I have found is the 3M Stripe Off Wheel, which you can find on Amazon here.

Since your unit is 20 years old, it is not likely you will be able to get replacement decals from Jayco or a dealer. However, I have found that many sign companies that do vinyl signs and vehicle wraps can cut new decals in the same shape or another design that you could install.

Paint a new design

Another option would be to mask it off and paint a new design. This can be done by almost any body shop. I have done it twice with just cans of spray paint.

I don’t think one method is any easier than the other, depending on your DIY skills in painting. In either case, the key is to make sure all the adhesive is off the fiberglass material. I used Goo Gone to get the final tacky stuff off. Then lightly sand the fiberglass to get the gelcoat scuffed up for better adhesion. There are a few videos on YouTube that show both of these processes. Here is a video that goes into quite a bit of detail.

 You might also enjoy these posts from Dave 

• Can I use pressure washer on RV? What about decals?
• RV decals are cracked and curling. What works best to remove them?
• What can I do to restore faded fiberglass and damaged RV decals?
• Why are RV’s decals fading and cracking so soon?

Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”

Read more from Dave here. 

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