Most RVs have large manufacturer decals when you purchase them.
When I was younger, I didn’t really mind them. I even put in some customized ones that I thought were trendy at the time.
But after a few years, my preference changed, and I started not wanting those decals anymore.
The Quick Answer on How to Remove Cracked Decals from RV is…
Heating up those stickers helps to loosen the adhesive underneath. And with enough heat, it will be easy to peel it off.
Anyways, aside from me not wanting the decals anymore… they also started looking ugly because of the exposure from the sun. They cracked all over, and the colors faded.
As a result, it also made my RV look ugly and old.
It stressed me out for a bit because who wants a terrible looking RV?
It was all good on the inside, but the exterior is something I wasn’t really happy about.
When I decided to peel off the stickers, I only wished I did it sooner.
Good thing is that it doesn’t take rocket science to remove decals from the RV.
Heating up those stickers help loosen the adhesive underneath. And with enough heat, it will be easy to peel it off.
Some say you’d need a professional grade heat gun to do the trick. But all I used was our hair dryer at home and a little bit of WD-40 and it worked just fine.
The steps are easy, and anybody can do it. Here’s how I removed my RV’s decals.
It’s actually very basic. You just have to soften the adhesives by heating up the stickers.
Peel of the stickers, starting from one of the edges that are easy to rip off.
After removing everything, clean up the leftover adhesive using WD-40.
If you have any adhesive remover like Goof Off, you can use it as well.
But if you don’t have any at home, you don’t have to buy one if you have WD-40. It gave me good results so I’m sure it will work for you, too.
And if you’re getting close to the end of the RV season, why not remove the decals before you winterize your camper?
How to Remove Sticker Residue from Camper?
Earlier, I mentioned adhesive remover good for removing the gooey adhesives that are hard to get rid of.
If you don’t have WD-40 and are more comfortable in using adhesive removers, you can easily get them in the stores. I recommend Goo Gone, Goof Off, 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover, and other similar products.
You can find them at the nearest Home Depot, Walgreens, Target, and Walmart. I’m sure they’re available in other stores, too.
Check whatever is available, they all work well with gooey adhesives.
After you’ve removed the stickers and you already have your adhesive remover, it’s time to get those ugly stuff off your RV.
Get some paper towels or rags and soak them with the adhesive remover.
Wet the sticky spots and gently scrape it off using the edge of an old plastic card. I suggest you use a credit card for this.
I was told that it’s highly recommended that you use a glass cleaner to finish off after all the adhesive residue is completely removed.
It should prepare your RV’s surface if you’re planning to replace the decals with new ones.
Removing Decals from Aluminum Trailer?
Removing decals from aluminum trailers is basically the same as removing them from campers.
Heat the decals to remove the top film, but make sure they are not too hot for your fingers when you peel them off.
Aluminum is a good heat conductor so you’re likely to hurt your fingers if you touch the trailer right away after heating.
All the same, you can get rid of the annoying gooey adhesive by using WD-40 or other adhesive removers.
I’ve only used WD-40 so far, but a lot of RVers vouch that adhesive removers work fine with aluminum trailers.
Just as long as you don’t use sharp or abrasive products in rubbing the sticky spots, then your RV should be fine.
Decal Removal from Fiberglass?
There are other parts of the RV that would require another type of cleaner. These are the fiberglass parts such as the bumpers, fenders, slide outs, etc.
The process of removing decals from these parts is somewhat different from aluminum and other parts.
As a first step, heat the decals for a few minutes, four minutes at most.
Spray the sticker with a glass cleaner such as Windex or 3M Auto Glass Cleaner. If not available, you may also use WD-40.
The important thing here is that you soak the sticker for several minutes with the glass cleaner or lubricant. Add some more, if necessary.
Once the top film is okay to remove, use a non-abrasive or soft cloth to wipe off the decal. Do not pull it off as it might damage the glass.
Using a soft plastic spatula, scrape off the adhesive gently. Do not push too hard to prevent damage.
Soak a soft non-abrasive cloth in rubbing alcohol and wipe off the remaining sticky spots with adhesive residue.
To make the fiberglass shiny, you may apply wax using your favorite brand.
How to Remove Ghost Lettering from a Trailer?
The RV’s exposure to some elements causes oxidation of its vehicle coating. Over time, the coating will age, and its color will change
This oxidation process will eventually create a ghosting effect behind any graphics that you have applied in the RV such as decals.
Once you remove the stickers, the original color of the RV’s coating will be revealed. It will then leave behind a ghost image where the sticker originally was.
Since the discoloration is caused by oxidation you can’t actually “remove” the ghost image left behind.
You’d have to remove the oxidation on the RV’s surface and match the color with the ghost letters.
The good thing is, having ghost letters is not a hopeless case.
There are oxidation removers that you can use to resolve your problem. They help restore weather-exposed surfaces by getting rid of the oxidation.
I heard that Ghost Off Oxidation Remover is a good brand, but there are other brands in the market you can choose from.
You can find this product in Amazon and other online stores.
Conclusion
Whether you want to get rid of your decals for good or preparing for a new design, there are many things you can do to clean your RV’s surface.
The options discussed about how to remove cracked decals from RV should be able to help you resolve your decal problems.
These are tried and tested by pro RVers and I can vouch that they worked for me.
I’m sure they will work for you, too.
