Decals Peeling Off
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10301
Printed Date: 01 Jul 2025 at 7:43am
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Topic: Decals Peeling Off
Posted By: Podtraveler
Subject: Decals Peeling Off
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 10:28am
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Hi, our 6 year old Pod has much of the decal material peeling off and leaving a residue of the adhesive on the surface of the Pod. Any ideas on how to remove them without damaging the surface? Thanks!
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Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 10:42am
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Blow dryer or heat gun, go slow and easy.. when new, a sunny day will do it, but after 6 years.. will need some help. Then clean the residue with goo gone, and finally hit it with a good cleaner wax which will remove most of the shadowing.
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 10 Jul 2017 at 4:11pm
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WD 40 or goo gone, once decaled is removed either will take of adhesive. I like blow dryers, because the heat is controlled, I have a heat gun that will blister paint. Elbow grease and patience. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: henryv
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 1:45pm
I have the opposite problem. The decal on my 2016 R-pod is coming off just barely around the edges, only on the front. I'm thinking of cleaning it good then using epoxy carefully to glue it back down. Any suggestions?  ------------- |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 4:41pm
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Never tried that henry. I applaud your tenacity. End of the day I don't think it will work, may be a temp solution. Try it and see how it works, and if it doesn't replace the decals if you want them. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 5:02pm
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We took off all the swirly stickers from our 2009 172. It looks a lot better just plain white. Most of the stickers were peeling at the edges and some were much worse. I used a heat gun and a razor window cleaner to peel them as I heated the glue. Some came off very well, while others left a lot of glue. I tired Goo Gone Pro-Power and it seemed to work after spraying, letting it sit, then going at it with the razor scraper. I washed it to get the Goo Gone off and all seemed well. But a while later in the NV heat and dust, I noticed that the glue was still there in many places and it was retaining an nice layer of Comstock mine dust on the sticky parts. I guess I'll give it another pass with Goo Gone in when the season ends and will try buffing it off with fiberglass cleaner after washing off the Goo Gone. Personally, I wish they'd leave the stickers off if they can't get them to permanently stick. They aren't all that attractive anyway. Maybe FR should try some price tag glue. I can't recall how many products I've ended up defacing because I couldn't get the price tag off, especially when it's posted over critical information about safe use. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2017 at 5:37pm
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The glue is the hardest part of removal. I use WD40 and a plastic scraper, the razor scrapers can cause a "dig issue". All about elbow grease. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: henryv
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2017 at 11:33am
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I've decided to just let it be. So much for tenacity mcarter, but thanks for for the information I could eventually replace them. Or do like lostagain and just remove them. I don't want to use a glue which could just make it harder down the road. It just seems like a 2016 should not be pealing already.Anybody know if a waranty covers it? By the way, I have been trying to contact the dealer where it came from for other parts, but they don't get back to me. ------------- |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2017 at 1:41pm
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Mike, I tried the plastic scraper route and it didn't work. I saturated the glue with Goo Gone waited several minutes, then attacked it with the plastic scraper and it just slid over the top of the glue. I even tried using abrasive fiber, like Scotch Pads (green), and it took a little off, but I realized it was going to take a very, very long time. I resorted to the razor scraper as a last resort and realize that if you are not very careful, you can gouge the gelcoat of the fiberglass. All you can do in that regard is be very careful. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2017 at 3:53pm
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Lostagain, can't argue. and I agree you have to be careful with razor scraper, just removed an ugly decal from door and resorted to same method as you. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2017 at 4:30pm
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Looks pretty good when they're off, ehh? 😎 Bare pods are cool! ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2017 at 4:46pm
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I think the decal set from FR is around 300, which is market price for a graphic set for a TT. My plan is to remove as they wear and not replace. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2017 at 11:56am
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I removed the decals from my first-gen pod (a very common issue for those decals). Looked like a big marshmallow. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2017 at 12:22pm
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I put a porthole in the door to reduce the marshmallow effect [and to have a window in the door]. It helped. I've also given some thought to a submarine or fish motif, but those are ideas still in formation. A couple of art nouveau aluminum wings on the back on each side might help and would improve windage. Airbrushing clouds might also work and would reduce the weight of the pod. The possibilities with out the stickers are endless. It's truly an empty canvas. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: Bugout
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2017 at 3:15pm
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Someone talked about Maguiars oxidation remover I had to go to a boat dealer to get it but it really cleaned up the back and the roof then a coat of carnanba thank you ------------- Jk Aiken South Carolina 2016 178 Toyota Tundra 2017 4.6 |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2017 at 11:11pm
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I made a second pass at the glue residue that I couldn't get off with Goo Gone and a razor scraper using denatured alcohol. All the residue appears to have come off. I probably could have attacked the glue in the first place with alcohol. Now, it appears residue free and little elbow grease was needed. Our pod is is nude and is showing off her svelte figure. Next I'll use some fiberglass boat cleaner and polish and maybe she'll sparkle. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |