Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Side Decal removal

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Side Decal removal

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=12534
Printed Date: 17 May 2025 at 4:39am
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Topic: Side Decal removal

Posted By: SC for Huskers
Subject: Side Decal removal
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 4:52pm

Has anyone had success in removing the vinyl "Rpod" decals on front, sides and rear. If so, how did you do it? I want to replace them with custom stick on vinyl decals.

Thanks in advance,

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Happy Traveling,
Tom
2017 172pod
2011 F150 STX

Replies:

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 5:24pm

I removed a lot of decals. Not just the decal but also the underlying adhesive. First don't do it cold. Use a hair dryer or heat gun to warm the area and work small areas at a time. Use a scraper to pick up an edge and work the decal off applying the heat. If you don't get the adhesive off you will need to work that next. Adhesive remover and elbow grease works, and I have used WD 40 and Charcoal lighter in the past. It's a process. Make sure you clean the are well before applying new decals.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 5:40pm

+1 to mcarter's method. Avoid overheating with the heat gun. Also, goo gone or a equivalent helps with final adhesive material removal after the decal has been peeled off. Good luck!

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 7:01pm

Our Pod is all white [like a little cumulus cloud]; not a single decal. All the decals were cooked by sunlight and looked awful. I agree with mcarter heat is your friend, both a heat gun and just sitting in the sun makes the decals softer and they will stay together when you peal them off. You will also probably need to use a small razor blade scraper, like the ones to get paint off glass, but you need to be really careful not to gouge the surface.

I used Goo-Gone to soften and scrape the glue, but it didn't work so well. I tried some other solvents and light oil, like WD-40, but I had the best result with denatured alcohol. I avoided acetone because it can dissolve the gelcoat and it is a very volatile solvent that isn't very good for your brain.

After getting all the glue off, I used the Maguire wax system and it came out pretty nice. From time to time I find little spots where the glue residual remains. Again, a little alcohol seems to do the trick.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 9:43pm

Mineral Spirits can also safely be used on the Gel Coat finish. I used that for removing excess Dicor Lap Sealant.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: crw8sr
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2019 at 10:13pm

I use the plastic cards I get in the mail for scrapers. AARP seems to send a couple a month, credit card offers, etc.

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Chuck & Lyn
Izzy, Morkie. RIP
Zoe Joy & Gracie, Yorkie
2018 R Pod 190
2019 Traverse

In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck.

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2019 at 9:52am

I tried plastic cards but they weren't sturdy enough for 9 year old glue. I probably should have let the solvent sit there longer before starting to scrape, but it evaporates pretty fast, whether mineral solvents or alcohol.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost