3M film issue

[caymann]

The front of the MH has a 3M film.

This is how it used to look like....



In the last year or so, this is beginning to look really bad.

How do i fox this?







thanks for any suggestions

jim

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by caymann

The front of the MH has a 3M film.

This is how it used to look like....



In the last year or so, this is beginning to look really bad.

How do i fox this?







thanks for any suggestions

jim

The only fix is removal. It's a terrible job. There are some detailing folks who will do it but it tends to be expensive and they will not guarantee the process won't damage the paint.

I did it myself two years ago and I estimate it took 40-60 hours of labor.


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[cc8375]

My buddy's Adventure and Tour have the same issue. One was told to "You steam it and they stretch it by pulling from the side and lifting at the same time. Pulling 90 degrees up will tear it. " He wa told not to use a Heat Gun. Neither has tackled the problem. Use google and other sites to find the best solution.
Good Luck

[cc8375]

Here is another post with pics

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f258/anot...ct-169409.html

[BillJinOR]

You remove the film and most likely paint .. About 3-4 grand I was told when I asked a shop

[jollyjim]

We had the same problem and had a bra built and installed. The thing they didn't tell us, until after the bra was installed, was you should remove it every time it rains. In Florida that is almost every day in the summer. Not Good. After we had the bra installed we found out that Alliance Coach in Wildwood, Florida would remove the 3-M for $600 without messing up the paint. Too bad we didn't know that first. Check around for removal.

[Czar Of Poop]

There is another way around this. Don't remove the 3M, just spray over the 3M with the new process that Rhino lining offers for the front end and match your coach color! They look GREAT!

[caymann]

Wow, this looks like a mega job....
I have to tackle this myself during summer, i suppose.

I found this online....LINK

Could this work?

[jacwjames]

Mine looked like yours. I removed my 3M mask ~3 years ago, it took +40 hrs.

I bought a good portable steamer and it helped get the mask off. I used the steamer to start the process and used a plastic putty knife and worked horizontally, stripping off ~1/4" at a time, steam nozzle in front and slowly pushed the putty knife peeling the mask off.

I then used gasoline to take the glue off, which was about as bad as the 3M mask.

I've heard people say they've watched people being able to pull off large pieces at a time but my mask had so many spider cracks in it I didn't get any large pieces off.

I would never put another type of 3M mask back on.

Good Luck

[Pigman1]

If anyone tells you you can get the film removed without any paint damage, RUN, don't walk away. In many cases the paint is already damaged. A stone hit will chip the paint under the film, and the film and paint will come off together. Many times you can't tell this until you pull the film.

I removed the stuff from a 2008 Allegro Bus. It came off slowly and was a hand cramping, long job but despite exceptional care paint came off too in some places.

When we ordered the NEW Bus, I ordered it without the film. Of course, it came through with it on. A trip to the Tiffin factory got it peeled, but even brand new there was some paint damage. They repainted the damaged areas and we're fine, but I immediately bought and installed a bra. We used a bra on the 2008 for about 50,000 miles and now have 33,000 miles on the 2013 and have had no problems. We travel to Alaska every second year so it's exposed to some severe conditions.

[rjcopters]

Usual charge for removal is around 600 bucks with no guarantee the paint won't peel...so I tackled it myself and after all said and done looked like new....except for 12 x 12 section where paint peeled. 1000 bucks to paint front...but I fugured saved the 600. Plan on getting front nose painted....very few remove the 3M garbage without the paint peeling

[CampDaven]

So before it gets bad, why not get the bra and just clean the bra (aka nose mitten)?
I have a lot of things more important to do than fester about a bit of paint on the nose of a depreciating asset. Mine still looks good from a few paces off.
Hey, Batman did pretty good with a mask, eh?

[Lued]

Mine is all done, built a stand for a heat lamp and plastic razor blades, lots of them, the red ones seem to be the strongest , along with a plastic razor blade holder, turned out great, a lot of work. also turtle wax glue remover, makes the blade move smoother, using a slashing action. No paint damage.

[Dick1142]

Gee, I thought it was just my rig....