Decal removal problem

[richvkansas]

When we purchased our MH from a professor at Nebraska, it had a 4x4 inch "N" decal by the entry door grab handle. Our son-in-law graduated Nebraska so we left it on. After a couple of years, it began looking kind of rough so I took the heat gun to it and scraped it off. I was left with adhesive everywhere the decal contacted the gel coat except under the "N". "Easy", I said, "clean it with [solvent]." So far I have tried Goo Gone, naptha, acetone, charcoal lighter fluid, xylene and one from a decal shop that smelled kind of like xylene---all with zero positive results. Did this adhesive 'soak into' the gel coat? I can feel a slight roughness in a couple of spots but mostly it is smooth. We are thinking our last resort is another decal over it if no one else has any ideas?

[RLKBOB]

Man you tried alot of serious solvents. I would've been afraid to use some of those on my MH and mine is older. Don't know if it soaked into the gel coat but if it did you can probably smooth it back down by wet sanding it. I had a bunch of caulking smeared all over the hood on mine from the PO. I used mineral spirits. It took a little work but I got it all off. It got some of it off and the rest was softened so I could scrape it off with my finger nail. No evidence left on the paint either. You might also try brake cleaner or carb cleaner but I would try mineral spirits first.
Good luck.

[dieselclacker]

I had good luck removing the adhesive left behind after removing the vinyl decals on our motorhome by using plain old unleded gasoline on a cloth. Yes I know its flammable, but so are some of the things you have already tried in removing yours.

[RLKBOB]

That's the truth. xylene in particular is probably just as flammable or more so than gasoline. I'm sure every solvent that would be needed to remove goo is extremely flammable so go to town just be very careful with whichever you choose.

[TerryO]

You might try soaking it down with WD-40. I've used it many times to remove adhesives. Works good then just clean off the residual

[kmesaaz]

My situation is not quite the same, but the solution may be. Have a custom decal made to place right over the area! My mh had "shadowing" from where the previous decals were, and I went to a sign and graphic shop to have my own decals created. Take your favorite family photo and use it as an introduction to you folks! Possibilities are endless!

[clyon51]

I heard of a product called Vinyl Off that works. Never used it myself. Acetone doesn't work? Thats scary

Have you tried your heat gun and some plastic razor blades on this stuff?

[MAU MAU]

When I purchased my Roadtrek it had the usual marketing crap on the back of the unit which I immediately removed.

I used GraphXoff to remove it all which worked great.

You just brush it on, let it sit 15 minutes, and with the soft scraper push off the offending vinyl. Now this was on a painted metal surface, so I would test a small area first on your gelcoat.

Gelcoat can and will absorb anything with a moisture content as I learned from boat, so in your case, it may be in the actual gelcoat at this time.

Try www.graphxoff.com

[MAU MAU]

I just re-read your post and I think that using the heat-gun to initially remove your sticker caused your problem.

If you really want to restore the area, you may have to grind down the damaged area, re-gelcoat and re-paint.

[boweavel]

i had some adhesive on my toad that acetone would not touch. gasoline wiped it right off. just be careful and have plenty of ventilation

[djbmsu]

I have seen professionals remove decals and 3M film from motorhomes with the use of steam. Very similar to the small hand steam "gun" used to remove wrinkles from clothes.

[bbeane]

Sounds like the gel coat has been etched by the old decal as o/p said. The only cure is covering with another decal or refinishing. Good luck

[richvkansas]

WD-40, gasoline and mineral spirits--nada. It appears it has soaked in or was baked in by me so new decal it is. Thanks for all the info.