Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-06-2012, 01:04 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Advanturetrek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 233
Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fiberglass

Would appreciate advice on technique for removing the "Sportsmobile 4x4" stickers from our van body and painted fiberglass top.

What's the easiest way to do it without damaging the paint?

And yes, we do love Sportsmobile. We just don't appreciate their putting the stickers on without asking for our permission.

__________________
The Yeti: SMB 4x4 Ford EB, super camper top, RVI interior build
https://www.advanturetrek.com
https://www.facebook.com/AdvantureTrek
Advanturetrek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 01:11 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
OttoVolcomSMB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Paso Robles
Posts: 144
Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fiberglass

I would say a hair dryer to get it warm and gooey, then peel and use either goof off or nail polish remover. Good off would prob be better on the paint. I love stickers and in my opinion it's way cool and I will never take mine off. With my SMB they asked if we wanted them. Weird that they didn't ask you.
__________________
Nick Otto
OttoVolcomSMB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 01:14 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Viejo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arcata, CA
Posts: 622
Re: Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fibergl

If the decals are fresh - a few months old or less - you may have some luck with a heat gun (aka hair dryer). Once you get one corner loose, just keep heating and pulling gently. That's what I did for the big ugly TRD decals on my Tacoma PU when it was new. Once they have been on there a while, they become much harder to remove.

As for the paint - all I can say is Good Luck.
__________________
2002 E350 7.3 PSD
Quigley 4x4, EB50 floorplan
Viejo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 01:50 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Roonie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PNW WA
Posts: 618
Re: Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fibergl

Our van didn't have anything on it. I got some stickers and added them because I was tired of everyone asking me what it was at every single place we stopped. The stickers have almost stopped people asking what it is.
Roonie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 02:47 PM   #5
Site Team
 
macmcintire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 1,537
Re: Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fibergl

The questions I always ask before removing something are: "What is under it?" and "How much will it cost to fix what's under it if it is not what I expected?"

So, the question is, What's under the sticker? Has the sticker caused the surface under it to deteriorate in any way (e.g.: less faded color, damaged surface, scratches, big globs of goo, etc.) If so, it may be better to leave the sticker on rather than to go through the time and expense of repair what is under it.

Sometimes I wish my van had a Sportsmobile sticker on it so people wouldn't keep asking me" "What is is?"; "Who makes it?"; "Did it come like that or did you have it custom built?"; etc.
__________________
Mac McIntire
2003 Ford E250, 5.4L V8,
macmcintire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 04:55 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fibergl

I'd stay away from a heat gun. It is easy to apply too much heat and damage the paint.

I use a kettle of hot water. It will never go over 212 degrees, and the heat will loosen stubborn adhesive and let you peel a sticker off.

Don't pour hot water over a cold window and expect good results.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 05:38 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
twogone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Taylor, Mississippi
Posts: 1,648
Re: Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fibergl

Curious folks will ask what it is... just point to the sticker. Better'n looking around for paper/pen to write it down, 'cuz they will ask more than once as they try to get their head around it

If you ever sell, prospective buyers will be comforted by a "company".

2 cents
__________________
'95 SMB E350 Quigley 7.3
https://www.taylorarts.com
... If you have to ask, you'll never understand...
"... torpedo'd, because we don't generally cotton to bullshit around here." -jage
"... do they ooch apart in the night?" -Dia
twogone is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 05:48 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 527
Re: Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fibergl

After 7 years or so they wear off on their own. It might be due to sand and rock erosion though.
__________________
2004 SMB 4x4 RB 6.0 PSD; ARP Head Studs, Gen 3 Cylinder Heads, BPD Oil Cooler connected to AMSOil Bypass, a whistling Wicked Wheel Turbo, Coolant Filter, Upgraded alternator, ScanGauge, SCT custom and SMB Fox shocks.
BFG 285/75 R16 KM3 Mud Terrains on ProComp 7069's
PatO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 07:30 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
vandiesel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,254
Garage
Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fiberglass

Go to napa and get a rubber wheel. It will take them right off and will not damage the paint at all. I took all the decals off my boat that way and numerous other vehicles and it works amazingly well. You basically get a giant artist erasure that fits in a drill. It melts the stickers off without melting the paint.

Brad
__________________
2001 Ford RB 7.3 Quadvan (sold)
2006 Sportsmobile EB Transformer 6.0
vandiesel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-06-2012, 08:55 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Dango's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: So. Cal
Posts: 151
Re: Removing Sportsmobile stickers from van body and fibergl

Quote:
Originally Posted by vandiesel
Go to napa and get a rubber wheel. It will take them right off and will not damage the paint at all. I took all the decals off my boat that way and numerous other vehicles and it works amazingly well. You basically get a giant artist erasure that fits in a drill. It melts the stickers off without melting the paint.

Brad
Brad-
Would you please take a pic of this "rubber wheel" you speak of and post it? I'm really curious as to what it is that works so well.

Thanks-
Dan
Dango is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.