Topic: Restriping RV (Read 829 times)

clarkgriswold · « **on:** November 16, 2009, 11:14:51 PM »

From the moment me bought our 1999 Dolphin this summer, we didn't like the exterior striping since we felt it aged it far beyond what the actual condition of the interior (and exterior). I started this summer removing the existing striping and feel like I can give a little advice on that now. Bottom line on removing striping for me is: WD40, razor blade, time, and more time. Without hesitation I can probably say that I've got well over 100 hours invested....afterwork, weekends, etc. Well, that was complete it was time to find a source for the re-striping. First I thought about having our local 'cheap' auto painter do it. Maaco wasn't cheap when all was said and done. Fortunately, the manager at Maaco suggested Locke Signs here in Chattanooga. A trip to discuss the price and details and another to drop the RV off ...it was done. It took them about a day to actually do the striping once it was began. A slight amount of 'ghost' can be seen of the old striping but that's beginning to already disappear. The odd thing is that after about 2000 the straight line striping pretty much disappeared in the industry. Of course, we bought a 1999 but I'm not complaining considering the condition of the RV and price!

With that much time and money invested I had to post a few before and after photos for opinions. We definitely wanted to keep the "Dolphin" logo on the front and back. The two sides are identical even though I saw from many factory original jobs that it's more common for the two sides to be 'random'. I think that's another plus mark for Locke Signs.

Any thoughts or opinions?

Before pics......
[ediy]Removed duplicate photos.[/edit]

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2009, 11:16:53 PM »

Before

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2009, 11:18:02 PM »

Before

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2009, 11:21:23 PM »

Before restriping.....after original strips are gone.

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2009, 11:28:05 PM »

After restriping......

Jackliz · « **Reply #5 on:** November 17, 2009, 05:15:19 AM »

Wow!!! Nicely done.

Regards,
Liz

JNewkirk77 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2009, 06:41:54 AM »

I'll second Liz on that, and add a BEEE-YOU-TEE-FUL!!!

Really makes it look like a new rig!

PancakeBill · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2009, 07:04:36 AM »

If you don't mind divulging, what was the painting price? I have a 97, usual decal cracking. Not looking for the fancy many colored stripe scheme, something similar tou yours, although just replacing my existing stripes with paint would make me happy.

RV Roamer · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2009, 09:18:05 AM »

Nice job, and it really updates the look!

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2009, 10:31:54 PM »

Quote from: Jackliz on November 17, 2009, 05:15:19 AM

Wow!!! Nicely done.

Regards,
Liz

Thanks. A lot of hard work and a few $$$s !

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2009, 10:32:34 PM »

Quote from: RV Roamer on November 17, 2009, 09:18:05 AM

Nice job, and it really updates the look!

Thanks Gary. I think it turned out pretty good. Now some floor work in the interior!

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2009, 10:37:57 PM »

Quote from: PancakeBill on November 17, 2009, 07:04:36 AM

If you don't mind divulging, what was the painting price? I have a 97, usual decal cracking. Not looking for the fancy many colored stripe scheme, something similar tou yours, although just replacing my existing stripes with paint would make me happy.

No problem. Actually I got a price on just repainting the front cap / lower half. It was $600 ! Maaco painted my truck and did a lot of painting on it for $250, so I'm not sure why it was such a high price for painting a little on the front cap of the RV. One problem I forgot to mention was that Maaco could not paint anything that wasn't a 'straight line'. Don't ask me why.

Personally I wish it was painted just for the durability but i really couldn't find a 'reasonable' cost source in Chattanooga. .....and the decals just sort of fell in place. Locke Signs could do any design I wanted and in almost any color. Fact is, they did it on the computer and sent me digital pictures of what it would look like before I paid them a penney. All I did was provide some digital pics of the RV.

Let me know what you come up with. Always glad to hear from others with similar experiences.

PancakeBill · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2009, 06:47:29 AM »

OK, so not painted on, but new custom decals. This is the sort of stuff I had on my boat, actually pretty easy to apply. That is a good idea, I'd like to freshen the look, but not invest a lot in painting.

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2009, 09:49:42 PM »

Hey Bill (PancakeBill) -
I didn't get a chance to read all of your blog but great one from what I read. I've never been a blogger but I think I could get hooked on it after reading some of yours.

If a person could get the vinyl and a way to cut it easily, I'd say a person could to the stripping himself/herself ....if they have patience. One thing I noticed on mine was that even the 'pros' had to use two pieces on the larger parts. It should be great for years and when it starts looking bad, that's a sign its time to trade up!

PancakeBill · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2009, 07:32:24 AM »

Clark Some new epic vacation coming up? Cool!

When I did the vinyl on my boat, it was the name, and in pretty big letters, long name. The guys told me to cut (between letters) with a double anglle so it would fit better together. Worked great. If you noticed on the original there was a slight overlap on a long stretch.

Thanks for the kind words on the blog, but as you may have noticed I fizzled. Most of my 'blogging' was on my facebook. If I could somehow capture all my posts there and transfer it would be better. Thing with FB is that you get immediate response and can converse about a posting.

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #15 on:** November 19, 2009, 10:17:11 PM »

Quote from: PancakeBill on November 19, 2009, 07:32:24 AM

Clark Some new epic vacation coming up? Cool!

When I did the vinyl on my boat, it was the name, and in pretty big letters, long name. The guys told me to cut (between letters) with a double anglle so it would fit better together. Worked great. If you noticed on the original there was a slight overlap on a long stretch.

Thanks for the kind words on the blog, but as you may have noticed I fizzled. Most of my 'blogging' was on my facebook. If I could somehow capture all my posts there and transfer it would be better. Thing with FB is that you get immediate response and can converse about a posting.

Yep, I'm may try the FB thing someday. I'm going to take some time out and look over your blog someday...fo sho. Good thing to do with this cold winter weather coming up.

Of course, I'll probably be out in the RV replacing the floor!

Richard 34A · « **Reply #16 on:** November 28, 2009, 10:28:28 PM »

Quote from: clarkgriswold on November 16, 2009, 11:14:51 PM

Any thoughts or opinions?

I have a question: in the areas that you removed the striping or decals and did not put new striping or decals, is the fiberglass discolored, to the point that when you look at that area, you can see that something was removed? I'd like to remove the striping on my MH but can see that sides have discolored; unless I put striping exactly where the OEM striping was, seems like I'll see the old pattern...

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #17 on:** November 28, 2009, 11:15:45 PM »

Quote from: Richard 34A on November 28, 2009, 10:28:28 PM

I have a question: in the areas that you removed the striping or decals and did not put new striping or decals, is the fiberglass discolored, to the point that when you look at that area, you can see that something was removed? I'd like to remove the striping on my MH but can see that sides have discolored; unless I put striping exactly where the OEM striping was, seems like I'll see the old pattern...

Yep, there's a 'ghost' left in those areas but I've been told that that will disappear over time. The place that did the new decals said that that it was a common to have the ghost due to oxidation and dirt that built up despite ANY amount of washing. The best thing to remember is don't expect a quick removal of the old decals and be patient. If you leave any remnants of the old decals, they'll be seen as uneven spots in the new decals that go over that area. I guess that pretty much goes without say.

RV Roamer · « **Reply #18 on:** November 29, 2009, 09:35:36 AM »

What you are actually seeing is the original, unfaded color of the sidewalls. The non-decal areas changed color, primarily due to sun fade. So yes, the areas under the decal will gradually fade too, once they are exposed. Don't expect it overnight, though.

Richard 34A · « **Reply #19 on:** November 29, 2009, 10:50:52 AM »

Thanks clarkgriswold and RV Roamer;

I pretty much expected that; wish there was a way to buff out that discoloration, as I'd love to remove the decals and do real paint, in a different scheme. If I wanted the exact same pattern, which I might do, it would still look great, certainly better than the faded decals. I inquired as to the cost of full-body paint; $10k was the starting point and it really doesn't add much dollar value to the MH when your done, so just redoing the decals in paint would be the most realistic way to go. Since new decals will just fade in less than 3 years, or at least that's what I've experienced, the cost of paint would be worth the price of admission.

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #20 on:** November 29, 2009, 11:20:11 AM »

I agree about painting but I just couldn't find myself forking over the extra $$$ to do it in paint considering I know I won't own this RV forever. Roamer is correct - it is the unfaded, original color of the RV under the decals.

scottydl · « **Reply #21 on:** November 29, 2009, 04:17:04 PM »

Did you keep on using your RV as you slowly-over-time removed the decals? Or keep it "out of sight" while it was half covered and half bare?

The "incomplete project" look is what would get on my nerves the most, since it sounds like a pretty time intensive process.

clarkgriswold · « **Reply #22 on:** November 29, 2009, 10:31:21 PM »

I used it one time while the project was underway. But, I had found a 'stopping spot' that didn't make it really stand out that some of the decals had been removed.

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