Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Cracks under decals  (Read 660 times) previous topic - next topic

Cracks under decals

I just started removing the cracked and discoloured decals (the swirls) from my coach using a plastic razor blade and heat. Decals are coming off rather easily. After taking off the first decal I noticed small vertical cracks in the gel coat. See pic. Is this typical and if not how can this be fixed?  Has anyone noticed this before?  The cracks are ONLY under the decals I have removed
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #1 –
Common from about your year to about 2006 on some brands. It's an outgassing of the fiberglass they used back then. You can sand it down to repaint but eventually it will come back. Doesn't affect anything but looks.
2002 U320 36' Single axle  MOST MODED IN HISTORY SO MUCH ITS ALMOST ILLIGAL
2 slides ( living room and bedroom)
undisclosed
male
female
genderless
nonbinary
transgendered

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #2 –
And, I will speculate that the graphics were a dark color where the checking took place.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #3 –
Once I removed all of mine I used Mr Clean Magic Eraser Pads, looked real nice after that. Best of luck to you.
EMT living in Missouri. Recently purchased 1987 Gran Villa 36 Ft. long,460 Ford engine with 40,000 miles on it, new tranny has 3000 miles on it, coach has 75000 miles on it, new 5000 watt genny new fridge, new tires. Am both excited and scared out of my wits at the size of this beast. Love it but need time to become accustomed to it's size.  I'm sure it will take time to experience all the secrets this RV has to offer. Any and all advice gratefully accepted.

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Grey Wolff –
Once I removed all of mine I used Mr Clean Magic Eraser Pads, looked real nice after that. Best of luck to you.
Did you use those on the whole coach or just the decal areas?

1999 U320 WTFE #5586
2014 Subaru Forester 6sp
4000 watts of solar
650 aH @ 24v

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #5 –
I was ashamed of how the decals looked as they were dried out and split and wrinkled. I used a razor blade to take off the middle stripe that went all around the coach. It left a shiny strip that looked really bad. I used the Mr Clean pad on the shiny part and it removed it. Looks normal now.
EMT living in Missouri. Recently purchased 1987 Gran Villa 36 Ft. long,460 Ford engine with 40,000 miles on it, new tranny has 3000 miles on it, coach has 75000 miles on it, new 5000 watt genny new fridge, new tires. Am both excited and scared out of my wits at the size of this beast. Love it but need time to become accustomed to it's size.  I'm sure it will take time to experience all the secrets this RV has to offer. Any and all advice gratefully accepted.

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Grey Wolff –
I was ashamed of how the decals looked as they were dried out and split and wrinkled. I used a razor blade to take off the middle stripe that went all around the coach. It left a shiny strip that looked really bad. I used the Mr Clean pad on the shiny part and it removed it. Looks normal now.

I see. I prefer the shiny look and would like to shine everything else. That'll likely require wet sanding, buffing and polishing.
1999 U320 WTFE #5586
2014 Subaru Forester 6sp
4000 watts of solar
650 aH @ 24v

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #7 –
Our coach was chalky after a bad episode at a truck wash ( don't do it ) so I used a polishing compound on it.  Wet sanding was not needed. 

  Came out real good.  I removed a decal on the front exposing the original gel coat and after polishing it's not noticeable. 
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #8 –
Bob
Do you recall the brand of polishing compound?
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Cracks under decals

Reply #9 –
Ive used a lot of 3m 06085....perfect it. I used 3 fingers and a micro towel for small imperfections and with a variable speed buffer for larger areas such as chalky. I don't have chalky issues anymore due to new paint but I used it to buff my entire 280 when I had it. you keep the polishing pad wet and moving with light pressure and you wont hurt anything burn wise. Its gone up to 70 bucks a quart from my old supplier but I see it on line for 50 and thats where I will get my next. This product is worth having in your shop, my bass boat is jet black and the gunnels are easy to get scratches on the clear coat and it grates me to no end. With my finger tips, a micro towel and 6085 and the scratches are history short order. Good for gel coat and painted metal as well.
Dub McBride 1996 270