Removing decals from side of truck

My dark green '96 Tacoma has those... I don't know what you call them, "fake dirt-splash" decals on the side. They are on the doors, on the side of the truck bed. I don't like them, but never really cared.

I'm giving the truck to my son this summer, and he's asking if these decals can be removed. I'm sure they can, but will it look horrible -- maybe leave a "fake dirt-splash outline"??

Any thoughts on this? Anyone ever done this?

Thanks!

 

Some heat and goo gone should do the trick.

 

3M decal eraser on the end of your drill.

 

Here you go :http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/3rd-gen-tacomas/258047-cant-get-sticker-off.html

 

if its been on there a few years it will be darker paint under them from not being sun bleached so it will sometimes have very noticeable "shadow" splotches almost like you did spray can touchup paint on it if the paint has been sun bleached from sitting outside.

unless he really insists tell him its better to just leave it like it is or if he removes them he should put something else over it like a different style decal.

that said those damn decals cost like $800-$1000 for each side , I know because my brother had his repainted 4 years ago and that's what they cost him $800 each

 

I have a dark red colored truck and removed my decals and badges after 11 years or so.

The decals left no ghost writing or shadowing (whatever you want to call it) but the SR5 badges behind the rear quarter windows did. Barely noticeable... only if you are standing next to it at the right angle can you see it.

A good wash, clay bar, polish and wax will do it (and your paint) some wonders.

 

Depends on how long it's been on there if it will leave a mark. If the paint around it has faded at all, the surface underneath the sticker will look darker once you get it cleaned off. I recommend using a heat gun or hairdryer on it and try and peel it off first. If that don't work, soak it with goo gone for a little while and it should come off easy.

 

OK guys, thanks for all the answers! Obviously my son needs to join tacomaworld

The truck is a '96, so the decals have been there 18 years. Based on Madjik_Man's answer it sounds like it might work. He can start with a small part of one of the decals, take off a few inches. Then see how good/bad it looks.

 

Junkman's Debadging of Vinyl Decals & Stickers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rESYPF3PI3Y

Ed

 

Wow. This is an amazing thread.

 

This is what you need. This wheel with a little Goof off, and you'll have your decals removed in about five minutes per side. I just did this to a VERY baked on and peeling decal on my 2000 Tacoma TRD.

Removing it with a Astro Pneumatic Pinstripe Wheel:


New decal applied:

 

Just wait till you get to the end. It takes a serious turn for the questionable sanity of the TW members.

 

is that wheel safe on plastic? i am trying to remove the rock guards on my 07 tacoma

 

also wd40 is a great safe glue residue remover and its safe on paint and wont even strip off the wax. just wash it off with soap and water after you are done

wd40 removes road tar, bugs, bubble gum, and wont hurt paint

and those pin stripe erasers work great but start in one direction and keep going in that direction until its gone, if you switch directions it gets gooey and has a hard time leaving a clean area behind itself because it is pushing the glue residue ahead of itself as it goes.

 

I'd probably try low heat instead of the eraser wheel. I did not use high speed but I'd worry it would generate enough heat to scuff the plastic. On painted metal surfaces, this thing is awesome. I tried heat, peeling and Goof Off. That sticker was BAKED on my truck. This wheel made it effortless to remove. I was struggling with this decal and then remembered I had bought an eraser wheel over a year and a half ago but had never used it. So glad I remembered! haha.

 

This^

 

Thanks for the tip unixadm. I'll definitely give the wheel a look. I didn't even know those existed.

 

Where'd you get the Astro Pneumatic Pinstripe Wheel from?

Is this what I'm looking for?

$17 AES Industries 51823 Smart Eraser Pad (Made in the USA) with Drill Adapter Arbor Made for Efficiently Removing Decals, Vinyl Graphic, Pinstripes, Adhesive and Double Faced Trim Tape

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00488DDB8/ref=cm_cd_asin_lnk

 

That is the one I bought. You don't need to run it at a high RPM - keep it modest. It puts off a burning rubber smell, so I tried to keep the burning smell to a minimum.

 

I just took mine off, I used a hairdryer and they peeled right off without much of an issue. I waxed the area a few times by hand and all the decal residue came right off.