Info, Success - Sticker Removal Years Later

I've seen several (now old) threads about bed sticker removal and how the paint around the sticker could fade and cause a noticeable "ghost" after the sticker is gone. Obviously, the sooner a sticker is removed, the better. I didn't have the option to remove them when the truck was brand new since I bought it used.

My truck is "blazing blue" and has an in-service date of December 2017. I removed the bed stickers in August 2020. This particular truck (as far as I know) spent years out west in the sun before I got it. I think it's a good reference for others since it's unlikely that it was garage kept.

I knew I was replacing the chrome door badges with black ones, so I made sure to pay attention to any "ghosting" at the badges when I did that. I didn't see any, so I took a shot at the stickers on the sides of the bed.

The sticker removal process I followed was:
1) Waited for a 90+ degree day
2) Washed the area around the stickers
3) Peeled stickers off by hand (surprisingly easy)
4) Applied Goo Gone to the adhesive and let it sit a minute
5) Used a plastic razor blade to carefully scrape thicker adhesive residue off
6) Used Goo Gone and shop towels to carefully buff remaining adhesive off
7) Washed the area well
8) Applied a hard wax, let dry, and buffed

When finished, the stickers were gone, and you couldn't tell they were ever there. No scratches and no ghosting -- not bad for having been on the truck and in the sun for 2.75 years (-ish).

 

Thanks for the info .. I like my stickers .

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cant-get-this-sticker-off.258047/page-200#post-23414799

 

Haha that thread will never die.