Ever put vinyl stickers/lettering on a trailer?

[ecumike]

I got a pretty good price quote on a 6' vinyl sticker for my sponsor's logo for each side of my trailer.
They quoted $100 for installation, which is almost half of the total price.

I was wondering if anyone has ever 'installed' vinyl stickers/lettering/etc. on the outside of a trailer, and how difficult it is?

From what I understand, getting the sticker to stick nice and neat over the rivets is where the 'work' is.

Should I pay the $100 or do it myself?... can't I just put the stickers on, then cut a circle around the rivet, out of the sticker, and then press it nice and neat against the trailer?

Any advice or feedback is appreciated!

[RC51Racer]

You need to talk to my brother, he use to do that for a living.  I think he goes by roadracer797 on here, or at least it's something like that.  If he sees this post, I'm sure he'll put a reply on too.....

Mike

[MZGirl]

Yep.  Coincidentally, I did that just this past weekend.

<--- Put this team logo on each side of our 6 x 10 enclosed trailer.  Luckily my husband was painting his R6 red the week before, so I had him paint the red rings at the same time.  We plotted the bullseye pattern on E-sized paper and used that as a template.  To give you an idea of the size, the outer ring is 32" in diameter.

I purchased 4" black vinyl letters from http://www.mrletter.com .  They have over 5000 true-type fonts (ours is a simple stencil font).  They ship the stickers the same day you order.  For 2 sets of 4" letters of "Precision Strike Racing" it came to $25 total with shipping.

The letters come just as you spell them out on the order, with a paper backing and an opaque sheet on top.  So no worrying about centering and getting everything on the same line.  I just taped them up on the trailer, then peeled off the paper backing 2 letters at a time.  The MRLetter folks ship a plastic wedge thingy to flatten everything down with, which makes it easy to eliminate air bubbles.  After all the letters are stuck on you simply remove the opaque top sheet and you're done.  The only thing that made it a pain was it was a bit windy out when I did it.

I just cut around the rivets of the trailer and touched up with black paint.  The whole thing looks really snappy.  Those coming to the Firebird race next week will get to see it.  You can't miss our trailer now!

I highly recommend doing it this way.  Cheaper, and it looks really good.

[rmahr137]

the guy who put my stickers on my trailer took the screws out (the trailer didn't have riverts), then put on the sticker, and then put the screws back in.  I watched part of it, and was glad i paid someone else to do it!

[ecumike]

hmmm.. MZ, that's what i was thinking.. stick it on over the rivets, then cut out the rivets and smooth it down around them.

The only other thing is that I'm talking about a 6' x 1.5' sponsor logo for each side.  But I can get friends to help hold it up while I undo the backing/stick it on there.

ROD - how big was your sticker/logo?


Thanks for the feedback so far. Anyone else?

[Super Dave]

I don't have time to get them on myself, and I'm worried I'll screw it up.

I've got an six by two logo on my trailer.  They do put it over the screws.  They tell me I can do it, but I have them do it.  The trick is supposed to be cutting the logo where the aluminum sheet ends.  Use tape or what ever to help you out.  

[stumpy]

I've worked at a sign shop for 7 years and now I am part owner. So I have a little experience...Acually I do it 8 hrs a day! ::) What I do with rivets is go right over them like their not there, and then go back and poke a couple of holes around the rivet, then push down with a squeegie around it. Some people use water and a dab of soap but that takes a little longer to dry. If you can wait until Blackhawk I'd be glad to help you. If anybody wants prices on big trailer logos e-mail me! I'll give great racer discounts! 8) I was thinking of making a bunch of #'s for the races to have on hand for people who didnt get a number yet??   Hope this helps!

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Cant wait for Tricktape to get me my trailer decals. ;D I used to decal conversion vans (Genevas/FOntanas/Delavans) along with install running boards, wheels, wiring, painting, you name it, I've done it on a conversion.;D;D Wish I had some pics of the trucks I built.

[ecumike]

Cool Stumpy thanks for the tips.

I'm in NC, so Blackhawk isn't quite on my side of town ;)

Yea, someone else said to soak the trailer and letters/sticker in soapy solution so you can lay and move them around to place them perfectly w/o worrying about them sticking wrong.

Sounds like a good idea, but would they dry and still be sticky and hold on the trailer?

[stumpy]

I would put about 6 drops of dawn dish soap in a squirt bottle and just mist the trailer with the solution. Make sure not to get water on the paper backing! You will be able to move it around a bit, Then Squeegie from the middle out getting all the air and water out. Then let dry, sun or a heat gun can speed the process then its ready to go!

[ecumike]

I...Make sure not to get water on the paper backing!...

Hmmm.. that may be tough, I'd hate to remove the letters off the backing, since they're gonna be all lined up and everything.. but I'll give it a shot.

[stumpy]

Measure where you want the decal, Then put a mark on the sides of the decal, and two marks on the trailer, take the backing paper off, mist the trailer and apply, Does that make sense ???
You might need a couple of beers before hand to calm the nerves and NEVER I mean NEVER have your wife or girlfreind help! It will end in WW3
Trust me ;D

[roadracer797]

I would have to agree with stumpy except for the soap thing, I've put decals on semi trailers with rivets and corragated sides and never once used soap. The trick is to put it on and then go back to each rivet and for me I use my fingernail to go around each one. Make sure that you tape the decal right where you want it before starting. If you would like me to talk to you about how to do it just e-mail me with your phone number and the best time to get a hold of you and I will do it.
Craig

[ecumike]

Yea guys, making more sense, becoming clearer now, and sounding more do-able. Just a note - this is all individual cut letters and graphics. Not just 1 big white piece of vinyl that was printed on.

All the letters and logo graphics are 'put/place together' with a semi-see-through paper sticker on top.  So when I apply the/each letter by letter, will it stick enough to the trailer that I can pull the top paper 'setting sticker' off of the letters?

[Fabri-Tech_Designs]

ecumike...
That price doesn't sound too bad for what you got....

Good luck on the install... 8)

[TZDeSioux]

okay we covered how to put vinyl on trailers. Now how in the hell do you take it off?

[Fabri-Tech_Designs]

Heat gun, to soften the vinyl and loosen the adhesive, and maybe a plastic scraper of some sort to get the stuff started.  Once a corner is started, careful use of the heat gun and peeling by hand should be good enough to get most of it off.  There is a tool available called the Lil' Chizler, made of a hard plastic with a sharpened edge.  Those plastic razor blades from Lowe's/Home Depot should do the trickas well.  Something like that will help get under the edges of the vinyl.  
Also, something like 3M general Purpose Adhesive Remover, or even denatured alcohol will help remove residue after the vinyl comes off.

At least that's how I would do it... 8)

[TZDeSioux]

ah heat gun... yes! I tried to take off the stickers in the cold and it was indeed an exercise in futility. Indeed indeed.

[MZGirl]

All the letters and logo graphics are 'put/place together' with a semi-see-through paper sticker on top.  So when I apply the/each letter by letter, will it stick enough to the trailer that I can pull the top paper 'setting sticker' off of the letters?

Tape the sticker to the trailer with masking tape tabs on the top and bottom, about 5 inches apart.  Then start at one end and peel the paper backing off for the first few letters. Cut the paper backing away with an xacto knife.  Then lay the letters on the surface, and press firmly on the opaque paper that's on top.  The peel the opaque paper off up to where you cut the paper backing off, and cut it off.  (The stickers will stick to the trailer, but just be careful when pulling the opaque paper off).  Now you have a few letters stuck to your trailer, with the remainder of the sticker still taped in place.  Remove the next group of tape tabs on the top and bottom and repeat the process for the next few letters.  This way, you keep the same spacing & alignment for the sticker and don't have to free-hand anything.  

This is what I did last weekend, and it turned out great.  Hope this all makes sense.  It's kinda hard to describe.

Elaine

[ecumike]

Yes Elaine.. makes perfect sense, and yea, I'm finding out it's hard to describe/ask this.

I'll give it a shot.. hell, if I screw up or if it's too hard, then I'll just take it to them and pay 'em $100 to install the rest  :)

[merge]

The best way to letter it is to tape the decal to the trailer in place where you want it. tape it on the ends so you can adjust it to were you want it. then if they are screw holding your sides on take the ones out that are in the way of your decal.  but if they are rivits just ignore them.and keep the decal on. then get the decal all lined up and straight. then take and tape in the center of the decal top and bottom to the trailer. Now take half the decal at a time working from the center with a squeege and put half of it on. then tke the other half and do that side. the same way. If there are any seams of your trailer the the lettering passes take an sharp knife and cut straight down along the seam. do before you take the transfer paper off.  
If they were screws that you took out then just rub oround the screwww holes and replace the screws taken out.
If they were rivits take a heat gun and apply a little heat were the rivits are and rub around the rivit with your finger then with a squeege. But make sure you dont use to much heat. other wise the vinyl will tear.
What ever you do don't cut the vinyl around the rivits. Because after time vinyl will shrink and it will be very noticable.

Any questions call
Russ Voigt
Ex 555
Flipside Graphics
715-241-9109

[ecumike]

That was easy.
I got the vinyl last week, and put them on this weekend... no sweat. The letters were easy, didn't use any solution.
Just measured and created a level horizonal baseline, then taped the entire word/sticker to the trailer, lining it up with the baseline, then peeled a couple letters worth of backing off at a time, and pressing them in place.

For the logo/design part I used the soapy water trick, and that made it SOOOO easy.. was able to press it on, remove the top coat, and slightly shift it into place where it needed to me lined up with edges.

Thanks for everyone's help/guidance/feedback/tips on this... it was DEFINITELY worth saving $100 by doing it myself. Took less than 2 hours.

[Super Dave]

For your next trick...

I'd like to see you do one on my trailer...  I think it's like 4 out today.

WILL SPRING EVER ARRIVE?!>!>!???!

[ecumike]

For your next trick...

I'd like to see you do one on my trailer...  I think it's like 4 out today.

WILL SPRING EVER ARRIVE?!>!>!???!

hehe.. here in North Crapolina it was like 54 today :) and yesterday... 70 :)

VIR here we come!

[Super Dave]

But you can't race on the ice...he, he (trying to make my self feel a little better...)