Caravan Decals Replacement caravan decals, stickers and spares. UK made, UK posted.

Fitting guide

Fitting a decal well is mostly preparation. The sticking part takes two minutes; getting the panel ready and the position right takes half an hour, and that half hour is the difference between a repair and a bodge.

Before you start

  • Pick a dry day between 10°C and 25°C. Vinyl adhesive will not grab properly in the cold and goes unmanageably tacky in direct summer sun.
  • Work in the shade, on a panel that is cool to the touch.
  • You need: warm soapy water, a clean cloth, isopropyl alcohol, masking tape, a tape measure, a felt squeegee (or a credit card in a cloth).

Taking the old one off

  1. Warm the old decal with a hairdryer or a heat gun on low — warm, not hot. Aim for the temperature of a hot cup, not a kettle.
  2. Lift a corner with a fingernail or a plastic trim tool. Never a blade.
  3. Pull it back on itself at a shallow angle, slowly. Fast pulling tears it and leaves the adhesive behind.
  4. Take the adhesive residue off with a proper adhesive remover, then wash the panel with soapy water and finish with isopropyl alcohol so nothing oily is left.

Getting it in the right place

  1. Hold the new decal up, still on its backing, and measure it in against a panel line or a window edge — not against the old ghost mark, which is rarely straight.
  2. Tape a hinge along the top edge with masking tape so it can flip up and down without moving.

Wet fitting — the method to use

  1. Mix a few drops of washing-up liquid into a spray bottle of clean water.
  2. Flip the decal up on its tape hinge and peel the backing away.
  3. Spray the panel and the adhesive side generously. Wet, not damp — this is what lets you slide it into place instead of committing on contact.
  4. Lay it down, nudge it until it is square, then squeegee from the centre outwards in overlapping strokes to push the water and the air out.
  5. Leave the application tape (the paper or clear film on the front) alone for an hour, then peel it back on itself at a shallow angle.

Afterwards

Leave it 24 hours before washing the van and a week before jet washing it, and never aim a pressure washer straight at an edge. Small bubbles usually disappear on their own within a few warm days; a stubborn one can be pricked with a pin and pressed flat.

Stuck? Send us a photograph — we would much rather talk you through it than have you fight it.