decals

[maxx1963]

i realize that it is 2012, but my decals are extremely bad, and Keystone will not help. i am kinda pissed about it. but whatever!

[happytrails]

The only brand of RVs I looked at before I bought mine were Keystone RVs. So it makes me wonder, is Keystone the only one that is having this issue? I see A LOT of Keystone RVs with this issue and perhaps because I own one, I have not noticed any other brands with the decal issue. Either Keystone needs to buy different decals, or we all need to know what we may be doing that causes the issue, or Keystone needs to improve their process by which they put the decals on.

My TT is a 2012 and I bought it last year. I am concerned that I will be in the same boat as many other folks. Is there something that people are doing or using on their campers that may be causing or compounding the problem with these decals? If Keystone is the only company with the issues, why can't they figure it out for crying out loud.

[JRTJH]

I've had many RV's through the years and all of them have had decal "issues" with fading, curling, falling off, spliting or some other problem. The only RV I remember that didn't have decal issues was the Airstream. They used embossed metal plates that were brushed aluminum and riveted to the side of the trailer (but I remember them corroding and the pits that remained were awful looking). However, the WBCCI member numbers (the big red numbers on the front and back of the trailer) were vinyl and had the same issues as most other decals.

Between Harvest, Jayco, Holiday Rambler, Sunlite and Apache my experience has been that they all have decal issues. I think the worst "decal problem" I had was with the Seabreeze motorhome. All the decals and pin stripes on it seemed to curl at the edges, chip and fall off after about 5 years of sitting in the sun, leaving a jagged edged mess.

Come to think of it, my Chevy Nova, Plymouth Baracuda, Ford Mustang, F250, Mercury Mountaineer all had decal issues as well.

Vinyl and the adhesive used to hold it to the sides of an RV are UV sensitive and almost all of them will eventually fail. More than one "vinyl sign expert" has said in this forum that they usually last 4 or 5 years and begin to degrade. Even paint is no "cure-all" but does seem to be more durable at least initially.

Many decals are available on Ebay and from other internet sources for much less than dealer prices, and many sign shops have computer programs to cut replacement decals that can change the appearance of any RV to more reflect the current owner's lifestyle rather than just being a "rolling billboard" for Keystone.

As a side note, I had a collection of round 24" unit decals used on the tails of fighter airplanes that I'd collected through my career. I had planned to use them in a "man cave" display after retirement. They were all rolled up in cardboard tubes. Many were "one of a kind" decals from units long since deactivated and were only memories. When I finally was in a place to create that man cave, the first 2 that I unrolled broke into pieces. I contacted the Air Force Museum to ask how to protect them. The answer: It's just the nature of the beast. They did offer sources who could reproduce them. Cost, $300 and up per decal.

At least it seems Keystone recognizes the problem and has worked with a number of owners to help resolve the issue. From past forum posts, if you meet with resistance initially, don't give up, keep contact with Keystone and continue to express your problem and often times, Keystone will help even far out of warranty owners with replacement decals as a "gesture of good will".

[happytrails]

@JRTJH
That's good information! I have heard if you keep after Keystone they usually give in. It really is in Keystone's best interest to get those decals replaced because who wants to buy a brand that goes down the road looking like that? If I were a new buyer (without knowing what you said and what I know from personal experience with Keystone) and saw as many Keystones that I have seen now with those peeling decals I would likely stay away from them. In fact I would run away. I have seen dealer lots that have bunches of them (used) with fading and/or peeling decals. You'd think the dealer would fix that to help it sell better.

If Keystone wouldn't do anything for me maybe I would leave the decals peeling off and add my own decals/letters and put a negative message on my camper about Keystone, take a picture of it, and send it Keystone! Maybe I would "break down" in front of one of their manufacturing plants with that message on both sides so Keystone could see it and the cars driving by.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by happytrails

@JRTJH
That's good information! I have heard if you keep after Keystone they usually give in. It really is in Keystone's best interest to get those decals replaced because who wants to buy a brand that goes down the road looking like that? If I were a new buyer (without knowing what you said and what I know from personal experience with Keystone) and saw as many Keystones that I have seen now with those peeling decals I would likely stay away from them. In fact I would run away. I have seen dealer lots that have bunches of them (used) with fading and/or peeling decals. You'd think the dealer would fix that to help it sell better.

If Keystone wouldn't do anything for me maybe I would leave the decals peeling off and add my own decals/letters and put a negative message on my camper about Keystone, take a picture of it, and send it Keystone! Maybe I would "break down" in front of one of their manufacturing plants with that message on both sides so Keystone could see it and the cars driving by.

Just remember, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.......

[jdoug]

These decals are what we in the industry refer to as "printed vinyl" meaning we print the white vinyl using some level of solvent ink. Most of us today use what is called eco-solvent ink that is kinder to mother earth. Unfortunately, this is not as durable as solid color, factory vinyl.

The best way to extend the life of a printed decal is to over laminate it but this just about doubles the cost of the decal and therefore is seldom done by manufactures.

Time, UV, weather conditions are all the enemy of the decals as well as any paint product out there.

It would be interesting to see if Keystone would have the graphics files going back a few years and if they would make them available and the necessary permission to reprint if a sign shop asked.

Mine are on a 2010 Sprinter and maybe because it has little time on the road are still in very good shape. When the day comes, I will probably just remove and design something new to replace them.

Doug