Installation instructions
How to install your decals
Your decals go on with one of two methods. The printed instructions in your envelope tell you which one to use. Follow that method below.
Before you start
- Work in the shade with the panel at 50–90 °F (10–32 °C). Never in hot direct sun.
- For the wet method you also need a spray bottle of clean water with one or two drops of dish soap.
- You need: a squeegee or a cloth-wrapped card, masking tape, a tape measure, a microfiber cloth and 70%+ isopropyl alcohol.
- No squeegee comes in the box. An old gift card wrapped in a soft cloth works.
Dry method: six steps
1 Clean
Wash the panel with soap and water and dry it. Wipe it with 70%+ isopropyl alcohol and let it dry. No wax, ceramic coating or shine spray on the area.
2 Position
Measure, then tape the decal in place with masking tape. Run a strip of masking tape across the top as a hinge, so the decal can flip up without losing its spot.
3 Peel & place
Lift the decal on its hinge, peel the backing paper away and lay the decal down onto the dry surface, working from the hinge down so it falls flat.
4 Squeegee
Smooth from the center out with firm, overlapping strokes, then press hard over the whole decal, edges too. The pressure is what activates the adhesive. Wait 5–15 minutes.
5 Remove the tape
Peel the transfer tape back slowly at a low, almost flat angle. Never pull it straight up. If part of the decal lifts with the tape, lay it back down, squeegee again and try again.
6 Let it set
Wait 72 hours before the first wash. Hand washing is gentlest; keep pressure washers off the edges.
Wet method: seven steps
1 Clean
Wash the panel with soap and water and dry it. Wipe it with 70%+ isopropyl alcohol and let it dry. No wax, ceramic coating or shine spray on the area.
2 Mark the spot
With the transfer tape still on, hold the decal in place and mark its position with masking tape so you know exactly where it goes.
3 Wet both sides
Spray the panel generously with clean water mixed with one or two drops of dish soap. Peel the backing paper off the decal and spray its sticky side too. Both surfaces must be fully wet.
4 Slide into place
Lay the wet decal on the wet panel and gently slide it to your marks.
5 Squeegee the water out
Squeegee firmly from the center out in overlapping strokes, pushing the water out until the decal lies flat. Press hard along every edge. Wait 5–15 minutes.
6 Remove the tape
Peel the transfer tape back slowly at a low, almost flat angle. If anything lifts, lay it back down, squeegee again and try again.
7 Let it cure
Wait 48–72 hours before washing. Small bubbles after you remove the tape are water, not air: leave them alone and they disappear within about a week.
If something goes wrong
- A small air bubble
- Push it toward the nearest edge with the squeegee. Last resort: prick it at the edge with a fine pin and press flat.
- An edge or corner lifts
- The usual causes, in order: wax, ceramic coating or shine spray on the paint; a panel that was too cold or too hot; no alcohol wipe; pulling the tape straight up; washing too early. In cold weather, work in a heated garage and warm the panel gently with a hair dryer, then press the spot firmly for 15–20 seconds.
- The decal sits crooked
- Measure from a fixed line (the bed edge or the wheel arch) and mark both sides with tape before you peel. Use the hinge so it can't slide.
Taking a decal off later
Warm it with a hair dryer or a heat gun on low, keeping it moving. Lift an edge with a fingernail or a plastic scraper (never metal) and peel slowly at about 45°. Clean any residue with rubbing alcohol or warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth.