How to install a large decal

Adding a fender vent decal to your Jeep is a great way to add a little character, and personalization!  These decals are made for Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators with the side fender vent detail that is only available on the JL models.  Installing these decals can be a bit tricky, so I recommend going slowly and cautiously and reading all the instructions and tips before starting.

First you need to Prep! Lets make sure that your decal sticks properly.

1. For the best results, the surface temperature should be a minimum of 65^o F and no more than 90^o F (70^o F to 75^o F is ideal) to prevent bubbling, stretching, cracking, and issues with adhering.

2. The surface must be properly prepared prior to installation. Wash the surface with a little bit of detergent like automobile soap, or dish soap and water, then thoroughly rinse the surface with water and dry completely.  Vinyl will not stick if any residue remains.

3. Saturate a clean cloth with rubbing or isopropyl alcohol and wipe the surface of the vehicle where the vinyl is to be applied to remove any remaining contaminates such as silicone, wax, or adhesives, and dry the surface with a lint free paper towel.

WARNING: Do not use any solvents such as acetone, M.E.K., toluene, paint thinner; lacquer thinner, gasoline or ammonia-based cleaners.  Any of these can and will damage your surface. 

Now, choose your installation method:

There are two methods available for installing your decals.  Please read all of the instructions before selecting your install method:

1. Wet Method: This method works best for layered or large decals, giving you more time to position the decal, and also time to remove any bubbles under the vinyl if they appear.  This method requires the use of a few more tools and can take more time to allow the fluid to dry in order to peel the transfer tape.

2. Hinge Method:  This method is the quickest, but also requires more careful placement when lining up your decal on your vehicle.  You may also find that it's hard to avoid small bubbles under your decal with this method.  See Application Tips below on how to remove the bubbles.

Wet Application Instructions

Supplies Needed:

• Baby Shampoo or Dish soap, nothing with moisturizer in it.
• 12 oz spray bottle
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Squeegee or credit card

Installation Instructions:
1. Prepare the application fluid by adding one drop of baby shampoo or dish soap to a 12 oz spray bottle filled with tap water.  Your decal won't stick to the surface if you add too much soap, one single drop is plenty!

2. Place the decal on a hard flat surface and rub the transfer tape side with a squeegee in order to ensure that the transfer tape is stuck securely to the decal.

3. After prepping the vehicle surface using the method above, spray vehicle surface generously with the application fluid where you will be applying the decal.

4. Peel the paper backing from the decal exposing the adhesive, spraying the back of the vinyl as you peel it back.

5. Make sure both the decal and the vehicle surface are wet, and place the decal on the surface, ensuring no part of the decal touches a dry spot! If you have a dry spot, your decal will stick and you won't be able to move it.  Maneuver the decal into position (decal should float on the surface because both decal and the surfaces should be wet).

6. Once in position, use a squeegee or an old credit card, starting from the center to gently work the water and bubbles out towards the edges. (Don’t allow direct contact between a plastic squeegee or credit card with the vinyl as this will scratch it!)

7. Let sit for 10- 20 minutes before removing transfer tape from the top of the decal. To remove the transfer tape, pull the tape slowly at a sharp angle back away from the decal. If the transfer tape starts lifting up the decal it is usually because there is still too much fluid between the decal and the vehicle surface.  See below “vinyl not sticking” section for tips!

8. Once the transfer tape is off, there might be bubbles of air or water under the decal. If so, take a squeegee or a plastic squeegee/credit card and wrap it in soft fabric so it does not scratch the decal, and gently work the bubbles out. See more tips below for removing bubbles!

Note: If you are installing a layered decal, completely install the larger or bottom decal first, then the top decal repeating steps 2 through 8.

Hinge Application Instructions

Supplies Needed:

• Squeegee or credit card
• Masking Tape
• Scissors

Installation Instructions:

1. Place the decal on a hard flat surface and rub the transfer tape side with a squeegee in order to ensure that the transfer tape is stuck securely to the decal.

2. Align the decal where you would like it to be. Tape it in place using masking tape along the top and bottom edge of the transfer tape.

3. Place a piece of masking tape horizontally or vertically across the center of the decal. See Image (A). This will act as a hinge so both the top and bottom of the decal can swing away from the surface.

4. Lift up the decal (Side A) and peel the backing paper away from the decal to expose the sticky side of the decal. See Image (B). Once the two layers are separated, use a small piece of tape on the edge of the transfer layer to hold the sticky decal away from the backing, and then cut off backing paper with scissors close to the masking tape hinge.

5. Starting from the center edge of the decal near the masking tape, wipe over the transfer tape with a credit card outward from the center to adhere the decal to the vehicle surface. See Image (C). Firmly go over the half of the decal surface until it is completely adhered to the vehicle.

6. Once the first half of the decal has been applied, remove the masking tape from the decal. Pull this half of the decal back from the surface and peel the backing paper from the decal. See Image (D).

7. Starting from where the first half of the decal has already been applied, wipe over the transfer tape with a credit card outward toward the edge. See Image (E). Firmly go over the entire decal surface until it is completely adhered to the vehicle.

8. Slowly and carefully peel the transfer tape starting from one end of the decal. Peel the transfer tape at a sharp angle to avoid lifting the decal from the surface. If any part of the decal starts to come up with the tape, press over that part of the decal with a squeegee/credit card and try to peel the tape again.  See more tips on the back if you are having issues!

Note:  If you are installing an outlined layered decal, completely install the larger decal first, then the smaller decal repeating steps 2 through 8.

How to Fix Common Issues When Installing Vinyl Decals

VINYL ONLY STICKING TO THE BACKING

When you are ready to apply the vinyl, it may not be completely pressed onto the transfer tape. First, make sure that the decal has flattened out completely. Then you may firmly re-press the transfer tape back down onto the vinyl and backing using a squeegee.

VINYL NOT STICKING

The most important thing for proper vinyl adhesion is to have a completely clean surface.

Secondly, once you have applied the vinyl and are ready to remove the transfer tape, the vinyl may not stick to the surface right away when using the wet application method. This happens when the water underneath the decal has not evaporated enough for the vinyl to adhere to the surface. There are two fixes for this:

1. You may continue to squeegee the water out from under the decal, and wait a little longer until the vinyl dries and adheres to the surface.
2. Or you may use a hairdryer to help evaporate the water faster. Because vinyl can melt and stretch, we recommend you keep the dryer a little over a foot away from the vinyl. As you are drying, continue to squeegee the water out. As an added benefit, if you squeegee first from the center towards the edges, this can help minimize the amount of air bubbles that can form.

ADHESIVE RESIDUE

After removing the transfer tape from the vinyl, there may be some left over adhesive on the vinyl. This is not a big deal and is caused when the transfer tape has been sitting in the water for too long if using the wet application method. If the water is sitting on the tape for any longer than 5-6 minutes it can start to break down the transfer tape's glue. It may look a little messy, but is not a problem and will not affect the vinyl in any way.

If there are small spots of adhesive left over when removing the transfer tape you may just use your finger to rub and pick the residue off. If there are larger areas with the adhesive, we recommend spraying the area with Windex (or using a small amount of rubbing alcohol) and with a soft cloth “that will not scratch the vinyl” clean the area. With some elbow grease, the adhesive can be removed.

BUBBLES

After applying the vinyl and removing the transfer tape, a tiny air bubble or two are one of the most common problems that a customer can have. These bubbles are just pockets of water and air that were not evaporated or squeegeed out before the surrounding vinyl has dried and adhered to the surface.

To remove the bubbles, we recommend using a thin sewing needle to carefully poke a small hole into the middle of the bubble. Just one little poke will do. Then you may use your finger to gently push the air out and press the vinyl back onto the surface. Once the air is out the vinyl will lay flat and the hole not be noticeable, and will disappear in a few days.  The best results are achieved when the vinyl is warm from the sun, or gentle heat from a blow drier (don’t use a heat gun as excessive heat will damage the vinyl).

IMPORTANT NOTES

Once the transfer tape is removed from the vinyl, do not use the squeegee or any rough material over top of the vinyl that may scratch it.

Lastly, any small imperfections that you may see when the vinyl is first applied, “such as a slight crease or a few small air bubbles” will not be a major problem. Because we use quality vinyl, those things will actually work themselves out as a few days go by. The sun plays a large role in this process. As the surface is naturally warmed and the vinyl has time to sit and completely adhere, it will actually soften against the surface and those small imperfections should all but disappear.