Grassroots way to remove adhesive decals from painted metal?

More specifically 'vinyl that was seemingly installed with Gorilla glue and has been baking in the sun for 20 years' type applications?

My new-to-me trailer has some pretty horrid personalized decals that I want to remove. There are a total of 9 decals, but they all fall into 2 categories-

• Those that peel off, but leave the super sticky glue-ish residue behind
• Those that don't peel off, but rather flake in less than 1/8" tiny little pieces randomly.

I'm looking to see if anyone knows of a good quality way to remove everything without simultaneously removing the clearcoat/paint on the trailer. Goo Gone was not even remotely close to effective for either of the above situations.

Thanks in advance.

The rubber disc, either gum or flapper, that attach to a power drill.

For getting the glue-like residue off you can try De-Solv-It Mechanic's Solvent, it's similar to goo-gone but it's totally paint-safe. Works well for cleaning brake dust off wheels too.

I've found that pre-soaking stickers with the same stuff is a good way to remove them, that might be worth a try.

Goof off works pretty well. A little heat can help too.

I think a harbor freight heat gun might help.

Amazon.com Vinyl Eraser Tool For Drill Vinyl Erasers are how the pros do it. The $17 power drill tool should last a long time doing small stuff.

Wow. I feel ashamed that I never even knew those rubber eraser wheels existed.

In the cart it goes, and thanks to everyone. This board is pretty ridiculous, in a good way.

3M general purpose adhesive remover. It comes in a pint can and should be available at most auto parts stores.

The 3M stuff is even "safe for most automotive clearcoats." Not for English automotive clear coats, but "most." Ask me how I know.

My 951 had those clear protective decals in front of the rear wheels, but they were all yellow and cracked with age. I removed them, but it took me days of scraping, heating, chemicals, the rubber wheels, you name it. In the end, the heat gun and soft putty knives were the most effective thing, followed by mineral spirits (I think?) to clean up the residue.

Heat gun and a plastic scraper first, as it's the lowest impact approach and has a high probability of the stickers coming off in sheets once you get the technique down. Follow with WD40 (sticker residue being one of the few things it's very good for) Citrusolve, or new formulation red can CRC Brakleen.

If it's not very easy, go with the rubber wheel.

84FSP wrote: Amazon.com Vinyl Eraser Tool For Drill Vinyl Erasers are how the pros do it. The $17 power drill tool should last a long time doing small stuff.

This is what removed the 20 year old decals on my Tracker.

Penetrating oil dissolves sticker adhesive. It's magic. The more aromatic, the better. The aromatic re-liquifies the adhesive and the oils keep it from re-sticking to the paint.

It also melts away duct tape residue that had been baked in the sun for months.

I accidentally destroyed a plastic lens with the stuff though so be careful.