vinyl wrap on a van

[Crankin-wagen]

Thank's for all your comments regarding the vinyl wrap of my van, but I think I need to clarify a couple of points.

First of all when I first spoke to the guy at the car show the price of £800 was for a straight colour on the van without the roof, which is why I got him to visit to give me a proper price for alternatives.To give you an idea the prices he quoted were £1100 for a straight colour/s all over using 3m vinyl not a cheap version, the second price was for £1400 for two colours metalic and a perlescent for the whole van, and the final price was £1680 for a printed vinyl all over the van all using 3M products and labour for two guy's for a day and a half, even at £1680 it was still less than half the price I was quoted for a re-spray from two seperate spray shops, so saying it last's for three years I could have it done again and it would still be cheaper than one respray and done a lot quicker.

The reason I want it done is not because the van is in a bad condition, far from it it's because like a lot of the vans in original colours they are so boring and everybody must think the same which is why they all paint them in different colours, my van has obviously had a lot of work done to it over the years as I have a lot of paperwork for panels, paint, grit, sealer, etc, the rust I said I needed to do before it is wrapped is a small stone chip on the front which when I looked into it was surface rust which i have now removed treated and made good, and a very small dent in the rear offside bottom corner panel the size of my thumb nail which popped out when I hit it with my panel beaters hammer again the surface rust was removed and repaired, so I now have no rust to the surface of the van or seams so it's good for wrapping.

I am not having this done to hide or prevent rust! but because it's boring! and I am lucky enough to be able to spend that sort of money and not worry to much about it, their is no chance of saving for a proper paint job as I am retired and have no income as I retired 7 years to early to receive my pension I still have another year to wait, and to be honest after seeing this I am not sure I would spend it on paint anyway.

I don't think it would be a problem to sell on if and when the time comes that I decide to do that as a clean and tidy serviced vehicle will always find a home if the price is right.

Don't get me wrong I am not having a moan I just didn't want guy's on here to think I was doing a cover up job to sell on to some unsuspecting sole in the future I just like to do things different and with some of the ideas and help I have had on this forum I am having fun, and I really appreciate all the input let's face it that's what makes a good forum great and that's what I think this one is.

Hi Mike
Just mailed you that template, the revised prices seem more realistic, have fun with your designs,
we will be expecting a picture or two posted up

[gayle]

i bought a van last month thats had a wrap on it for at least 7 years.i'm currently in the process of taking it off.van was previously solid but has started to rot under the wrap where small stonechips and air bubbles are.both wheelarches were done previous to the wrap but now the wrap is whats holding them on.the van has been resprayed at some point and the wrap is taking all the new paint with it.also on areas around locks and wiper arms etc,the wrap has lifted and rust has bubbled up under it.it looks nice and all but theres no way i'd ever wrap an old vehicle after this mess..

[Plasticman]

hi gayle
can you post p[icks up as this is a current topic
ta mm

[gayle]

Hi,
Dont have any pics unfortunately just now and the vans now in my very narrow garage with the engine out so cant get any soon.i'll post some up when i get them though

[Krugerbaydesign]

I will get some pics of the one corner I have started to strip on mine and you can get an idea of the mess its left.
I am going to carry on stripping rest of my van probably next month, so will post some more pics then.

I see what you are saying about looking cool, my van gets loads of attention with its designer wrap, and brings in business but I want to keep hold of my van and keep it in good Order so think its time for a good coat of Rustoleum and some detailing

[bluedirtydigit]

I too would be very interested to see some pictures, Although I still think the base van needs to be very good before it is wrapped so that it does not lift and bubble like I said before mine is very good and it is covered in all the nooks and crannies with waxoyl in fact i'ts every where who ever did it obviously spent a lot of time making sure this van lasted a long time.

[Krugerbaydesign]

Heres a picture of the back corner that I have stripped, looks like there has been an arch repair in the past, but rest of paint seems to be original?? Black paint is where the van was sprayed before wrap was put on.

[Crankin-wagen]

The picture above shows where the top coat (probably 2 pack acrylic ) has separated from the primer, this is where the vinyl has better adhesion to the paint than the paint has to the primer, so it separates leaving chipped edges, this whole panel will have to be flatted back to primer, re-primed and then painted. As I said in a previous post, original factory paint would probably have survived. For those of you with metallic vans the problem will be worse as the lacquer will separate from the basecoat. So think long and hard before committing to vinyl wrap!

The vinyl manufacturers will not warrant vinyl applied to resprayed paintwork, indeed they will duck and dive when any vinyl under performs, saying that it was incorrectly applied, the surface prep was inadequate, it was applied outside the recommended ambient temperatures, it was heated in too much or too little, the printing ink was wrong, the laminate was applied too soon after printing, it was pressure washed , the squeegee stroke and pressure was inconsistant & the fairies were peeing on it.
Either way you will be on your own.

If your van is worth €5,000 and you wrap it 3 or 4 years from now when the vinyl deteriorates ,you could well be facing a €3,000 repaint, and thats after the job of stripping the vinyl and dissolving the adhesive residue.

[Plasticman]

thats very valid and correct info,, it doesnt mean dont do it but does show potential pitfalls,
as weve discussed earlier . a wrap is no substitute for a propper repaint so we wont confuse ourselves there,
its more a lifstlye statement but good to see the future problems highlighted, certainly if your looking to buy a van and its been wrapped then deductions on price will have to be made, to a lesser exstent the same with brush/rollering, more effort is required to make good as a general rule.
mm

[bluedirtydigit]

Well I have had the van wrapped, as I said previously the van bodywork was in very good condition just has a couple of bits to sort as explained earlier.

The photos do not do it justice as they were taken quickly with a phone camera which is no where near as good as my camera. it is not finished yet as there is some graphics to go on the roof and some bling to be added most of it has been ordered so I will add more pics as I fit them.
The colour is Blue fading through to Purple with a white pearlesent roof with a purple tint the whole van changes colour depending where you stand to look at it and the sunlight. The wheels will be changed as well as some chrome added I have still got to re fit the roof rack the chrome ladder to the back and the cycle rack then we will start on the inside re furb as the previous owners had a small dog that has scratched the seats as they do.
I know this will not be to everyones taste but I like it and it will just get better as we add to it.

Before


after

[Theolegit]

You should be thrilled it looks great

[Plasticman]

colour looks nice.... when you get the good camera out can we have a look at the awkward areas round washers and such
mm

[Tobyt25]

That looks brilliant, totally transforms the look. You have convinced me. Ive always wanted mine done.

[kaminokid]

Thats well nice

[kaminokid]

Def will stand out and something a bit different
Cant wait to see it completely finished