New decals…is this normal??

ChadH83 · Jan 30, 2024

So I had a local shop with a solid rep install these. I ordered them from Apex Auto Styling. They told me because it was a “wet application” or install not to wash the truck for a few days and the air bubbles would go away. My issue is the hood has a little spot that doesn’t appear to be a bubble(along with a few bubbles) and the passenger side TRX has a slight tear in it. I can’t even find it unless I really search the graphic and it could’ve been a bad graphic or something to start. The shop did say because I had just got the truck ceramic coating, it was difficult. My wife says I’m being a little too much of a perfectionist since it’s a truck. I’d love some thoughts on this.

RaptorTillNow · Jan 30, 2024

I don't think your wife and me would get along very well...

ChadH83 · Jan 30, 2024

To me most of this looks like it won't come out. The one hood pic looks like a crease in the sticker on the hood.

916Ghost · Jan 30, 2024

So definitely looks like a tear in the decal. I got a rear window decal from the same company just haven’t installed it yet. I’m gonna assume the installer didn’t do things right and tore the decal also. Plus the cold weather and ceramic coating don’t help thing’s either

ChadH83 · Jan 30, 2024

916Ghost said:
So definitely looks like a tear in the decal. I got a rear window decal from the same company just haven’t installed it yet. I’m gonna assume the installer didn’t do things right and tore the decal also. Plus the cold weather and ceramic coating don’t help thing’s either

Yeah man, I honestly didn't mind the clean look. I might just chalk this up as an L and either try again later in the year. I just got the truck ceramic coated last week.

Myredfiveo · Jan 30, 2024

That company is garbage. Cheap vinyl and horrible customer service. I took the crap off and bought the real OEM decals from the dealership. It’s worth the price difference and 100x better quality.

ChadH83 · Jan 30, 2024

Myredfiveo said:
That company is garbage. Cheap vinyl and horrible customer service. I took the crap off and bought the real OEM decals from the dealership. It’s worth the price difference and 100x better quality.

I was going to say man it took them FOREVER to ship these and wouldn't respond at all to email inquiries or anything. Rough experience to say the least. I took them all off just now. They literally peeled off with ease except for some of the hood because I'm short and tough to reach and pull up. Hope that didn't alter the ceramic coating at all.

BlueTRX · Jan 30, 2024

The tiny bubbles will come off very easily.
Spray water mixed with mild soap over and with a soft squeegee lightly press them out. All those tiny bubbles will come off.
You can use a heat gun or blow dryer so the decals warm and soften while you do the sweeping motion with the squeegee.

The small tear is a bit of a hick up.
Do the same thing going over with the heat and press over the tear so it sticks to the surface and hopefully flattens.
You can always get the "TRX" ones replaced those are available everywhere.
They are all vinyl little difference IMO.
The other ones once you rid of the small bubbles should be ok

Eighty · Jan 30, 2024

Go drive on a gravel road for 5 minutes. You’ll get a couple of rock chips and forget all about the vinyl sticker imperfections.

Myredfiveo · Jan 30, 2024

Apex advertises their product as Mopar official licensed products and OEM but they are not the same size as OEM and the style is slightly different so I call bs on this false advertising. That’s one of the reasons I went with them first.

I applied the decals using soapy water in a spray bottle. One of the bedside decals ended up with some small bubbles but give it a few hours or a day and they completely go away.

Moparornocar · Jan 30, 2024

The bubbles and lines will go away assuming it's decent material. I've seen much worse. the largest bubbles might be worth taking a needle to, just poke a hole don't mess with it much you'll make it worse.

If that is a tear it will get worse as the vinyl pulls , just like the bubbles will get better.

RAMTRX22 · Jan 30, 2024

Yeah not as perfect as one would like but it gives it character. I've been waiting on some tint bubbles to come out for 13 months lol.

FastMD · Jan 31, 2024

I bought the bed and hood decals from them and installed them myself, no issues or bubbles , but also if you ceramic coated before it'll be hard to get them to stick well, usually you install decals then ceramic coat so they're "sealed in".

Rawwr · Jan 31, 2024

Since I'm a cheap bastard I installed them myself (fenders and hood) and they came out perfect. IMO since a professional shop installed them they should be flawless.

ParadigmDawg · Jan 31, 2024

If yours is a pavement princess, it will always bother you and needs corrected. If you really offroad it, it is perfect.

saturnfire · Jan 31, 2024

might have been a bad install.
I also bought my decal from APEX for my TRX...No issues it took ~2-3 days before the bubbles went away and all was well in the TEXAS late Sping heat.....I did not do ceramic until ~2-3 months later...I did do the stick and the ceramic myself.

BlueTRX · Jan 31, 2024

saturnfire said:
might have been a bad install.
I also bought my decal from APEX for my TRX...No issues it took ~2-3 days before the bubbles went away and all was well in the TEXAS late Sping heat.....I did not do ceramic until ~2-3 months later...I did do the stick and the ceramic myself.

View attachment 121689

What ceramic you use? How was the process? I'm kind of wanting to do it myself too

saturnfire · Jan 31, 2024

I used Adams polishes and followed all the you tube videos and steps...
It like they say rinses off easily.
I bought a kit that had this one in it. Prep is everything.

Graphene Ceramic Coating™ Advanced

Adam’s Graphene Ceramic Coating™ Advanced is an easy-to-use Ceramic Coating that can be seen where applied using the Adam’s UV Flashlight and our patent-pending UV Tracer Technology™. With improved characteristics, this coating is appropriate to add long-lasting, extreme self-cleaning effects...

adamspolishes.com

BlueTRX · Jan 31, 2024

saturnfire said:
I used Adams polishes and followed all the you tube videos and steps...
It like they say rinses off easily.
I bought a kit that had this one in it. Prep is everything.

Graphene Ceramic Coating™ Advanced

Adam’s Graphene Ceramic Coating™ Advanced is an easy-to-use Ceramic Coating that can be seen where applied using the Adam’s UV Flashlight and our patent-pending UV Tracer Technology™. With improved characteristics, this coating is appropriate to add long-lasting, extreme self-cleaning effects...

adamspolishes.com

You mean it is not lasting as advertised?
I use ceramic coating every 2 weeks or so but the spray on stuff.
Maybe I should look into the real deal if it lasts as they claim

saturnfire · Jan 31, 2024

this stuff is long lasting... no issues for me. I did not use it on the trim or glass. only on the body panels. No issues. water beads off fine. I also wash it with just DI and their Graphne-approved soap water and rinse it with their rinse agent. it is like ~15-30 minutes. mud and dirt do not stick. It still has that slick feel to the paint.