Peeling issue on tanker trailer within 6 months

[Shred_signs]

If it was a contaminated surface wouldn't the failure be all over though?


I'm with Gino, someone is not telling the truth somewhere.

 

[Krissy Louderback]

Looks to me like someone stood on top of the tank and started pressure cleaning it. That tank would be super dirty if it hadn't been washed since November.

 

[JBurton]

Personally, this isn't a big deal. If I'd done it, I'd have 2.5 the material cost and plenty of labor originally. When they brought back a partial failure, I'd redo the top portion of the lettering for free, but the whole letter would require us fully determining what the problem that caused the issue. So for free, they could drive off with fixed graphics and the option to bring it back if the failure continued to propagate, but at this time I'm inclined to say it was caused by an ice sheet grazing the lettering. Repair would take 1/4 of the time or less since the graphics are already placed, just gotta strip a little and line up new graphics over the existing portions.

 

[rydods]

We do graphics for a fuel company as well and have been fighting this issue for almost 10 years. We also get ice and snow storms, they use several different unknown cleaning agents and they pressure wash them constantly. It's been extremely hard to put my finger on why this continues to happen but our graphics end up looking similar to yours. We started with calendared because of it's thickness, switched to cast because of it's longer life and flexibility, then to color change wrap material for thickness and longer life and still issues. After our customer threatened Avery Dennison with a lawsuit, they claimed we needed to edge seal all edges for graphics on tankers.

The problem is, their installers do most of the graphic installations and we can't guarantee they'll follow every step correctly. Last winter we provided material, they put it on and put the truck outside. That night we had an ice storm and the graphics literally peeled off from the top down. I was obsoletely certain this was a pressure washing and/or chemical issue happening but now I'm fairly sure that Ice and snow building up on the top edge of the tank and then sliding down is one of the main problems. For us, this always seems to happen during winter months. However, so does the excessive cleaning and pressure washing.

What we've done now is gone to a cast high tack printable oracal material and laminated. It's adhesive is very aggressive and non-air release (which I believe was part of the problem). We also advise to at lease edge seal the top of the lettering with a liquid or tape. It's extra work but after providing material and redoing these tankers 4 to 5 times in the last 5-6 years, you'll do about anything and I've told them clearcoat over it or paint the graphics.

This is where we are at with this issue so far. I hope it gives some insight.

 

[KenWied]

Old post being revived.

I install graphics and lettering and also haul milk.

Our license numbers on the sides of the tanks do the exact same thing and mostly in the winter.

Prep is using 99% isopropyl alcohol, wipe and repeat until cloth is clean. Tank is always 60° or warmer during application. I’ve used Oracal 651 and 751. Same result. Numbers literally flip down from the top and eventually fall off.

We only wash with car wash soap and a brush and no pressure washing and no harsh chemicals. Don’t be quick to insinuate that the customer is lying/misinforming about what’s being used to wash them.

These tankers can be cleaned and sit outside for months and still look perfectly clean.

I’m convinced that it’s a combination of the stainless steel wrap flexing and expanding with heat and cold, as well as ice and snow sliding off the top of the trailer and peeling the letters off.

 

[JBurton]

I install graphics and lettering and also haul milk.

 

[ple]

Old post being revived.

I install graphics and lettering and also haul milk.

Our license numbers on the sides of the tanks do the exact same thing and mostly in the winter.

Prep is using 99% isopropyl alcohol, wipe and repeat until cloth is clean. Tank is always 60° or warmer during application. I’ve used Oracal 651 and 751. Same result. Numbers literally flip down from the top and eventually fall off.

We only wash with car wash soap and a brush and no pressure washing and no harsh chemicals. Don’t be quick to insinuate that the customer is lying/misinforming about what’s being used to wash them.

These tankers can be cleaned and sit outside for months and still look perfectly clean.

I’m convinced that it’s a combination of the stainless steel wrap flexing and expanding with heat and cold, as well as ice and snow sliding off the top of the trailer and peeling the letters off.

Thank you for your reply. I use 3M 7125 vinyl. It was done on a warm day in October. He used it for about a week he said and parked it for winter. He sent pictures in the spring of it peeling from the top. He had said earlier that he pressure washes the tanks from walking across the top, spraying down. The back wasn't damaged at all. The sides peeled from the top. I think he pressure washed it within a few days of the vinyl being applied. I remove the vinyl and gave him his money back. The vinyl I removed was sticking very well. He wanted me to redo the job instead of giving the money back. I said no. Others have made comments about this person, so it's better we both moved on in different directions. Thank you for your post.

 

[KenWied]

Ok?

 

[Vassago]

I'd think something has been sprayed on it that has silicone in it. Once it gets a little foothold,it migrates down.. something like a cleaning product.

Used pool water with chlorine in it shouldn't be a problem.. but a jet wash followed by a shining product.. keeps your tanks shiny for longer.. easy enough to imagine..

 

[JBurton]

Ok?

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist the gif, and the happenstance of meeting both these criteria really seemed hilarious. At any rate, welcome to the forum, I'm curious, which is your breadwinner, signage or hauling?