Fabrication and Finishing
Fleet Graphics and Vinyl Wrap for Commercial Vehicles
About 10 min left
OCRV Center designs, prints and applies partial and full vinyl wraps, fleet identity graphics, DOT compliance markings and decal removal for commercial vehicles. Wrap and graphics work runs $1,500 for a partial application to $9,500 for a full wrap on a large box body.
A wrap is a five to seven year asset in Southern California sun, and whether you get five years or eighteen months out of it comes down to two things almost nobody asks about: how thoroughly the surface was decontaminated before application, and whether the installer post heated the film into the recesses.
Skip either and the film lifts at the edges and pulls out of the channels, usually starting the first summer.
Surface Preparation Before Application
Vinyl bonds to the surface it is laid on, and on a working fleet vehicle that surface is carrying road film, wax, silicone from previous dressings and often a layer of oxidized clear coat.
We wash, chemically decontaminate, and wipe down with the solvent the film manufacturer specifies. On heavily oxidized panels the surface may need light polishing first, because vinyl applied over failing clear coat will pull that clear off when it is eventually removed.
Partial Wraps, Full Wraps and Spot Graphics
A partial wrap covering the lower two thirds of a box body delivers most of the visual impact at roughly half the cost of full coverage, which is why it is the most common fleet choice.
Full wraps make sense when the base color is wrong for the brand or when the vehicle is a primary marketing asset. Spot graphics, meaning a logo and lettering on an otherwise unwrapped vehicle, are the least expensive option and are frequently the right one for a fleet where the vehicle is a tool rather than a billboard.
Compound Curves and Recesses
Flat panels are straightforward. Corrugations on a box body, door recesses, and the compound curves on a van roof line are where installations fail.
Film has to be stretched into those areas and then post heated above its memory temperature so it stays there. Without post heating the film remembers being flat and slowly pulls back out of every recess it was pushed into.
DOT Markings and Regulatory Compliance
Commercial vehicles carry required marking, including USDOT numbers at the specified minimum letter height with the specified contrast against the background, and conspicuity tape on applicable units.
We apply these to the current requirement rather than to whatever was on the vehicle previously, because inherited markings on a used unit are frequently non compliant and the inspection does not care that they were there when you bought it.
Decal Removal and Rebranding
Removing old vinyl properly is slower than most people expect. Heat, patience and adhesive remover, and then a decision about what is underneath, because vinyl protects the paint beneath it from ultraviolet exposure. Removing a ten year old wrap frequently reveals a color difference between the wrapped and unwrapped areas.
On rebrand programs we assess that before starting, so the plan accounts for it rather than discovering it mid project across a whole fleet.
What Is Included
- Full wash, chemical decontamination and manufacturer specified solvent wipe before application
- Light polishing on oxidized panels where required for adhesion
- Artwork proof supplied for approval before printing
- Film post heated above memory temperature in all recesses and compound curves
- DOT numbers and conspicuity marking applied to current requirement
- Old vinyl removed with heat and adhesive remover rather than scraped
- Assessment of paint condition beneath removed vinyl before rebrand work begins
Our Process
- 1
Design and Proof
Artwork laid out against vehicle templates and a scaled proof supplied for your approval before printing.
- 2
Surface Assessment
Existing finish evaluated for oxidation, prior repair and contamination that would compromise adhesion.
- 3
Decontamination
Vehicle washed, chemically decontaminated and wiped with the film manufacturer specified solvent.
- 4
Print and Cut
Graphics printed, laminated for ultraviolet protection and cut to panel layout.
- 5
Application
Film applied panel by panel with squeegee technique appropriate to the surface geometry.
- 6
Post Heat
All recesses, corrugations and compound curves heated above memory temperature so the film holds its formed position.
- 7
Inspection and Compliance Check
Edges sealed where required, DOT marking verified against current specification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a vehicle wrap last in Southern California?
Five to seven years on a properly prepared and post heated installation with laminated film. Horizontal surfaces such as the hood and roof degrade first because they take the most direct ultraviolet load. The two things that shorten that lifespan most are inadequate surface decontamination before application and high pressure washing at close range, which lifts edges far faster than sun exposure does.
Should I wrap my fleet or paint it?
Wrap if the identity might change, if you need photographic detail a spray gun cannot reproduce, or if you need the vehicles back quickly. Paint if the scheme is permanent and the vehicles are long term assets, since paint lasts as long as the finish and cannot lift at an edge. Many fleets land on a hybrid: painted base color with vinyl identity graphics, so a rebrand only requires replacing the graphics.
What happens to the paint under a wrap when it is removed?
Good paint comes through fine, and the wrapped area is often in better condition than the unwrapped area because vinyl blocks ultraviolet exposure. That is also the catch: removing a ten year old wrap frequently reveals a visible color difference between covered and uncovered panels. Failing clear coat is the real risk, since vinyl applied over it will pull the clear off during removal. We assess paint condition before starting any rebrand program.
Do you apply DOT numbers and compliance markings?
Yes, and we apply them to the current requirement rather than copying what was on the vehicle before. Inherited markings on a used commercial unit are frequently below the required letter height or lack sufficient contrast against the background, and an inspector does not care that they came with the truck. We verify letter height, contrast and placement, and apply conspicuity tape where the vehicle class requires it.
Fleet Graphics and Vinyl Wrap is performed in shop at OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887, serving Long Beach, California and the surrounding region. Call (949) 799-3387 to discuss your vehicle.
Get Your Vehicle Looked At Properly
Call the shop, describe what happened, and we will tell you what the realistic scope and timeline look like. All work is performed in shop at our 35,000 square foot facility.