Ever since we bought our truck, we’ve wanted to add some signage. After all, it’s a pretty effective mobile billboard! So we had an idea to add some vinyl wrapping.
So Many Choices…
While the truck and Wedgetail Camper already stand out, we thought a splash of colour down the sides and on the back would look pretty good. Something simple, yet distinctive.
The big white dual cab is a signwriter’s dream – large flat surfaces and a white background. So what to do? Well, the choices are endless.
After a lot of thinking, we decided to keep it simple. A combination of our logo, website header image (the one you see at the top of this page!) and our web address.
Talking To The Experts
We chose Excite Signs in Penrith, Sydney to do this work. Why them? Quite simply, I’ve seen their work before. And it’s first class.
You see, Excite Signs do vinyl wrapping for Trans Vent Racing (and dozens of other businesses). Trans Vent own a cross-country racing Triton and a trophy truck, both purpose-built for racing. I’ve known the owners for several years and have been on their service crews from time to time.
After a quick chat with Warren at Trans Vent, he recommended I speak to Kyle. So it was time to jump in the truck and pay Kyle at Excite Signs a visit.
A Blank Canvas
Kyle had plenty of good ideas. Of course, the truck wrap designs were limited only by our budget! Simple designs down both sides of the cab and a matching banner across the back of the Wedgetail Camper were the order of the day.
I emailed Kyle our logo and the background image we wanted them to use. He took a couple of photos of the truck, then I left him to it.
They played around with the design. Then they photoshopped a couple of options onto the photos Kyle had taken of our truck. This is a fantastic way to figure out what looks good. Once we agreed on a design and they had given us a quote, we booked the truck in.
The Wrap
The actual application of the vinyl wrap onto the truck and camper took just on three hours. With Vaughan and Kyle working away solidly, it all happened pretty quickly.
First they print out the graphics then cut them to size. Then they wash the surfaces on which the wrap will be applied, to remove any grit and oil.
Using a heat gun, they blend in the vinyl wrap over any ridges and bumps. Of course, Vaughan and Kyle make it look easy – if I’d attempted this, it would have ended up as a twisted, lumpy mess!
The end result? Awesome!
An Update: Replacing The Wrap
Fast-forward six years and our wrap reached the end of its life. Given the extreme conditions our wrap has been exposed to, it was still in remarkably good condition. However, it was starting to fade and the top protective layer was just starting to show signs of peeling.
I was worried about paint peeling away as they removed the old wrap on the Wedgetail Camper. However, Mark and Kyle managed to get it off without any dramas.
We decided to stick with the original design, with one small colour change. Out with the dated green strip, replaced with a grey stripe which blends in more smoothly.
Looking After Vinyl Wrapping
So how do you look after your vinyl wrap and keep it looking good? This is a whole subject on its own. Go here to find out how to look after a vinyl wrap, plus tips on detergents and cleaning.
Suffice to say, it’s pretty simple to keep clean.
Where It All Started
So what else can Excite Signs do? In short, plenty!
I had a yarn to Mark, who owns Excite Signs. They have a small staff – Mark and his wife (who works part time), Kyle, Vaughan and Craig. Mark started the business 30 years ago in 1987, as a signwriting business.
A few years ago, they decided to specialise in signwriting vehicles as a way to stand out from the crowd. Shop front work was getting too competitive. Mark’s interest in anything with an engine meant he already had a background in pin-striping on trucks and other vehicles.
They still do the traditional shop front work. You see, the car work leads to other opportunities. For example, a business might get Excite Signs to vinyl wrap their fleet of cars, then get them to do wall signage, graphics on walls and so on at the company premises.
Mark explained they provide a full service. Say a company wants a new sign out near the road. Excite Signs will supply the complete package – signage, sign, mounting frame and post for the sign. They use local fabricators to do the steelwork.
But Mark’s passion is trucks, race cars, boats, race boats, custom motor cycles… all the toys! Anything from pinstriping to full truck wraps… and everything in between.
This video shows the Trans Vent trophy truck in all its glory, vinyl wrapped by Excite Signs. And yes, there is a piece missing from the rear guard flare!
Keeping Up With The Times
Technology is always evolving in every industry and of course, signwriting is no exception. Digital printing, digital colour and vinyl wrapping (adhesive graphics) have all emerged in recent years. So Mark has geared up to do all of this in-house, including graphic design. It’s a significant investment, but vital to maintaining a competitive edge.
It’s obviously working. On average for the last 10 years, they’re booked up with work at least a month ahead.
A Step Back To The Past
Mark was saying they have done some work on restored vehicles, for example a restored fire truck was sign-written a while ago. They love this work, it gives them a chance to break out traditional signwriting skills.
They research the period the vehicle is from and try to emulate how the vehicle would have looked back in the day. Most of this work is done by hand, using skills such as pin-striping, hand-lettering and signwriting.
Something Different
Mark and his team have the skills to come up with something different. Their graphic design skills mean they can offer their customers a range of options within a given budget.
Excite Signs are a dynamic business, professional and a pleasure to deal with.
Go here for more How-To Guides and tips.
The 8 Things You Need to Live Off-Grid
Make sure your new camper or van has these 8 essentials…
Any questions or comments? Go to the Comments below or join us on Pinterest, Facebook or YouTube.
Any errors or omissions are mine alone.
Note: We are not affiliated with Excite Signs in any way. This is an honest reflection of our experiences with this company.
Great feedback on wrapping. Does the wrap damage the paintwork underneath after being on for so long. If you took the wrap off and left it off would that area stand out from the rest of the vehicle? Cheers, Scotty
Glad it was helpful! If you leave the wrap on too long, it does start to key into the paintwork. So when you try to remove the wrap, you’ll have paint damage.
How long is “too long”? It depends on where the wrap is. Areas like bonnets and roofs will get way more direct sunlight than the flat sides of a truck. In this case, a wrap might only last 2 or 3 years before it needs to be removed.
If you get a wrap, talk to the people who do the job and get an estimate of how long they think it will last. Also, make sure they use quality wrapping systems like Avery and 3M. These have a complete system where the cleaner, adhesive, the vinyl, and the top clearcoat all work together. Cheaper products won’t last… you get what you pay for.
We didn’t see any evidence of fading between the wrapped area and non-wrapped areas. However, our truck’s white and the wrap is on the sides. I guess you could see colour differences on a roof or bonnet.
Cheers, Andrew