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10-07-2019, 11:07 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
2020 Atlas
New Bern
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 18
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Atlas Owners? or Anyone with Atlas knowledge
Anybody out there own an Atlas? We are wondering how to remove scratches from a tree branch that hit the top, side and the right window. We tried some wax that says removes scratches, but only helped a little.
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10-07-2019, 11:30 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
2012 25' FB International
Trent Woods
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3,120
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I am only jumping in here because I own an Airstream also in New Bern. From what I can see about the Atlas, it has metallic paint. But whether it is fiberglass or metal, painted, you have no doubt scratched the clearcoat and maybe the paint. Treat that as if it were a scratched car. If the clearcoat scratch is not too deep there are some products that will buff it out; if it is deeper then you may have to fill and blend more clearcoat. If you scratched the paint underneath then you need a paint scratch repair kit for the specific paint. I think many of us have simply endured tree scratches as a badge of use, especially after the first one....
Larry
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10-07-2019, 01:25 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master 

2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 17,335
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You can buy little clear coat pens that do an amazing job on scratches.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
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10-08-2019, 06:07 AM
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#4
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1 Rivet Member 
2020 Atlas
New Bern
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 18
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Thank you. Now you are sounding like my husband. I understand scratches, but it hurts to get the first "set" of scratches.
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10-08-2019, 06:08 AM
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#5
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1 Rivet Member 
2020 Atlas
New Bern
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 18
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Thank you. We will try anything!
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11-07-2019, 07:55 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master 
2014 19' International
2014 Interstate Ext. Coach
Cedar Rapids
, Iowa
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 526
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Go to a body shop, they buff their own issues out all the time. Probably charge you a hundred or two to fix it up for you. There are specialized mixed paint in what amounts to fingernail polish bottles even. We sell it in our store. Shouldn't be a problem for them if you don't want to go it alone. There's buffing compound and polish available at most real auto parts stores and you can use them yourself, but I personally wouldn't want to learn how on my high dollar vehicle. Easily fixed by experts.
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11-08-2019, 04:23 AM
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#7
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1 Rivet Member 
2020 Atlas
New Bern
, North Carolina
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 18
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Thank you for your advice. It is not that noticeable, except to us when we wash it. We used some wax that we had on hand and it didn't do a lot of good. We will probably go to the auto store and buy some better compound and polish and try that the next time we wash it.
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11-09-2019, 05:59 AM
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#8
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4 Rivet Member 
2020 27' Globetrotter
2019 Interstate Lounge Ext
Jackson Hole - Tetons
, Wyoming
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 392
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Quote:
Originally Posted by foleyx4
Thank you for your advice. It is not that noticeable, except to us when we wash it. We used some wax that we had on hand and it didn't do a lot of good. We will probably go to the auto store and buy some better compound and polish and try that the next time we wash it.
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Why?
If you have a laceration on your forehead, would you use a needle and thread instead of seeking a trained plastics professional?
Is there a badge of honor for “learning” on your $200k vehicle?
What’s to be gained by trying to fix it yourself? What’s to be lost?
Strategy:
Will you get polishing compound or rubbing compound?
Will you apply from the can, or will you dilute the substance?
How hard will you press down?
Will you rub in-line of the scratches or in a clockwise circular motion?
Or should you rub counterclockwise?
Will you buy or rent a buffing wheel?
How many layers of clear coat will you go through? Is that good or bad?
Can you blend the clear coat and achieve a uniform appearance or will the area you’ve scratched and rubbed look flat in appearance?
Are there more products to try after that?
How large will the area expand to outside of the scratches?
After you’ve “learned” on your new $200k vehicle, I promise you’ll be visiting a body shop, and the invoice will be a lot more than $100-$200.
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11-09-2019, 10:31 AM
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#9
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4 Rivet Member 
2020 27' Globetrotter
2019 Interstate Lounge Ext
Jackson Hole - Tetons
, Wyoming
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 392
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottP
Why?
If you have a laceration on your forehead, would you use a needle and thread instead of seeking a trained plastics professional?
Is there a badge of honor for “learning” on your $200k vehicle?
What’s to be gained by trying to fix it yourself? What’s to be lost?
Strategy:
Will you get polishing compound or rubbing compound?
Will you apply from the can, or will you dilute the substance?
How hard will you press down?
Will you rub in-line of the scratches or in a clockwise circular motion?
Or should you rub counterclockwise?
Will you buy or rent a buffing wheel?
How many layers of clear coat will you go through? Is that good or bad?
Can you blend the clear coat and achieve a uniform appearance or will the area you’ve scratched and rubbed look flat in appearance?
Are there more products to try after that?
How large will the area expand to outside of the scratches?
After you’ve “learned” on your new $200k vehicle, I promise you’ll be visiting a body shop, and the invoice will be a lot more than $100-$200.
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Ok - I apologize if that sounded grumpy.
Not my intent.
Let’s just apply a bit of common sense and a measurement of Risk vs Reward
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11-09-2019, 04:29 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master 
2014 19' International
2014 Interstate Ext. Coach
Cedar Rapids
, Iowa
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 526
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Not to come back in, but if I sounded grumpy from my first sentence, I apologize also. I think I missed a word or two that would have softened my comment.
Seriously, a body shop would not flinch at that. I owned one with my ex and stil sell paint to them being in the automotive aftermarket business. They could fix you up in about 20 minutes or less. They buff out scratches and paint gobs even on their own paint jobs all the time. Do not fret! But your choice by far!
If it makes you feel better, we put our coach in storage for less than a week at one of our stores, and had to take it in for an EGR valve to the shop. It was out of our hands for less than a week as I said, and it has a pretty big scarf on the back corner and in the bumper that I'll have to take in to get fixed. I'm not pleased at all, it barely has a scratch in it, well, until now. I know every little paint chip on my baby...
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01-20-2020, 02:42 PM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member 
2020 Atlas
Cleveland
, Georgia
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 60
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AS/Merceds Atlas Hints Welcome
Hi all,
Glad I ran across the Atlas Forum. We're new Atlas owners so we'll appreciate any advice or hints. Anybody out there towing a vehicle with their Atlas? We're thinking about buying a dolly and towing our Prius. What do you think?
Thanks, Krikati
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09-08-2021, 06:59 AM
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#12
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New Member
2001 34' Excella
2020 Atlas
Jacksonville
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 2
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Towing
I have a 2020 Atlas and flat tow my Jeep Liberty with no issues, plenty of power.
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01-12-2022, 08:41 PM
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#13
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1 Rivet Member 
Airstream - Other
Topping
, Virginia
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 11
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What is best after market tire pressure monitoring for Atlas?
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06-08-2022, 11:27 AM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member 
Bellevue
, Washington
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 20
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Try TST TPMS sensors. Not cheap, but work real well.
https://tsttpms.com/
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06-08-2022, 11:30 AM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member 
Bellevue
, Washington
Join Date: Mar 2020
Posts: 20
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FoleyX4, how deep is the scratch? Does it only penetrate the clear coat? i.e. you can see scratch but it's still silver, or does it penetrate all the way through the paint so the scratch is visibly a different color? can you post a picture?
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06-08-2022, 02:03 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master 
1988 32' Excella
Robbinsville
, New Jersey
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,142
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Krikati
Hi all,
Glad I ran across the Atlas Forum. We're new Atlas owners so we'll appreciate any advice or hints. Anybody out there towing a vehicle with their Atlas? We're thinking about buying a dolly and towing our Prius. What do you think?
Thanks, Krikati
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Some roads it isn't legal to use a dolly, NJ Turnpike is one that I know of.
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