New Atlas

[LilPeanut]

Just bought a new Atlas. Pick it up in 2 weeks at the dealer. Did a mini walkthrough already. Advice on issues to focus on that I will need to know down the road (how tos) or spare parts to start with? It is a different animal than our Classic.

[OTRA15]

Sorry . . . but you asked . . . good luck.

Suggest another very detailed walk-through, arranged in advance, which you videotape, with the dealer's and salesperson's explicit permission IMO. I would email them a list/agenda ahead of time, and ask that they check/verify your entire list as "working OK" before you even leave home.

Seem like a great design, with many unpredictable problems arising after delivery . . . and often being overwhelming, it appears. [IMO]

Forewarned is forearmed IMO.

Peter

https://www.google.com/search?q=Airs...=airforums.com
A recent thread: "My Airstream Atlas Nightmare" -- https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...re-215816.html


IMO
FYI
FWIW

[Titus]

If the unit has been sitting on the lot for any length of time I would wonder about the coach batteries. Dealers are notorious for not knowing how to maintain them, and causing their demise. They may seem OK when you pick it up, but then quickly lose their charge. There is a way to test their capacity, but that involves a lengthy draw-down test at a fixed load. Best bet might be to have them sway them out for new ones.

If you fail in this attempt and later find them ruined, Lifeline gas been good about selling you new ones at cost, in recognition of poor treatment by the selling dealer.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Assuming that the dealer us OODM, I would not worry a lot about the batteries. Even if it's not them, I doubt the van left the factory very long ago. RV's don't sit on the lot very long these days

With any dealer / any RV, make a list of all the gizmos on it. Have them show you how each one works. Go thorough the questions that brings up as soon as they are done with that device. Once your questions are answered, cross it off the list.

Assuming you are close, go over a couple of times and look at this / look at that. Ask questions about what does not make sense. The electrical system on a van is a bit different than on your Classic. The control system looks the same, but there are differences. Slides and the flop down bed are way different than the Classic.

Understand how you deal with a flat tire on a dually with aluminum wheels. Also understand the (lack) of a spare on the vehicle. ( Keep that AAA or Coach Net card up to date ....). A tire plug kit and compressor is something folks seem to bring along.

Part of the beast is in AS territory. Part of it is in MB. A few things are in disputed territory. Work out what the nearest (and second nearest) MB Sprinter dealer is. Go over with your dealer what they think is in each territory.

Think about anything you might want them to do before you pick up the Van. There are lots of threads here about stuff folks have had done.

As with any new RV, spend the first night at the dealer if you can. You will have questions. You might have a fixit list. Past that, short trips and careful planning is a good idea at first.

Get out and have some fun !!!!

Bob

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Sorry . . . but you asked . . . good luck.

Suggest another very detailed walk-through, arranged in advance, which you videotape, with the dealer's and salesperson's explicit permission IMO. I would email them a list/agenda ahead of time, and ask that they check/verify your entire list as "working OK" before you even leave home.

Seem like a great design, with many unpredictable problems arising after delivery . . . and often being overwhelming, it appears. [IMO]

Forewarned is forearmed IMO.

Peter

https://www.google.com/search?q=Airs...=airforums.com
A recent thread: "My Airstream Atlas Nightmare" -- https://www.airforums.com/forums/f44...re-215816.html


IMO
FYI
FWIW

Asking them to check things out ahead of time is a waste of time. Until you see every feature working properly, right in front of you while you watch it work, there's no way you should trust a dealer who says, "Oh yeah, we checked everything out and it all worked fine, sign here, see you later."

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Asking them to check things out ahead of time is a waste of time.
. . .

Disagree.

Asking in advance, clearly, and in writing helps at times IMO.

Shoud they just go again, without asking about specific items, based on all the details in those Google search results in Post #2?

BTW did you even open that Google link, and also read the "Atlas Nightmare" thread?



Peter

[LilPeanut]

Thanks guys. It is indeed a different beast. I know our Classic backwards and forwards electrically and other systems. 1000w solar, 600ah lithium, gadgets, some interior mods. We waited a year before doing anything.

Atlas is just different. Sheds loads vs supplements from batteries. Generator. Macerator vs gravity. But we can go places a 30 Classic just won’t go. There is precious little stuff on the atlas, probably due to how few there are. Mostly complaints. But I don’t think it was designed to be broken, so I feel confident. However it is an ecosystem so swapping one part (like increasing the inverter size) looks like it could have different consequences than in a Classic. It will take me at least a year to feel confident enough to really understand how it all works together.

As an aside, it is really a 2022. Got it at the Int’l Rally in Lebanon. An AS employee drove it here to show and the DW snatched it up. No significant changes from the 2021. Will pick it up from Lazy Daze in Knoxville in a couple of weeks after we go to Wisconsin for the Lumberjack Championships.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The Atlas has had a very start / stop / start /stop build history. The "old" plant setup really didn't have enough space to get them going in volume. ( at least that's the story told ...). They do have some advantages in terms of internal size compared to the Interstates. We looked at one when they first came out ( Hershey RV show if that matters).

We hit the same "Classic can't go everywhere" wall. Our decision was an Interstate X. We'll see how that goes ... eventually .

The "can't go here" part was not a surprise. We've spent the last 40 years looking at this road and that / this site and making comments about what you can and can't get there with. There are still folks we've seen here or there and wonder "did they ever make it out?".

Bob

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Disagree.

Asking in advance, clearly, and in writing helps at times IMO.

Shoud they just go again, without asking about specific items, based on all the details in those Google search results in Post #2?

BTW did you even open that Google link, and also read the "Atlas Nightmare" thread?



Peter

We clearly disagree. That’s fine.

Ending every single thing you write with an “IMO” doesn’t add any more authority to your opinion. Suggesting I have no idea what I’m talking about doesn’t make you an authority either.

We all know it’s your opinion, because you posted it. Typing “IMO” in addition to simply posting your opinion is also a waste of time. Have fun. You know, IMO. , etc.

[Zach05855]

Lilpeanut.

People tend to come onto forums to complain, few come on the praise.

My ownership has been positive, some small issues that the dealer promptly tends to. We are getting ready to hit the road again for another 17 day 5000 mile trip. So far in year one ownership we have spent around 40 days on the road and 14,000 miles

My recommendation is to use the video from the DFW dealer before you go to pickup your MH and memorize the manual. My experience from my delivery was disappointing when I found myself correcting the "Delivery Specialist" with his wrong information.

https://youtu.be/4WmT_HjxUAg



I would suggest you join the Atlas Facebook group where you will find plenty of constructive information and great ideas on ways to add some accessories.



Enjoy your new Atlas....We love ours....so just get out there and experience it and make notes or any issues that come up and have a preset appointment with the dealer to bring it back for adjustments or corrections if any.

[WA_Airstream]

We picked up our Atlas in November of this last year and just got back from a 2 week trip to South Dakota and Wyoming.

We changed from a Classic 33 to the Atlas and love the ability for us to camp at more PNW state and local parks.

The quality on our unit was great - some small items but nothing major.

We took ours on an early 3 day trip and made a short list that was taken care of by our dealer. I do not think you really find many problems until you take it out for a couple of nights. We also put ours in the driveway and got a sense of the battery life with the heater on during the evening, etc….

Enjoy the experience and the Atlas - we love ours!

[Hawk-ination]

Ran into the pushback when we first had an issue with our Interstate. Just know the members stating most of the comments are just trying to help not criticize. A couple I know from chatting on this forum are Interstate owners and probably read through enough posts to see a consistent theme. We all want you to love your Atlas, there’s just enough out there to say buyer beware, so good advice is look it over throughly and read about what you should keep an eye on.

I’d say they are not trying to burst your bubble. Probably, most of us have run into issues we’ve had to resolve or fix. We personally purchased a used Interstate, but there’s things that seem like they should have worked from the factory better or correctly, and I’d bet were not caused by previous owners.

There’s plenty of posts out there from reduced life spans of batteries, and some right off the start. Good to have them tested at a place like an Interstate battery store, and make sure they are in tip top shape. We sell AGM batteries and even I didn’t know how they can be damaged by letting the charge go beyond the 50 percent point. It can easily be done, especially at a dealer that has tons of trailers and RVs to keep track of. Assuming your rig didn’t sit on the lot for long and/or your batteries are up to snuff is chancing your lifeline for the next few years (the life of those batteries) won’t take you as long as you need to go, or might fail way sooner than they should.

Our MB dealer damaged our set of batteries having stated they’d shut off our house batteries and didn’t. It took one day for them to drain beyond the point of being damaged. Easily could happen at a RV dealer. Just good to have them tested and if they aren’t up to snuff, you can talk about it now rather than having to take care of it later and out of your own pocket.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Battery issues are a common complaint about every RV out there from every manufacturer on the planet. They are hardly Atlas specific .... That said, without the frequent posts about having problems, folks really would have no idea how to manage a 12V battery power system. It's simply not anything you run into in "normal life" ( unless you have a boat or an RV ..). There is a very normal assumption that this or that "just works". Battery power takes more than a little TLC to keep things going.

So yes, you do see comments. Yes, you should see comments. You very much should understand what is being said, you will get in trouble if you don't. No, they are hardly unique to an Atlas (or any other model out there ....).

Bob

[Hawk-ination]

I think the message some are trying to get across is that your batteries can be damaged prior to your obtaining your RV, whether it Airstream, Interstate, Atlas, or whatever make or model it is. New or used.

If they can be tested around the time of obtaining a new to you RV, that’s a plus because it can be a real bummer to have issues at a later date or even around the time of becoming an owner because someone didn’t know enough to plug your RV in before your batteries depleted to less than 50 percent charge in case of AGM house batteries.

If anything, new owners should know there is nothing to shut down your batteries if they are AGMs prior to the point they are damaged or become toast so it’s something to be mindful of. It can happen on a lot, or even from owners, and as an example, who assume their solar will power their batteries enough to keep them charged but don’t understand their RV has a parasitic draw that might deplete their batteries faster than a charge from solar.

As far as reading into anything else, I defer to the other discussion as this is the only point I am making. Also speaking from experience, and I think Titus makes a good point on something new owners might not think about right off the bat.

Toured a few of the Atlas models at the RV shows and they are a neat design. Safe travels and hope you enjoy your new Atlas!

[foleyx4]

Originally Posted by LilPeanut

Just bought a new Atlas. Pick it up in 2 weeks at the dealer. Did a mini walkthrough already. Advice on issues to focus on that I will need to know down the road (how tos) or spare parts to start with? It is a different animal than our Classic.

Hi, welcome to the Atlas Club. There is an Airstream Atlas FB page that talks about every issue you can think of. Not only do you hear about the issues, there are some solutions to those issues as well.

[Jerrysimpson]

Consider getting a we boost cell phone booster and try the truma water heater on electricity and propane to make sure it works.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Jerrysimpson

Consider getting a we boost cell phone booster and try the truma water heater on electricity and propane to make sure it works.

Hi

The WeBoost gizmo involves mounting an antenna on the roof. There is one up there for the Airstream Connect stuff. It's not clear that one will work with the Weboost ( it should, but who knows ....). It's also not clear you want to dedicate it to the WeBoost. So, a decision inside a decision

If you put up a second antenna, it needs to be spaced well away from the existing one ......

This is not to say the WeBoost is a bad idea, it's a *very* useful thing to have.

Bob

[LilPeanut]

Ok, we picked it up yesterday. Spent about 8 hours on our walkthrough and lunch but had a walkthrough of technical things from Jim at Lebanon rally. Spent a lot of time underneath. Opened locked compartments without keys, checked connections and bolts, saw everything that could need to be replaced or manually operated. Did the electrical walkthrough with the panel next to the door exposed and tested wire connections on the 120 side. Looked behind walls and between body and rear wall for loose items.

We swapped out the thetford plastic toilet for a domestic 320 (elongated bowl) and added the AS connect router.

Will go by Cummins today for spare fuel and air filters. Got key blanks. If I could add one thing, it would be auto levelers. The genset compensates for a lot of electric issues compared to a TT.

I would also say this is not what people should buy as a first camper. I can take apart and rewire our 2019 classic 30 (that now has 1000w of solar, Victron 3000w inverter, color GX, multi switch, we boost, directional antenna, dc to dc charger, etc.) and my 2018 F250. This is just different than the TV/TT combo electrically in how it manages power demands.

I will add a soft start. I have a Weboost in our Classic and it adds marginal benefit occasionally. I will also move our max transit back and forth between rigs that has our 3 main data plans (other than the AS connect plan which ONLY runs the trailer to phone connection). 4 plans is enough, don’t want to duplicate plans because I have 2 rigs.

I will also say it is much better insulated on the sides than the classic but less so underneath. I think the design is good. I like the shower, much larger than the classic and I like the curved shower doors. The ride is smooth, not as much need to stow things like the classic.

Need to buy a cat box and some phone chargers today.

[foleyx4]

Originally Posted by LilPeanut

Ok, we picked it up yesterday. Spent about 8 hours on our walkthrough and lunch but had a walkthrough of technical things from Jim at Lebanon rally. Spent a lot of time underneath. Opened locked compartments without keys, checked connections and bolts, saw everything that could need to be replaced or manually operated. Did the electrical walkthrough with the panel next to the door exposed and tested wire connections on the 120 side. Looked behind walls and between body and rear wall for loose items.

We swapped out the thetford plastic toilet for a domestic 320 (elongated bowl) and added the AS connect router.

Will go by Cummins today for spare fuel and air filters. Got key blanks. If I could add one thing, it would be auto levelers. The genset compensates for a lot of electric issues compared to a TT.

I would also say this is not what people should buy as a first camper. I can take apart and rewire our 2019 classic 30 (that now has 1000w of solar, Victron 3000w inverter, color GX, multi switch, we boost, directional antenna, dc to dc charger, etc.) and my 2018 F250. This is just different than the TV/TT combo electrically in how it manages power demands.

I will add a soft start. I have a Weboost in our Classic and it adds marginal benefit occasionally. I will also move our max transit back and forth between rigs that has our 3 main data plans (other than the AS connect plan which ONLY runs the trailer to phone connection). 4 plans is enough, don’t want to duplicate plans because I have 2 rigs.

I will also say it is much better insulated on the sides than the classic but less so underneath. I think the design is good. I like the shower, much larger than the classic and I like the curved shower doors. The ride is smooth, not as much need to stow things like the classic.

Need to buy a cat box and some phone chargers today.

Congratulations! We love our 2020 TB, but I don't have to tell you it is not without issues. Enjoy!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Sounds great !! Get out and do some camping.

I think that even with the generator ( which is very much a plus ), I'd put something like a BMV 712 on the house batteries. There's just to much going on to keep track of it all.

Bob