Just joined a 4wd club here in Port Macquarie (Australia) and spent this last sunday bush bashing along along some great forest trails. It was good fun, however up until this point I have tried to avoid tracks with excessive re-growth along the tracks to avoid scratching my new shiny JK. No chance on this trip as we hit some trails with all manner of branches and other assorted spiky protusions criss crossing the route. I can still recall the sound of branches running the entire length of the car

The damage isn't so great but we do have a nice collection of shallow scratches along some of the body panels and also on some of the plastic fenders and mirrors.

What's everyone's experience with gaining these battle scars? do you buff as you go or resign yourself to the fact that it's an off-roader and to be expected. What products are best at removing scratches? We've more or less decided leave it for 18 months or so and pay to have them professionaly removed as much as possible.

 

I show them off proudly. I expect some scratches due to offroad use. Now deeper to the metal scratches would get some touch up pain but profesional painting is way to expensive just to get scratched agian.

 

Scratches, dents, and dings are just part of the game. Wheeling is more fun if your not worry about it too much.

 

Although my 07 Rubicon has not yet got the "NW Pinstriping," I've had good experience with GS27 scratch remover on some of my previous vehicles and my jet skiis.

A tube the size of a tube of toothpaste costs around US$16 here at Wal-Mart. They now have two different types of scratch remover: Shallow and Deep.

You can tell whether you need the shallow or deep by lightly dragging your fingernail across the scratch. If it does not catch on the scratch, you need only the shallow scratch remover. You just squeeze out a dab about the size of a pencil eraser and put it over the scratch using a circular motion. Then follow up with a clean cloth and maybe some wax. It makes shallow scratches totally disappear. This comes only in one color - white. It works for all colors tho!

If you fingernail catches in the scratch, you have a deep scratch and need to purchase the GS27 Deep Scratch Remover. I had not used the deep scratch remover so not sure how to do it, but it should be just as easy! Deep scratch remover is color-coded to closely match your vehicle's color.

 

Thanks for that paulp575, I'll have to see if they stock this product at the local auto shops around here ... there is a product that I have tried called "Paint Doctor" (looks like an oversized tube of toothpaste), not sure who makes it but I got good results although if you get the light at a particular angle you can make out the rub marks against the clear coat.

 

I'm gonna go with what most of the knuckleheads have to say.

Its a "Jeep thing" deal with it. You should expect it from a jeep, all Jeeps do it.

If you don't like the scratches you shouldn't have bought a Jeep.

Doesn't matter if its new and you paid alot for it and expect a good product for your money.

Nothing personal, but that seems to be the "stock" answer around here.

 

I love driving the thing off road, it's what it was made for and no amount of scratches will deter me from doing so. It's also the second most expensive thing that I have ever purchased in my life so I intend to look after my jeep and try to keep it looking as good as possible for as long as possible. I was interested in other people's opinions and ideas when I posed my initial question. The logic of the previous post would suggest that if you do like scratches then a jeep is the car to buy. Now who actually likes scratching their new JK?? I know I don't, does this make me any less worthy to be driving one? It's a great looking car as well as an extremely capable off roader.

 

I don't think anyone here is saying that--at least not seriously. It's yours; do as you wish. Nothing at all wrong with keeping it looking nice, if that rocks your boat.

 

I haven't scratched mine up as badly as you have. But I remember when I had my CJ7 with metallic dark blue paint I used some kinda turtle wax scratch remover. I will do the same with my JK if I ever get any scratches. I've owned 3 Jeeps. My dad many more and we use them off-road. But there is no sense in scratching up a vehicle just because of its name. Its a Jeep. yeah, use it and enjoy it, but I'm with a couple of you, nothing wrong in taking care of it and keeping it looking nice. Leaving it covered in mud, debris and scratched up as "proof" you use it seems juvenile to me.

 

I agree with ccdjeep, out of the five I've owned along with 7 other 4x4's, I have tried to keep them all looking nice. but they get used, they get the scratchs, dents, and things ripped off of them (mirrors). But there is nothing wrong with trying to keep them looking nice.