Making a quiet Gladiator

[Badunit]

Give it time. With the passage of time everything gets quieter, though, paradoxically, your ears get bigger. Squeaks, wind whistling, and fan belts chirping all magically quit happening. Road noise in general becomes lower in volume. It takes a lifetime of training to accomplish this level of quietness but most of us are successful at it eventually.

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[RHRT]

This is Jeep #5 for my wife and me. Started with a 1985 CJ7 Rag-top, then upgraded it to hardtop and doors. Big difference, but still noisy enough to talk louder or turn up the CD! Then I bought a 1993 ZJ Grand Cherokee, very quiet and my friend called it the Wilderness Limo. Bought a 2004 WJ(last year with the 4.0) and it was also quiet. Wife bought a 2012 Liberty and it was not a quiet as the ZJ or WJ. Bought my current 2022 Gladiator Willys and it was similar to the Liberty but a bit noisier. Having the drag coefficient slightly better than a barn, it's a Jeep and will be always be subject to noise depending on weather and tire type. My Willys came with MTs and the road noise was awful! Switched to Goodyear Wrangler ATs and quieted down quite a bit, but became noisy about 35,000 miles on the tread. Then got the KO3s and noise was lowered a lot. We drive a lot in AZ,from/to my wife's family farm in Roll, and up to Pinetop-Lakeside to the family cabin through the years. If the wind is against or a crosswind, noise level increases making conversation difficult, especially for anyone in the back seat talking to someone in the front seat.

I didn't buy the JT for a quiet ride, I bought it for its versatility, especially for the longer wheel base making for a smoother 4X4 experience, and the truck bed. I know that everyone has a different opinion for this vehicle and I respect and learn for all on this forum, for which I am very grateful.

Now at 97,000 miles and going......except the tranny is making noises during shifts when cold. Oh well, I let all know what happens if and when it fails...........Cheers,

 

[Scotty mac]

They are relatively quiet. Well, my diesel is anyways. The diesel has more sound deadening than the gas. But They arent very loud. You can drive 80 and have a conversation without talking loud.

I agree my Eco is the quietest Jeep I ever owned

 

[S JEEPN]

Driving the Gladiator with the hard top on is the quietist ride i have ever had in a removable top jeep although the top is only on the jeep less than half the year. I do not see a reason to add sound deadeners or anything to smooth out or cover the seams since the loudest noise at highway speed comes from the tires.

 

[NC_Overland]

I’ve alway thought there’s something wrong with my top. Stuff like this reinforces it. My tires are silent. The wind is loud on the hwy.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Driving the Gladiator with the hard top on is the quietist ride i have ever had in a removable top jeep although the top is only on the jeep less than half the year. I do not see a reason to add sound deadeners or anything to smooth out or cover the seams since the loudest noise at highway speed comes from the tires.

This is the exact reason for adding sound deadener. The deadener reduces the vibrations (sound) from the tires traveling through the tub of the Jeep.

 

[S JEEPN]

This is the exact reason for adding sound deadener. The deadener reduces the vibrations (sound) from the tires traveling through the tub of the Jeep.

The gladiator does not make enough noise for me to worry about it even on MTs. but if sound is a priority Hot heads makes sound assassin sound deadening kits for Gladiators to do the floor areas at a decent price probably comparable to buying the deadening material and having to fit it. A set of Michelin or similar ATs that are more highway oriented would be quieter if sound is more of a priority than aggressive looks, hardcore trail or mud operation.

 

[NorthernVandal]

I lined my tops with 120mm sound mat and then installed the Covering top liners. Cadillac quiet for me.

 

[Guns_N_Rosaries]

Around town isn't too bad, and thankfully where I do most of my driving. The highway is awful though. I've found that the cheapest and best thing is to spend $200 or so on some noise cancelling earbuds. I have some apple ones, and anytime I'm on the highway, I pop them in and throw on a podcast/audiobook/music, and turn on the noise canceling.

 

[LOSTSOS]

Another vote for CoverKing and Killmat. Fun project with immediate results.

 

[AstroZombie]

Mine is ok and doesn't bother me. When I had the Borla muffler and resonator delete on it though it was unbearable for the passengers. Foot down it was awesome and not really an issue but cruising was teh sweet spot for the drone so i was lucky enough to find a stock take off i just bolted back in.

 

[AstroZombie]

volume level 19 really quiets thing down.

 

[NC_Overland]

19? There’s definitely something wrong with my top. The wind is so loud on the hwy 19 isn’t very loud with the alpine system. Of course the dealership blew me off multiple times and it’s way out of warranty now.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

The gladiator does not make enough noise for me to worry about it even on MTs. but if sound is a priority Hot heads makes sound assassin sound deadening kits for Gladiators to do the floor areas at a decent price probably comparable to buying the deadening material and having to fit it. A set of Michelin or similar ATs that are more highway oriented would be quieter if sound is more of a priority than aggressive looks, hardcore trail or mud operation.

I actually like the noise. Guess I’m weird. I am part way through deadening the tops. Second Skin B-Stock with melamine foam and Coverking over it. I don’t mind the growl of MTs.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

19? There’s definitely something wrong with my top. The wind is so loud on the hwy 19 isn’t very loud with the alpine system. Of course the dealership blew me off multiple times and it’s way out of warranty now.

If you can’t hear the Alpine system at 19, windows up and cruising then yeah might need to do some silicone sealing around the windows and Vaseline the tops I keep it at 15-16 when kids are in the Jeep and can hear it as background noise. 17-18 is plenty loud even for something like Johnny Cash “Ragged Old Flag”. Windows open i’m up at 25 or so because I’m an asshat.

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