Making a quieter truck, where to start?

[HooliganActual]

Mine is pretty quiet.

If this was in response to my post about the lightbar, I only called it out because he already said it was very noisy.

If it wasn't, please disregard...

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[jcarbs]

I did the Coverking topliner and it made a big difference on noise. A side benefit was that it helped with temperature variation in the cab. Here's the link - https://coverking.com/products/topliner?variant=42021629493410

 

[Alpine Warthog]

So I'll make a suggestion here and hope to avoid the rain of hate and discontent by what I'm about to say...

Remove your light bar.

That is going to be one of the biggest contributors to wind noise in the cabin. If you don't "need" it for the trip you are about to take, remove it for the trip: it will cost you nothing but your time and will be better bang for your buck than anything else you do.

I don't know if you are one of those "Lights Before Lockers!" guys but I can honestly say that I have been wheeling for 40+ years in nothing but Jeeps and have never "needed" a light bar. I currently have 2 JKUR's and a JTR and only the 2016 has a 10" light bar above the Winch Fairlead and I never use it. If your upcoming trip is all highway, it's illegal to use it on most public roads. And if you are going to a wheeling destination, ask yourself if you will be wheeling at night.

I was actually thinking that very thing. I'm going to do the windshield weatherstipping. And to do that I've got to take the light bar off just to get the windshield down.

Whats the lightbar for? It looks cool. Aint gonna sugar coat that. It's 80% looks and cool factor. 20% function, I've used it twice in the year its been on the truck, I'd use it more but PA makes me keep stupid blacked out covers on it; so that drives down usage as well. SO it's highly likely I take the bar off and tuck the wiring under the cowl for the trip. May not even re-install it. I'm not a lights before lockers guy per se, I just happened to put those on first because the install was easier and took less time. I had to wait a year before I finally had time to lift it and I've only just now put 35s on. Now summer is over and Winter is staring me down. I'm going to run the 35s till replacement time and then regear and add some limited slips at that point to push the new 37s. For serious(er) wheeling I've got my 98 XJ on 35s with 4.56s and lockers. SO building the JT isn't a rush. I'm one of those guys that needs to always be doing something to the jeep. I'd never be happy buying a pre-built rig. if that happened I'd end up covering it in pennies or ridiculous autozone stickers like some 16 year old with their first car........

 

[HooliganActual]

I was actually thinking that very thing. I'm going to do the windshield weatherstipping. And to do that I've got to take the light bar off just to get the windshield down.

Whats the lightbar for? It looks cool. Aint gonna sugar coat that. It's 80% looks and cool factor. 20% function, I've used it twice in the year its been on the truck, I'd use it more but PA makes me keep stupid blacked out covers on it; so that drives down usage as well. SO it's highly likely I take the bar off and tuck the wiring under the cowl for the trip. May not even re-install it. I'm not a lights before lockers guy per se, I just happened to put those on first because the install was easier and took less time. I had to wait a year before I finally had time to lift it and I've only just now put 35s on. Now summer is over and Winter is staring me down. I'm going to run the 35s till replacement time and then regear and add some limited slips at that point to push the new 37s. For serious(er) wheeling I've got my 98 XJ on 35s with 4.56s and lockers. SO building the JT isn't a rush. I'm one of those guys that needs to always be doing something to the jeep. I'd never be happy buying a pre-built rig. if that happened I'd end up covering it in pennies or ridiculous autozone stickers like some 16 year old with their first car........

Roger all of that. And so that you know, as well as anyone who may take offense at my "Anti-Lightbar Stance", I'm not against them; I just find that they create more issues like wind noise and MPG drag when they are up top and don't seem to throw any more light than a good set of LED headlamps.

As far as extra lighting goes, I've found more value in adding ditch lights, side/scene lights, rock lights because those are places that the Jeep didn't already have lighting solutions...I mean it came with a few forward facing lights already, lol.

Now more to your question about quieting down the cabin, here's a list of things that can be done:
1) Remove things that create wind noise, i.e. light bars, roof racks, etc. Sometimes things can be done to minimize their noise without removal. But if you want zero noise from them, remove them.
2) As has already been mentioned, there are some foam adds that can be done under and along the window frame.
3) Insulation at the cowl/windshield frame as in this post:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/wind-noise-reduced-70.67591/post-1111929
4) You can put the sound mat in the doors. I was going to do this with the leftovers from doing my hardtop but after I started watching Youtube videos on how to get the doors apart to a point where that can be done, I decided the juice wasn't worth the squeeze.
5) I believe you already said you had headliners, but consider going full coverage. I covered everything white (basically) in my hard top and then added the CoverKing Headliner

Others in this thread have suggested this as well. I know you probably don't have time for this before the trip, but I'm sure this won't be your last road trip; so make plans to do it after you get back. My decibel meter was acting wonky when I did mine, but another guy on here that did the same to his interior around the time I did, tested at around a 6dB drop after installation. While it's far from scientific, I do notice that my radio volume is 25%-30% lower now when I am on the highway.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Taking my light bar off right now, matter of fact. I'm also looking at placing something in the cowl area too

 

[River2016]

You know, I tried to figure out ways to make the inside quieter when I was on the highway during a long drive. The noise isn't bad around town, or if I'm hopping on the interstate for half an hour or less, but it definitely would get to me anything over that. I looked at a lot of options, and I realized that the easiest and cheapest way I could do it is to just use a pair of wireless earbuds with noise cancelling. It's worked great honestly, and a decent, comfortable pair is way cheaper and easier than going through with buying and installing all the sound deadening materials.

That’s exactly what I do on road trips!!

 

[Lunentucker]

If this was in response to my post about the lightbar, I only called it out because he already said it was very noisy.

If it wasn't, please disregard...

Disregarded

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

Has anyone looked into buying the foam pieces they started adding to the windshield frame in the 2024 models? I feel like this would make a pretty big difference since the upper windshield frame is responsible for the most wind buffeting.

Anyone with a 2024 JL/JT notice any difference?

Can you post a photo of this??

 

[Sweetums]

Choose your own adventure: smartass edition -

1) Trade it for a truck that's shaped like a used bar of soap.
2a) Remove the top and doors, drive it for a week. When you reinstall them the truck will sound much quieter.
2b) Buy a TJ, strip the carpets out so it's like driving a metal drum, put on aggressive mud terrain 35"s, remove the doors, break the exhaust on a rock. The JT will sound civilized by comparison. Drive thru TJ once a week to keep reminding yourself. (This is my current solution.)
3) Install a louder stereo.
4) Ear plugs.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

30's and 5.89s.

edit... oops. I read quicker truck. Well I will let this idea stand bc it would be wild.

 

[seven30]

You know, I tried to figure out ways to make the inside quieter when I was on the highway during a long drive. The noise isn't bad around town, or if I'm hopping on the interstate for half an hour or less, but it definitely would get to me anything over that. I looked at a lot of options, and I realized that the easiest and cheapest way I could do it is to just use a pair of wireless earbuds with noise cancelling. It's worked great honestly, and a decent, comfortable pair is way cheaper and easier than going through with buying and installing all the sound deadening materials.

Just don't forget your wearing them if you get pulled over.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

Choose your own adventure: smartass edition -

1) Trade it for a truck that's shaped like a used bar of soap.
2a) Remove the top and doors, drive it for a week. When you reinstall them the truck will sound much quieter.
2b) Buy a TJ, strip the carpets out so it's like driving a metal drum, put on aggressive mud terrain 35"s, remove the doors, break the exhaust on a rock. The JT will sound civilized by comparison. Drive thru TJ once a week to keep reminding yourself. (This is my current solution.)
3) Install a louder stereo.
4) Ear plugs.

LOL, My XJ is on 35" Goodyear MT/Rs. The original MT/Rs mind you. They aren't Boggers but certainly up there on the noise level!

 

[Great Offender]

I did the Coverking topliner

How'd you make that happen? I used 3 different browsers and I can never get past "Add to Cart" as this has NO effect. I was just curious about the pricing but it appears that it will stay a mystery.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

How'd you make that happen? I used 3 different browsers and I can never get past "Add to Cart" as this has NO effect. I was just curious about the pricing but it appears that it will stay a mystery.

Even though there is only one color option, you still have to choose it. So click on the color option and it'll light up the add to cart button.. The website is pretty stupid for doing it that way.......

 

[raypla]

Second Skin makes a bunch of good products. Similar to Dynamat, made in the USA. I noticed a significant difference in reduction in noise when I made my own headliners. I also added some strips of damping I’m various locations on the top. I was able to get a big chunk on the space behind rear door, before the bed. See attached.

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