Do you experience incessant noise from your RV engine, and you want to totally eliminate it? If yes, you have come to the right place. I’ll show you how…
But first, you’ve got to understand that recreational vehicles (RVs) can be a very suitable solution for long-distance travel. It gives you enough flexibility so you don’t need a specific schedule when traveling.
It’s like you are traveling in your house when in an RV. You don’t even need to book a hotel room when planning a trip. The benefits of using an RV are endless considering also the amount of space that you get in an RV.
However, there are some downsides. Most RV engines make a lot of noise and transmit a lot of heat. This would not be a problem in a normal vehicle since there is enough insulation from the engine heat and noise. However, in many RVs, the engine is positioned right next to the driver’s seat.
This means that the driver and his passengers are exposed to the noise and heat from the engine. The noise can be tiring and it can make communication difficult, in most cases.
The solution is to soundproof the engine. Most soundproofing methods double up as heat insulators so you will be killing two birds with one stone.
Methods of Soundproofing
These methods will take a ride in your RV sound like a ride in an electric car.
1. Foam Shields
This is a material made specifically for soundproofing engines. It is made from a special foam and material that ensures that your engine is fully soundproof.
Prices range according to the manufacturer but you can get them online at a good price. Since there are many types of foam shields you should probably begin by checking out their user reviews on the internet.
The user reviews can help you identify the best brands in the market. However, most foam shields work well and are not very expensive.
2. Installation
Foam Shields are generally very easy to install. You won’t be needing a user manual to install a foam shield. All you need to do is to cover the engine cover area with the Foam shield. The foam shield becomes your guard against engine noise.
You don’t need to buy glue to install the shield. It comes with an adhesive side that will stick to any surface any type of surface that covers your engine. In some RVs, you might need to remove the engine cover so that you can fully cover the engine.
RV engine covers are not difficult to remove and once removed cover only the top part of it. For better results, you should also cover the area around the engine area. This helps in covering any areas that you might still let the sound through.
Remember that you shouldn’t install the shield on the underside of the engine cover. The engine heat will destroy the shield. The heat can also cause it to ignite leading to a fire.
You should also make sure that you cover all areas that the sound can pass through. Sound can pass through the tiniest of cracks. You should ensure that the shield covers the entire engine block area. You can even put a double layer of the shield if you find that you have any leftovers.
3. Additional benefits
Foam shields will also give you cover from the engine heat. In this case, you should cover the engine cover and most of the front part of the RV.
Furthermore, foam shields can become an additional styling feature in your RV. Some foam shields have printed patterns that can add some style to your RV. These shields can also save some money since you won’t need to carpet your RV if the foam presents a viable styling option.
4. Reflective insulation
Most people assume that reflective insulation works only as a heat insulator. They lack the thickness that one gets from foam and this leads many to question their effectiveness as sound insulators.
However, user reviews tell a different story. Many users talk of the surprise that they got when they found out that reflective insulation can work for sound insulation as well.
Reflective insulators can be bought at an affordable price on the internet. You can also find reviews as to the best one to use for your specific RV.
5. Installation
The mode of installation is the same as installing the foam shields. Reflective insulation also comes with an adhesive side.
You don’t need glue to stick it to the surface of your RV. You should ensure that you cover all areas of the RV engine area so as to effectively insulate against sound.
You should also remove the engine cover of your RV and cover it separately. This will ensure that you do a thorough job of covering all areas of the cover.
As is the with foam shields, ensure that you do not cover the part of the engine cover that faces the engine. This helps to avoid damaging the reflective insulation or maybe causing a fire. For effective proofing, you can put double layers in areas where there are cracks that can allow sound to go through.
Additional benefits:
As stated above, reflective insulation is a heat insulation method. Reflective insulation protects one from roughly 98% of the heat coming from the engine. With such insulation, you can enjoy an engine sound and heat-free environment.
A slight disadvantage may be that heat insulation is not attractive.
It doesn’t come with stylish patterns like the ones that you can get with foam shields. You might have to cover the insulation with additional carpeting for you to get a better look at your RV.
Things to Consider Before Soundproofing an RV Engine
i). Surface: The surface on which you are going to attach the soundproofing material is very important. You should try as much as possible to clean the area that will come into contact with the soundproofing material.
After cleaning, you can give the area a light sanding so that it becomes as smooth as possible before soundproofing. This will ensure that the material adheres completely to the floor surface. This will ensure that the soundproofing is efficient and that it lasts longer before you have to replace it.
ii). Material and Warranty: As stated above, it isn’t advisable to place soundproofing material on the side of the engine cover facing the engine. This is because the material can get destroyed by the heat.
This means that you can’t claim a warranty for this material. However, there are some manufacturers that offer a warranty even when you cover the engine side of the engine cover. It is, therefore, important that you ask first before making such a decision.
Benefits of Soundproofing an RV Engine
1. Better Communication:
RV engines have to move around a lot of weight since RVs are quite heavy. At times the engine sound can be bearable but wait until you get to an incline and you need more power from the engine.
When the engine is at full tilt, the noise can become unbearable. This makes communication very difficult at this time. With all the noise, you might find that you need to yell to get your message across to the people you traveling with.
Moreover, it becomes difficult to have a conversation with somebody. This can make your journey very boring. It is, therefore, essential that you soundproof your engine for more enjoyable travels.
2. Heat insulation:
As seen above, most soundproofing materials double up as heat insulation materials. RV engines can produce a lot of heat, especially on long journeys.
This heat, in turn, gets transmitted to the floors and the RV can become very hot. This can cause a very uncomfortable journey, especially if you are already traveling in hot air conditions. If you desire to keep cool in your RV, engine soundproofing is what you need.
3. Styling
Your RV is really your home away from home. Anything that can make it feel more like home is generally appreciated. You may find that soundproofing your engine adds an element of style to your RV.
This can happen especially when you use foam shields as your preferred method of insulation. Some of them come in patterns that you can add to your motorhome theme.
You can also exercise your creativity when using reflective insulation. You can find special ways to merge the tin-foil appearance of the reflective insulation to fit into your RV theme.
Conclusion
RV engines can make a lot of noise and sometimes it can take a ride on the RV entertaining. However, it can also get annoying very quickly. quieting the engine will solve this problem for you.
You don’t even need skilled assistance to help you set it up. It is a one-person job that shouldn’t take you more than 2 hours to do. After some internet shopping for the type of soundproofing you want, all you need is some basic tools and you are good to go.
As seen, you can get more benefits from deadening noise like style and protection from heat. All you have to do is ensure that you left no gaps with which the sound can pass and you will have a quiet engine.
