Freeway Noise

Hello to the group mind,

I was wondering what people do about the noise on long freeway trips in a jeep. Ear plugs or leave the soft top on with carpet and sound proofing? I know that the easiest solution would be to consider it all part of the jeep experience, but my hearing is already damaged from years of bad habits

 

Welcome to the world of the partially deaf buddy. The things you mention do help a little, but it will still be loud. I don't really take long trips with my CJ5...but I do in my CJ7 and the biggest noise I get at freeway speeds (65-70 mph) is from aggressive tires. I notice that when I switch to an all-terrain during the summer...it is much more tolerable. I mean...a guy CAN make a Jeep pretty quiet. Tire tread like a car, lined hardtop, heavy carpeting, stock exhaust, etc. I would assume that none of these hold much interest to you. Ear plugs....well....I go on long motorcycle trips across the country and I wear ear plugs to help reduce some fatigue...but I would not call it the safest trick in the book. If this is something you are VERY VERY serious about preventing....There are a set of ear muff that only block out certain db of sounds and let quieter stuff in (also see spendy). I can tell you that if you are a hardtop kind of guy and you get yourself full doors and a hardtop WITH A LINER inside it. That will cut down the noise quite a bit.

 

My four wheeling trips almost all involve at least 100 to 200 miles of pavement driving, I know where you're coming from I've decided to keep a set of tethered ear plugs handy for the times the wind is heavy or the noise gets bad. In the mountains, keeping the speed at 45 mph or so helps a lot, but at 60 to 70 on the highway the plugs get used. I have found that the full soft top really doesn't help much (too much flapping and booming), but leaving the doors on and the back open does help some. That's my experience anyway.

 

Funny, I just did a 400 mile trip in my jeep. I grabed a set of noise canceling headphones and listen to my ipod all the way. It worked very well. I'm now thinking of getting three more, and making an intercom system.

 

I wish I could use the noise canceling head phones, but in California they are illegal to use while driving.

 

Almost fell out of my chair when I read this title.
My exhaust is almost unbareable at red lights.
Welcome to the club.
Sorry but I can't find an answer.

 

I have been wearing foam earplugs, while working, for over 30 years. I love them. They block out all the white noise, and I can still hear people talking, etc.
You can actually "control" how much noise that they'll block out, by how far you insert them (not TOO FAR, obviously!!).

I've never used the in my jeep, though.

 

Aka "male pattern deafness" ... a common affliction.

Most states have laws against headphones or earplugs that block outside noise, AFAIK. The in-ear foam plugs are very effective though, with more than a 30dB attenuation.

Carpets and insulation on the floor will help a lot. Note they tend to get wet and stay wet in wet climates, so that's a different problem to deal with. A quiet exhaust will help. Quieter tires will help : gear noise, tire noise, exhaust noise, fan noise, engine noise... all contribute.

 

I removed my stereo because i couldn't hear it over the tires anyway. I just use ear bud headphone and an ipod quiets it down some and much better sound then the stereo anyway.

 

Laws are funny. Let me guess you have a hands free cell phone law too. Find a stereo, ear bud style cell phone cord. Keep in mind that the ear bud that goes into your ear could cancel up to 30 db. Bose QC3 is less then 30 db. That’s a quick fix.

To fix the problem first you have to find the noises.
1. If its tires then consider a tire with more lugs. Or cutting some lines in the lugs you currently have.
2. If its exhaust then consider a muffler with more baffles. Find all exhaust leaks and fix them.
3. How is your undercoating?
4. A bed liner inside may also help.
5. Attach a fleece blanket to the underside of the soft top with Velcro.
6. Thick cloth seat covers.
7. And yes carpeted floor mats with the rubber on the bottom
Basically you have to increase the area to reduce the noises


That should get you started. Keep in mind that this is an unwinable battle. In my case I have done some of these, and now my doors will pull out at the top when rolling down the highway. The inside of my jeep is has created to much low pressure which is cause the doors to pull out.