Class B cabin noise, how much is too much?

[Bailey_Travis]

I would sure like your comments on this add question. I just bought a new 2014 Airstream Interstate and I like it a great deal but it's very noisy with a lot of rattles and squeaks on highways and unloaded. Is this just typical because of the size of the vehicle? I thought that since it was an Airstream and Mercedes it would be a more solid overal vehicle in this regard. I am brand new to the RV world so I may just be unrealistic. Thanks to all of you for your answers and forums!

I have to add to this original post, a special "thank you" to those who have responded. The thoughtful, detailed and extensive responses I quickly received are revealing of the friendly & helpful nature of RVers. I am happy to be part of this community and look forward to the day when I know enough to contribute!

[Fastpaddler]

Interesting reflection. I guess if you are towing a trailer you only have to deal with the truck pulling it and it should be quiet. Still, my Pleasureway Plateau TS is quiet, has Mercedes chassis and my wife can yap for hours on the phone with our offspring. I dont as it is illegal here. Best wishes.
PS
I have had two C classes and I find our PW so STABLE on the road--maybe try one>>??


AL

[hvac]

We sold our 2008 Winnebago ERA. Beautiful van, could not conduct a phone call on the highway in windy conditions. Suspension was a joke. I had an airstream trailer before, going back. I like the Rv lifestyle. Just will not ride in one ever again.

[topless]

I have a roll of sticky stuff that I use for a lot of different things. It's similar to adhesive rubber sold for picture mounting. When we first got our van it rattled and squeaked a lot. Had my wife drive around while I found them and marked them with tape. Then i used the sticky stuff, stick on bumpers and used screwdrivers to tighten things. I got rid of a lot, but some panels wouldn't stop making noise until I pulled them off and put insulation behind them to stop the flexing more than soundproofing. Some of those panels would just flex enough to make a noise, but only when driving. Some just made a little squeak of interior part on metal of the van.
It took a while, but I got rid of about 80% of the noises. Some still elude me.

[bar_20]

Check to see if your cabinets have the little circular bumpers put on them. Not sure if Airstream uses them but their use will stop the rattling of the doors and drawers. Make sure that everything you put inside the drawers and cabinets are secured.

http://www.cabinetparts.com/g/cabinet-bumpers

[senf]

We had a high pitched squeal in our 1996 RT, which turned out to be the rear door latch. We have the same sound in our present RT. It was tracked down to our continental tire vertical support arm. I have tried many cures - grease, WD40, etc., but the real cure is to separate the flanges from the vertical support by inserting shims on the pivot bolt. The actual shim insertions were difficult, to say the least, but my eldest son and I managed it, with a good dose of swear words.

When the continental tire is returned to vertical and ready for travel, the bolt that tightens the fore and aft action is tightened so that there is no movement of the retaining pin that runs side to side. If you have an RT with a continental tire option, you will know what I am talking about.

[georgelesley]

Often the felt stick on pads supposed to keep drawers and cabinet doors quiet are misplaced or missing/inadequate. We carry a 3ft length of hose. While the wife is driving stick one end in your ear, move the other end around the suspected noise area. Usually this will isolate the noise and you can then fix it.

[Fastpaddler]

To add to other inputs: you can track down some rattles which are usually plates, stove grill,microwave plate,pots,cups but squeaks and squawks are a different source usually. I found a squeaking noise coming from the bathroom door behind the driver seat due to a missing little stick-on tab to keep the door tightly closed. Can be quite annoying. You dont have the bulkhead squeeks and groans I got with two C mhs with fiberglas cabs. Sliding door might need adjusting or even a poorly fitted window. Make a list and visit your dealer with the ones you cannot trace. I generally find my PW very quiet chassis and bodywise with the odd noise from the stuff in cabinets--my wife tracks the noises down and deal with it!
Good luck and happy rving.

[I_am_still_wayn]

Since this is your first RV, you may just have some unrealistic expectations.

First, your vehicle was designed as a commercial vehicle, a truck if you will. It will not drive, operate, and provide the level of creature comforts that a luxury automobile will. You can expect more road noise, engine noise, and less comfort.

Second, Airstream (or another converter for that matter) has added significantly to the interior. You now have doors, cabinets, drawers, appliances, and plumbing inside the passenger compartment. Any slight thing can produce a surprising amount of noise. For example, a drawer face ever so slightly touching the cabinet frame when the body torques just the right way can produce a loud, annoying squeak.

Third, you have added your items to the vehicle. Plates, sliver ware, pots and pans, clothing, and personal grooming items. Imagine the pots and pans rattling together. Ever see and hear a kid banging some old pans together? The same thing is happening inside the cabinet. Those knives and forks can make a lot of rattles.

I once heard someone say riding in a motorhome is like a rolling earthquake.

[NCWriter]

Maybe you could find another Interstate similar to yours, take it for a test drive, and see if it is significantly quieter. If so, maybe there's an issue.

But I agree with the others (posters with actual B experience) that there's a certain amount to be expected. I was used to a quiet sedan so, early on, noticed all the little noises back there. Now it's music to my ears as we set out on another great trip.

Eventually, you'll find ways to reduce them (that microwave plate was a good example) ...for example, ours has a metal lid over the stove burners that's a real rattler unless we stow a rubber dish drain mat inside to cushion it. You'll soon tune routine noise out and only detect the unusual ones. We often hear a bang that comes as a result of "someone" forgetting to lower the toilet lid.

[Tanya6520]

We don't get excited unless we hear a loud crash. I just tune out the back noise, however I have thought about erecting a curtain between the cab and living area to cut down on noise.

[1775]

Are you getting these noises from the chassis or inside the coach? There are lots of places in a Class B that need some extra quieting down that have to do with the cabinets, appliances, etc. It took us the first year to track down the noises that occurred when we went over a bump or were riding on a rough road that were INSIDE the coach and we still have a few that we can't figure out. These have nothing to do with the mechanics or body of the vehicle. Cabinet doors rattle, anything loose is going to move, shelves in the fridge will rattle, and on and on. Then once you start putting things inside, those will make noise too unless firmly secured down. With close proximity of the driving seats up front and the rear coach you hear everything.

[bobojay5]

Standard Sprinter 3500 with class B or C innerds. We've had 2 of them, and both have been the same. That is until I took to it with the anti rattle repairs and adjustments.
Our '13 has/had all the doors out of adjustment and loose with rattles and wind noise something terrible. The passenger door was stamped wrong so it didn't fit up against the body at the top rear, till I bent the frame slightly so it would. The others were just simple adjustments of the door strikers and bump stops.
Otherwise the Winnebago part just took some small adjustments and addition of insulation materials.

The key words used above in the first reply is "supposed to be"

[My_Roadtrek]

Make sure you store the microwave glass plate, it will rattle like crazy if left in the micro.

[SooperDaddy]

That MB 3500 series chassis is supposed to be the best! Sounds like it's made from rubber! Tht type of behavior on the road is unacceptable, and may in fact indicate quality control issues, a bad chassis or poor construction. Or even be a potentially dangerous vehicle.

All for around $150,000.00! Shame on Airstream!

Call the factory and dealer that sold it and get it taken care of asap...don't take no for an answer and do not accept any excuses. Tell them you are a member of the largest RV owner forum on the internet. 😉 But be nice!