Wind Noise

[themoons]

I'm still relatively new to the Class A scene. After about 4,000 miles on the road, I'm starting to wonder if the crazy loud wind noise around the windshield is normal. It is really loud on both sides of the windshield, so much so that my wife and I nearly have to yell to talk to each other. On our most recent trip, the sound was nearly completely eliminated when we had a strong tail wind, which made me think maybe we can get rid of it all the time. I just thought it was normal for a class A.

We are driving a Winnebago SunstarLX 35B. Any recommendations on what we can do would be very welcome.

Thanks!

[Groover]

opnspaces wrote:


I seems pretty unlikely Winnebago built and test drove this model and said "wow it's so noisy in here you have to yell to be heard, Okay let's build a bunch oh these."

True but from my experience with campers this may be true too:

"It seems pretty unlikely Winnebago built and test drove this model."

[steved28]

I have the same model, although it's a 19. And I do not have that issue. Winnebago is one of the few A's which use a full metal cage up front and an automotive type windshield. (i.e., no gaskets). I think you might need a re-seal somewhere.

[Heisenberg]

To the OP. You can get ready for your hood to come unglued.

[jspringator]

You will probably have to caulk the noisy opening. i had to caulk around my windshield due to some delam right behind it. I use painters tape to tape over the weep holes at the bottom of the side windows. It makes a huge difference. I remove them in the rain and when I'm not traveling. The blue makes it eaier to remember to remove it.

[4x4van]

way2roll wrote:

You ever driven a gasser on the F53? I've had three from different manufacturers - noise is part of the game. And I think manufacturers could care less if it's loud or how it rides or any real quality for that matter, as evidenced by the number of complaints and warranty work back ups.

Interesting. I have an '04 Itasca class A on the gasser workhorse chassis, and it is not loud at all, other than some engine noise when downshifted on a grade or when the fan clutch kicks in, but even then it's not bad. My wife and I have no problem holding a normal conversation while going 65mph.

[themoons]

Well, I did the testing with the tape and the noise is clearly being produced by wind passing by the side of the windshield and the frame. Taping up that seam helped immensely. The sad thing is it seems to be a terrible design flaw. I'll need to check with Winnebago and some windshield installers to see if there is a more permanent fix because I don't really want to drive around with masking tape on my windshield forever. Thanks all for the recommendations!

[way2roll]

opnspaces wrote:

themoons wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions. I've looked into the weep hole covers. We are missing one, but I don't think that is where the sound is coming from. It seems more like it is around the sides of the windshield. I think I might try the painters tape along the edge, but it could also be mirrors. I might see if those can be adjusted at all. It just seems ridiculous that they would expect you to have to yell at each other to talk in the front seats. The model is a 2016, so I don't think it is a rust issue.

I seems pretty unlikely Winnebago built and test drove this model and said "wow it's so noisy in here you have to yell to be heard, Okay let's build a bunch oh these."

You ever driven a gasser on the F53? I've had three from different manufacturers - noise is part of the game. And I think manufacturers could care less if it's loud or how it rides or any real quality for that matter, as evidenced by the number of complaints and warranty work back ups.

[opnspaces]

themoons wrote:
Thanks for the suggestions. I've looked into the weep hole covers. We are missing one, but I don't think that is where the sound is coming from. It seems more like it is around the sides of the windshield. I think I might try the painters tape along the edge, but it could also be mirrors. I might see if those can be adjusted at all. It just seems ridiculous that they would expect you to have to yell at each other to talk in the front seats. The model is a 2016, so I don't think it is a rust issue.

I seems pretty unlikely Winnebago built and test drove this model and said "wow it's so noisy in here you have to yell to be heard, Okay let's build a bunch oh these."

I would tape up all the weep holes, the entire perimeter of the windshield and around the holes where the wiper arms go into the body. Then go drive it and see if anything changes.

[way2roll]

fishingbob61 wrote:
Put painters tape around the glass and see if the noise is gone, if so you need to work in that area.

On the F53 between the wind, engine noise, road noise and rattles, it's hard to have a conversation at normal levels.

[themoons]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've looked into the weep hole covers. We are missing one, but I don't think that is where the sound is coming from. It seems more like it is around the sides of the windshield. I think I might try the painters tape along the edge, but it could also be mirrors. I might see if those can be adjusted at all. It just seems ridiculous that they would expect you to have to yell at each other to talk in the front seats. The model is a 2016, so I don't think it is a rust issue.

[fishingbob61]

Put painters tape around the glass and see if the noise is gone, if so you need to work in that area.

[way2roll]

Are you sure it's from the windshield and not the mirrors or even the side windows? I had a similar issue and installed weep hole covers and it stopped a lot of the wind noise.

[Bruce_Brown]

What year is your Winnie? It's not uncommon to hear of rust issues with the windshield framework, allowing for excessive wind noise.

[craig7h]

I can not speak directly about the noise in your unit. My ACE (and others) the wind noise was coming from the front grill. The way Thor configured it aloud for the noise. They (Thor) had to send out replace grill screens which stopped the noise. I also get a noise when it rains. Some of the strangest things go on with MH. I would check with the folks at the Winnebago forums.