Soundproofing Post Camper Conversion

[ahappychappie]

Hi,

I was very naive when I purchased my van for conversion to Camper and also had a budget that whilst fairly generous still meant I had to omit some areas.

One of my biggest regrets is not having it soundproofed - the van is OK around town etc. but becomes considerably noisy at Motorway speed. It's a Highline Euro 5 102PS - so engine is worked quite hard with not having that 6th gear...

I've looked through the posts but all seem to relate to stripping the van then soundproofing - something I cannot do. Is there anything I can do now that is also very straight forward to implement?

I have very little tools and and the thought of stripping the doors fills me with dread - I'm probably asking the impossible - i.e. easy install and job done doesn't exist but just wondered...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pete C]

Is it now fully converted ?

You may be able to remove some of the panels in the rear depending on your conversion. If so, then it’s easy to put some soundproofing on the exposed metal panels.

You could also soundproof the front doors.

Some photos would be useful.

Pete

 

[clufus]

Did you have dynamat soundproofing to the cab area, i.e. the front doors? This makes a big difference imho. You could do it yourself or (like me) pay some1 else, who knows what they are doing))))

 

[ahappychappie]

Is it now fully converted ?

You may be able to remove some of the panels in the rear depending on your conversion. If so, then it’s easy to put some soundproofing on the exposed metal panels.

You could also soundproof the front doors.

Some photos would be useful.

Pete

Thanks Pete. Fully converted now - units, bed etc - hence the is there an 'easy' solution - I suspect not or if there is it will have limited impact...



I'll be honest - I was so naive - having never owned a van I didn't realise they were much less refined that a car and so thought it wasn't essential (I daren't say I thought it was more relating to keeping it quiet for sleeping!!) - I've learnt a lot since then through research, this forum etc, but still reluctant to remove panels etc as just not DIY savvy.

Thanks.

 

[ahappychappie]

Did you have dynamat soundproofing to the cab area, i.e. the front doors? This makes a big difference imho. You could do it yourself or (like me) pay some1 else, who knows what they are doing))))

No I didn't, so an option - like you I'd go for the someone who knows what they're doing approach. If you don't mind what was the approximate cost? Did you have wheel arches done as well, just wonder if doors only are sufficient?

Thanks.

 

[clufus]

No I didn't, so an option - like you I'd go for the someone who knows what they're doing approach. If you don't mind what was the approximate cost? Did you have wheel arches done as well, just wonder if doors only are sufficient?

Thanks.

I paid £220 for the doors to be done. Wheel arches were not discussed, so I'll look into that if & when I can afford further work.....

 

[CALLAKN]

Thanks Pete. Fully converted now - units, bed etc - hence the is there an 'easy' solution - I suspect not or if there is it will have limited impact...

View attachment 29132

I'll be honest - I was so naive - having never owned a van I didn't realise they were much less refined that a car and so thought it wasn't essential (I daren't say I thought it was more relating to keeping it quiet for sleeping!!) - I've learnt a lot since then through research, this forum etc, but still reluctant to remove panels etc as just not DIY savvy.

Thanks.

I’m shocked the people who installed the conversion didn’t even mention the sound proofing!

 

[ahappychappie]

I’m shocked the people who installed the conversion didn’t even mention the sound proofing!

They did but there was so much to take in I don't think we aprreciated the role it played - every aspect of the conversion was priced individually - as the van cost somewhat more than originally budgeted for I had to cut back on areas of the conversion - I didn't see soundproofing as critical - hindsight is of course wonderful and it should have stayed ticked on the list....

Had I not cut back I would have of gone down the route of I'll save and get a Camper in a couple of years - which would never have happened, instead proud owner but with still with a list of things would like to do!! And still that budget doesn't increase!!

 

[Pete C]

There may be some quick wins in the back of the van - side door/barn doors/tailgate- which you can get acccess to.

Front doors and cabin floor ahould be fine to do as it is unlikely the conversion will have affected them.

Pete

 

[$immo]

Quick and easy win would be additional rubbers round cab doors. Search on eBay for additional door rubbers VW T6.

As suggested by others, take off door cards in cab and silent coat, all you will need is a screwdriver / torx, some trim remover tools. It's just a matter of sticking it on and putting it back together.

The sliding door card I assume is accessible so again silent coat behind the door card and stuff the void with loose fill insulation (b&q recycled bottle insulation is fine and dirt cheap)

You could also take up cab rubber floor and put silent coat under the floor rubber. This will need you to unbolt both seats and bases. I would do all the easy bits first and see if you can live with it. If not do the cab floor.

That should make a big improvement for little effort or skill levels.

 

[Ann3x]

You can do wheel arches from the outside. Jack it up, remove the wheel, remove the arch covers then silent coat with mlv on top.

Not done it (yet) myself but will be soon...

Apparently a lot of road noise is from wheel arches.

 

[Sjacko20]

Did they insulate the van? We have insulation but no sound deadening (silent coat etc). After speaking to a multitude of convertors and others, we decided against the sound deadening as the insulation absorbs most of the sound. I will be putting some silent coat under the front floor mat and cab area though as there is nothing to absorb the sound there.

 

[ahappychappie]

Thanks for all the suggestions, most helpful.

Additional door seals already done - by me - about my ability limit!

Van is insulated so I think most of the noise is cab area, which suggestions above cover. You all make it sound so easy, I really am useless when it comes to these things - more the fear of breaking something or it not going back as it should. I'll get Youtubing... Or keep a skilled tradesman going!

 

[gal2009]

Has anyone used the door rubber seal on the sliding doors and the tail gate or does this compromise the operation of the doors?