Interior Noises

[DLane]

I just purchased a 2007 Newmar Ventana and since my only pror driving experience was a gas coach I rented, I am surprised at the amount of rattles and squeeks when going over bumps in the road. The coach is pretty quiet when the road is smooth, but I expected it to be quieter than a gas coach over bumpy road conditions. I have adjusted tire pressure to the minimum based on measured weights of the coach. I know this is subjective, but could someone comment on whether this is normal?

[MonacoMama]

DLane...I am sure it is normal...think about going over a bump and your silverware being tossed..
What I tend to do is put some of my kitchen towels in the drawers on top of all my utensils/silverware - along with something between my dishes...

MM

["007"]

Congrats DLane with your new Newmar 3933.
Don't you have air bags on that chassis, are they filled with air, should make for a quite ride.
Someone will help must be watching Super Bowl.
Have a safe trip to Boston.

[Chickadee]

DLane: G'morning from Tampa!!

Ya know, we pch'd our first Newmar in mid 05 from a dealer in N. Iowa. This was an 06 Mtn. Aire, 4 slide, to which we'd added a Blue Ox tow bar and pulled our 05 Honda Element. This was our very FIRST RV and we too experienced a terrific amount of "interior noise" as we drove the rig home for the first time. We were pretty disappointed, HOWEVER, the rig was virtually empty of any personal items since we had yet to load her up for the road. Don't know why exactly, but after moving into the rig for our full time lifestyle (sold home and all stuff) we discovered hardly a squeak when headin down the road. Don't know whether it was the weight in the bins, closets, cabinets, drawers, etc., or what, but those noises went away!!! Don't know if this'll apply to your rig, but FWIW...eh? Steve

[DLane]

To respondents - thanks for your comments. My DP has air bags with proper air pressure. The ride is soft and the coach floats along just fine, but the sounds I mentioned occur when I drive over sharp bumps, pot holes etc. Since we are driving it home from the dealer, it has essentially no provisions on board. I suspect that when you hit a jaring bump, there is probably little that can be done to prevent all the weight of cabinets etc from jaring and causing some noise. Perhaps it will be better once I load things up as one of you mentioned. Thanks and I welcome any additional comments.

[GaryKD]

Hi DLane,
I think you have the right idea. Load the coach for living and traveling. See if it makes a difference. I can tell you that my coach was a bit noisier than I thought it should be. However, after traveling I10 West bound from Alabama to Texas, shook the coach so badly that it became quite quiet. Maybe the coach is new and very tight. A few trips fully loaded it should improve.

["007"]

Once you have coach loaded with your personal needs it will be much more quite just load lower compartments as evenly balanced as possible. Safe miles.

[Jim_L]

I noted (in another post) that you were traveling from MN to the Newmar factory which means it's cold outside. Mine was and is louder when it's cold outside. My car is too. Perhaps its body gaskets and other similar seems that are tighter (stiffer) and making some of the noises. Whether it was because it was warmer, or because I loaded it, mine has been a lot quieter in the summer.

Congratulations and enjoy.

[Spikester]

DLane, along with what the others have mentioned, here are a few more helpful hints, I hope. Consider yourself blessed that you have air ride, older spring only, gassers were a real noise generator. Being an ex
submariner of 22 years, my wife accuses me, correctly, of being obsessed with rattles and squeaks.

Line your unlined drawers, and unlined shelves (pantry) with something soft. I prefer the product that is used in the overhead kitchen cupboards. It is manufactured by Ozite. Here is an online source Perfectfit.

Also if you have a rattle that sounds like it is coming from the electronics cabinet over the drivers seat, that is probably not the location. It may be the round bar in your front window privacy shade hitting against a trim piece that is in front of the electronics cabinet. I glued a piece of felt to the trim piece at the far left corner, rattle went away.

My drivers and passengers side sun screens rattle if they are in the full up position, rattle against the brackets, pull them down a couple of inches that one will go away.

Put a dish rag between the two sink cover pieces, will also catch any water that is bounced out of your faucet.

Wife puts hot pads between pots and pans to keep them from rattling.

Spike

[ET]

If none of the suggestions above work for you just remember there’s always Duct Tape! Just Kidding!

I hate rattles, noises, etc., and as mentioned above as you go along you’ll find the culprit and correct it with an adjustment here, felt pad there, drawer liners everywhere, etc. One rattle I had happened while making turns and sounded like a bolt, screw, or nut was loose in a drawer or cabinet and would roll from side to side driving me crazy. Since my wife doesn’t drive I had to try and direct her around the front of the coach to see if she could find it. After 1 year I decided to try a large magnet under the right front cabinet and it worked. It was a wood screw left in the hollow of the cabinet. Removing the thin flooring allowed me to get that @@## screw! Another hard to find wind noise was caused by the awning arm catching the wind just so as to vibrate like the dickens. A long piece of foam in the channel corrected that.

Bottom line is you’ll find um, and fix um as time goes by!