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Old 06-24-2017, 01:05 PM   #1
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Soundproofing

Am trying to decide between Tiffin and Newmar. One point I keep hearing about Newmar is the wall construction and resulting superior soundproofing. Wondering if anyone here has had both a Tiffin and Newmar and can comment on whether or not there is a big difference in hearing sounds from outside.

Thanks in advance.
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Old 06-24-2017, 09:38 PM   #2
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Soundproofing

I can tell you that our Phaeton is very noisy when it rains due to the lack of insulation in the roof. Sometimes can't even hear the television in a strong rain
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Old 06-25-2017, 09:09 AM   #3
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Yes the rain on the roof is loud. Was also that way on my old Winnie. Side wall insulation is very good. We were in a campground in NC and a guy two sites from us (very close) fired two rounds from a .45 cal pistol at about 4am. We didn't hear a thing. Left the next day. Too close for comfort.
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Old 07-03-2017, 05:58 AM   #4
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Noise

Having Owen Newmar now tiffin about the same. My 31 sa a lot less rattles.
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Old 07-05-2017, 07:43 AM   #5
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Noise

I can tell you this I was on the Factory Tour on Thursday the 29th and was sitting in a new Red on yellow brick road when a rain hit and I could just hear a little noise on the roof from the rain
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Old 07-05-2017, 08:09 AM   #6
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Soundproofing

There's soundproofing and then there's soundproofing. Newmar has better walls. Better roof? Tiffin by far. But when it comes to interior noise, Newmar isn't in the same class as Tiffin. Cheaper materials and not as good of a finish in the Newmar. Not a big deal when you're stationary, but huge when you're going down the road.
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Old 07-05-2017, 09:58 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by DWRichard View Post
There's soundproofing and then there's soundproofing. Newmar has better walls. Better roof? Tiffin by far. But when it comes to interior noise, Newmar isn't in the same class as Tiffin. Cheaper materials and not as good of a finish in the Newmar. Not a big deal when you're stationary, but huge when you're going down the road.
From FMCA Magazine:

"Newmar’s construction techniques differ a bit from those of most Type A manufacturers. Where others use vacuum-bonded sidewall technology, Newmar engineers prefer the hung sidewall method.

Hung sidewalls are built in a manner similar to traditional residential construction and eliminate concerns about delamination from adhesive failure between the fiberglass and foam insulation board. The aluminum framing is welded first and then the interior plywood is fastened to it. The wall is lifted onto the flooring and screws are placed in the open walls to fasten them to the flooring substructure. Next, the walls are filled with batten-type insulation. Finally, the fiberglass sidewalls are lifted into place and adhered to the aluminum tube framing.

Newmar employees do not use jigs when welding the wall framing. Each wall section is built according to plans and welded on a large layout table. This gives flexibility to make design changes if needed. Changing furniture, tile, countertop materials, or cabinetry generally can be accomplished.

The roofs of Newmar motorhomes are supported by aluminum trusses that employ extensive diagonal bracing to achieve strength with minimal weight. Each truss is placed on 16-inch centers, with additional trusses inserted at key structural points, including an array of five trusses stacked over the cockpit area. The sidewall is connected to the roof structure, and a heavy-gauge aluminum extrusion is added to help tie the roof to the sidewall and contribute extra rigidity at that joint.

On any full-wall-slideout floor plan, a header is necessary to support the weight of the roof. Newmar design employs a rectangular aluminum tube header that isn’t as tall as those on other brands. This allows for greater height in the slideout area. The header, a custom extrusion, incorporates diagonal bracing within the tubing for additional strength with minimal weight. Newmar specs also call for R-19 EcoBatt insulation, rather than standard fiberglass, throughout the entire coach. This increases the R value of the roof to a total composite value of R-24."
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Old 07-05-2017, 10:23 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Desertboyz View Post
From FMCA Magazine:



"Newmar’s construction techniques differ a bit from those of most Type A manufacturers. Where others use vacuum-bonded sidewall technology, Newmar engineers prefer the hung sidewall method.



Hung sidewalls are built in a manner similar to traditional residential construction and eliminate concerns about delamination from adhesive failure between the fiberglass and foam insulation board. The aluminum framing is welded first and then the interior plywood is fastened to it. The wall is lifted onto the flooring and screws are placed in the open walls to fasten them to the flooring substructure. Next, the walls are filled with batten-type insulation. Finally, the fiberglass sidewalls are lifted into place and adhered to the aluminum tube framing.



Newmar employees do not use jigs when welding the wall framing. Each wall section is built according to plans and welded on a large layout table. This gives flexibility to make design changes if needed. Changing furniture, tile, countertop materials, or cabinetry generally can be accomplished.



The roofs of Newmar motorhomes are supported by aluminum trusses that employ extensive diagonal bracing to achieve strength with minimal weight. Each truss is placed on 16-inch centers, with additional trusses inserted at key structural points, including an array of five trusses stacked over the cockpit area. The sidewall is connected to the roof structure, and a heavy-gauge aluminum extrusion is added to help tie the roof to the sidewall and contribute extra rigidity at that joint.



On any full-wall-slideout floor plan, a header is necessary to support the weight of the roof. Newmar design employs a rectangular aluminum tube header that isn’t as tall as those on other brands. This allows for greater height in the slideout area. The header, a custom extrusion, incorporates diagonal bracing within the tubing for additional strength with minimal weight. Newmar specs also call for R-19 EcoBatt insulation, rather than standard fiberglass, throughout the entire coach. This increases the R value of the roof to a total composite value of R-24."


Your point?

Hint: the Newmar party line is mostly marketing hype. Again, better walls, but not better roof. And nothing you posted addressed the issues of interior noise due to cheaper materials and finish over Tiffin.
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Old 07-05-2017, 10:37 AM   #9
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My '02 Winnie has 3" foam in the roof and it has to rain pretty hard for me to notice any 'noise'. But day to day living, it's the dual paned windows that seem to keep most noises out.

So if it's a toss up between brands, maybe go with the one with dual paned windows.
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Old 07-05-2017, 11:56 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by DWRichard View Post
Your point?

Hint: the Newmar party line is mostly marketing hype. Again, better walls, but not better roof. And nothing you posted addressed the issues of interior noise due to cheaper materials and finish over Tiffin.
I agree completely; there's a ton of marketing hype out there. It's can be overwhelming. It's always better to speak to folks with ownership and real experience (as opposed to those who just visit RV shows).

The author of he article I quoted from is Mark Quasius. He's been a trusted IRV2 contributor (Cruzer), motorhome owner, and respected RV reviewer for years. His advice, opinions, and thoughts are on point and mostly without bias.

He owned a Tiffin Bus for years and moved up recently to an Entegra. Anyone interested in his thoughts regarding various brands, should take the time to research his IRV2 posts and articles.
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Old 07-05-2017, 03:49 PM   #11
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Yes, he upgraded to Entegra.

Not Newmar.
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Old 07-05-2017, 04:07 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by DWRichard View Post
Yes, he upgraded to Entegra.

Not Newmar.
Yes, he went with an Entegra. A great coach!

His summary regarding Newmar he tested (pertaining to soundproofing)

Final Impressions:

...it rode like a dream and handled well. It was one of the quietest coaches I’ve been in. The company’s attention to detail and quality construction make for a coach free of the usual creaks, groans, and rattles. The wooden floor design isolates the coach from the steel substructure beneath and helps to absorb any road noise or vibration. The Girard awnings in the roof fascia and the flush-mounted side windows and automotive-style windshield improve airflow and minimize wind noise. The result: an enjoyable drive and a very livable coach.

The quality level, the well-appointed amenities, the many floor plans, and the large list of available options make the Newmar an excellent choice.


We have enjoyed our Tiffin. We've had lots of problems, but they've taken care of us. Tiffin makes a nice quality coach and I think a terrific value.
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Old 07-05-2017, 06:32 PM   #13
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And I've been in multiple Newmars where interior pieces are falling off and multiple basement doors won't latch. They're nice on the inside, but not to Tiffins level.
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Old 07-05-2017, 07:06 PM   #14
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Basement doors are actually a problem we had with our Phaeton. Turned a corner in a busy intersection and a basement door flew open. Fortunately we didn't lose anything. Duck taped it shut. No interior pieces have fallen off except for the pulls on the dishwasher. We also had a flood below the sink because the dishwasher drain wasn't tightened. Entire load pumped out and spread across the entire slide. Fried a laptop computer I had on the floor in the buffet cabinet. Thankfully I had a back-up.
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