Driver Environment
- Thread starter Johnc
- Start date
Hi there,
When it comes to noise in the interior a lot of work is done in trying to make it a "silent" environment (for example to get rid of low frequency noise etc). I'm just assuming that doesn't have to be the goal for most drivers.
I'm interested in how and what a driver wants to hear from engine, exhaust system etc but also from wind and road noise.
Do you for example want to hear the turbo or not? Is it enough to just hear the engine or are there special things about the engine you want to hear and don't want to hear (for example dry, scratchy or squeely sounds)? How should the engine sound to make it sound powerful but still refined?
When it comes to noise in the interior a lot of work is done in trying to make it a "silent" environment (for example to get rid of low frequency noise etc). I'm just assuming that doesn't have to be the goal for most drivers.
I'm interested in how and what a driver wants to hear from engine, exhaust system etc but also from wind and road noise.
Do you for example want to hear the turbo or not? Is it enough to just hear the engine or are there special things about the engine you want to hear and don't want to hear (for example dry, scratchy or squeely sounds)? How should the engine sound to make it sound powerful but still refined?
Thank you for the clarification!
Speaking for myself, I don't wish to hear anything from engine, road noise, tires, etc. If there is something wrong with the engine, maybe a warning beep or tone every now and then that can be switched off if wanted. Right now I drive a cargo van that is like being inside a drum. It is *very* noisy! I do like being able to hear if there's an engine problem, but I don't need to hear "power" of turbo, or anything like that.
Have a great day!
Speaking for myself, I don't wish to hear anything from engine, road noise, tires, etc. If there is something wrong with the engine, maybe a warning beep or tone every now and then that can be switched off if wanted. Right now I drive a cargo van that is like being inside a drum. It is *very* noisy! I do like being able to hear if there's an engine problem, but I don't need to hear "power" of turbo, or anything like that.
Have a great day!
Its interesting how it seems to differ between drivers - like yourself some drivers want the interior to be as quiet as possible while others want to hear the turbo and exactly how the engine sound like to be able to predict when something is about to brake down etc.
It would be interesting to hear from someone who for example wants to hear noise from engine, exhaust system etc. Perhaps there’s someone who can compare between different brands which sound different and who has preference for one or the other.
It would be interesting to hear from someone who for example wants to hear noise from engine, exhaust system etc. Perhaps there’s someone who can compare between different brands which sound different and who has preference for one or the other.
Howdy, I drive a FL70 and I like what I hear for the most part, I like to hear a little bit of the turbo, very minor engine noise.. But what would make it better would be a louder exhaust and less tranny noise. As most people that have a 7 speed know, u can hear the tranny alot thru the steering column it seems(which is just amplified thru the clutch pedal).. As for wind noise, i don't hear much at all and I don't wanna hear any so it works out good.. Hope this helps u out some. Andy
I would say my Freightliner Columbia has about the right noise- I can hear the engine and turbo when accelerating, but the noise is damped quite a bit so as to not be annoying. It is very quiet when cruising at highway speed, but maybe a bit too much noise gets through while its idling- sometimes I have to shut it down to have a phone conversation. I do not like to hear any wind noise, transmission noise, or exhaust noise. Truck has minimum of those. With my old FL70 I could hear EVERYTHING LOUD, and it drove me nuts. Trips over 500 miles were difficult with fatigue just from the noise. Guess what I like to hear is a little bit of the engine and turbo, and nothing else except the radio if turned on.
-Weave-
-Weave-
Thanks for inputs on this not so specific put question 
. I guess its not an easy thing to discuss. When your truck sounds good then perhaps it difficult to describe the 'right noise'. It's easier to describe a noise which is irritating and which makes you "fatigued". I am happy for all inputs I can get from drivers trying to describe a good noise environment.
Have anyone had problems with low frequency noise??
. I guess its not an easy thing to discuss. When your truck sounds good then perhaps it difficult to describe the 'right noise'. It's easier to describe a noise which is irritating and which makes you "fatigued". I am happy for all inputs I can get from drivers trying to describe a good noise environment. Have anyone had problems with low frequency noise??
Whiterabbit
Expert Expediter
IMHO...Noise is a huge problem,wind or whatever...The ideal situation for me would be "just a whisper" just enough to here the engine ,just enough to tell when something aint right,and to here the "revs" for those who drive by the "seat of thier pants" dont need no tach here... tranny noise is inconsequential to me unless its noisy of course if it shifts good and smooth then all is well...Low frequency can affect you bigtime ,even if you cant here it to loudly itll where ya down ( your subconcious,will pick it up even if you cant ,dont laugh its true! knid of like the ol water torture...)...For Cargo van types my first priority is to line the floor with the best quality 3/4 in. plywood (are you listening ALUMIBUNK!?) you can afford,finished one side the unfinished side down absorbs the noise reaL GOOD !!!!...you wont be disapointed if you try it!...If you have a gap at the wheel wells fill the sucker up with a good quality silicone...when you do walls you can fill the side gaps with that expandable foam they sell in aresol cans...man im here to tell ya this stuff is invaluable for quieting down rides...Im glad to here that someone recognizes the importance of a good decent sound envirement (sp?)...i dont find anything more annoying than a rattletrap especially when its your home for so many weeks...ive shopped many trucks over the years and ill start her up and if its to dang loud i dont even consider her ,years ago you just had to deal with it but today NO EXCUSE!...a good wool batten is good under the hood and inside the firewall,for engine noise...as we all know fatigue is a big problem on the road,and NOISE IS A HUGE PROBLEM ! as big a deal as the "hours" situation!!!!!!...you listening fed.com?... My cargo rides and sounds as quiet as a caddy xcept i got a whisper of an engine sound ,im really happy with her...Ive got three offers on the table for my next "ride" ...When i get my d unit this spring you can bet the cab sound enviroment is what ill be keying on!...many blessings! yours WR..
Whiterabbit
Expert Expediter
Exhaust...forgot is really important a good throaty but quiet sound (admittedly you gotta use your imagination on that one!) is ok. If you suspect that your engine is having a problem the exhaust sound can be a important diagnostic tool...when your exhaust sound changes abrubtly you know your in a heap of doo doo....welp thats my 2cts worth
Whiterabbit
Expert Expediter
John...currently i ve outfitted 2001 GMC 3500 cargo,the seating is excellent good lumbar support, matl, very comfortable. They use a 1 in . thick "wool batten matl" followed by a 1/8 in. rubberized type "floor mat",very sturdy matl cant cut it wth a razor knife i had to use a heated tip knife to cut her! Works extremely well for sound deadening. The cargo area i replaced with the 3/4 plywood,along with the etrack of course all gaps were filled with silicone...The cab i left alone as it has the forementioned wool etc...i used to haul insulating firebrick,OTR a tricked out straight truck,longest allowable, a GMC stretched brigadeer had two tag axles,year fails me 80 maybe,good ride,"ok", sound quaility 10sp.(13?) roadranger if my memeory serves me correctly,just the right amount of turbo etc...recently ive driven the 94 (yr) Ford series day cabs oh heck cant remember the exact series,VERY nice!...Ill go to my old employer and get back with you on that...( ok did that,they were the L8000 series,with Ford diesels,actually think they were made in brazil, Hmmmm 7.6,six cylinders ) Before that internationals ,they were not in the ball park as far as sound goes,SCREEMERS or sure! Another 99,jimmy, she was fine also.Now they have the Sterlings ,they were gratious enough to let me take one out,VERY nice! ...Driven a D series fl70 99 and was NOT impressed at all, the cab design is way to cramped and noise would be a problem, unless theyve improved the ergonomics since 99 i just cant go there ! Reminded me of the ol uhaul rental truck cabs...When i get my D unit Im thinking i might go with a stretched tracktor,then i wouldnt be limited to weight either...i have not looked at the newer used FL70s i hope theyve improved them! Of course no complaints about Alumibunks sleepers,condo,nice for sure! Ill be back at ya...Since driving the Sterling, welp im thinkin, ill go with one of those IF the expediting industry is all its seems its cracked up to be ! Yours W.R. P.S. feel free to P.M. me!
Thanks you! I'll talk with some collegues and get back to you - perhaps we'll need some clarifications or so or further questions.
I'm of course still very thankful for more inputs on this topic! It's useful to hear from different drivers as opinions and prefereces could vary alot depending on experince of different brands, years in the trucking business etc.
I'm of course still very thankful for more inputs on this topic! It's useful to hear from different drivers as opinions and prefereces could vary alot depending on experince of different brands, years in the trucking business etc.
Here's a question from a collegue:
Whitrabbit, it think it is interesting that you menation that low frequency can affect you bigtime.
Could you please describe a little further in what way it affects you and when it affects you?
(i.e. Is it during drive or after you finished driving? How would you further describe the feeling you get in a cab with much low frequency noise that where you down? discomfort, harder to keep focus, anything else? Do you have any examples when you have had those experiences with low frequency noise, i.e. make and model, type of driving, (motorway, during night etc..? )
Thank you! (not thanks you
Whitrabbit, it think it is interesting that you menation that low frequency can affect you bigtime.
Could you please describe a little further in what way it affects you and when it affects you?
(i.e. Is it during drive or after you finished driving? How would you further describe the feeling you get in a cab with much low frequency noise that where you down? discomfort, harder to keep focus, anything else? Do you have any examples when you have had those experiences with low frequency noise, i.e. make and model, type of driving, (motorway, during night etc..? )
Thank you! (not thanks you
Whiterabbit
Expert Expediter
Ill try to explain to the best of my ablitiy...Trucking ,only speaking for myself here,involves many hours of continuous driving. If you have never driven a vehice for an extended period of time ,say twelve hours. My suggestion is to try to do this,even if its in your personal vehicle. Then stop,go to a motel and lay down ...ill bet youdollars to donuts youll still feel the "sensation" of movement . As one ages the longer it takes for ones body and mind to "quiet down",to recuperate. The next day add some noise,roll down your window and try the same trip,try it with the window cracked a bit to create a 'whistling' type of noise...at the end you may still here that 'noise',even tho its not really there...Ive heard a few drivers say that when they close thier eyes after driving at night for a long period that they still "see" the white lines for a short period,this can also be early signs of Menears desease (associated with balance,inner ear)...If one is sleeping in a sleeper while a partner is driving, noises,those of a higher frequency ,especially, can interfere with the R.E.M.( deepest) stages of sleep. Myself, the road noises,low frequency vibrations and "sounds" will tend to lull me to sleep ,like a mantra one may use for meditation purposes.While in a vehicle Ill have no problems getting to sleep but upon awakening one is not fully "rested"...My folks loved to drive for extended periods on vacation sometimes straight thru to Mass. or Fl.so ive grown accustomed to the sounds of the road i find them comforting, and can sleep anywhere anytime, im lucky,i guess youd say... Noise can be used to keep oneself awake, any driver worth his salt knows this ,BUT HE WILL create it when HE wants it... When he has to put up with it (noise) because of lazy engineering or manufacturers trying to scrimp here and there to save a buck, its a PROBLEM not a ASSET !( More than a few drivers, and mechanics, have cursed many a engineer for not putting themselves in OUR shoes,so to speak .) I wish you well in your endeavors and i hope youll take the time to actually gain some personal "experience",dont you have test drivers?...Time for me to get some hours on MY meter !... ( NOTE: these are only my opinions and i speak for no one other than myself. )
jujubeans
OVM Project Manager
Whiterabbit..I'm with you on the being lulled to sleep by the road..unless of course you're in Detroit..*l*
Hubby and I did the 3/4 plywood in the van today and he put that foam stuff down by the wheel wells..I think I interpreted that you also put the foam on the wall? the spray foam? Does it work pretty well as an insulating factor..I swear the older I get the colder I get and I am sure looking for any other way to stay warm!!
thanks!
jujubeans
Hubby and I did the 3/4 plywood in the van today and he put that foam stuff down by the wheel wells..I think I interpreted that you also put the foam on the wall? the spray foam? Does it work pretty well as an insulating factor..I swear the older I get the colder I get and I am sure looking for any other way to stay warm!!
thanks!
jujubeans
Whiterabbit
Expert Expediter
Jujubeans...I used silicone and foam at the gaps where the flooring meets the wheelwells...When i installed the plywood on the interior sides i had 1" to 1.5" gaps at the egdes front ,rear,and top i used the expandable foam to fill in these gaps,in hopes that it will create a "air vapor barrier" to hold in the heat and keep the cold out!...along with the sound deadning...,could have gone with real insulation behind the plywood...but funds as they are ,well you know...What you did should help , every little bit helps , does it not? Ive still got some sound coming from the wheel wells so im going to try using "rubberized" rust inhibitor sprayed on the underside of the wells , (between the tires and wheel wells,NOT on the interior ),i think this will really help especially when the road is wet , for soundproofing , may sound like overkill but if im going to spend that much time in her itll be worth the effort...KNOW what you mean about the cold , just comes along with the turf here in the midwest, that time of year... a florida run sounds good!...wish you the best! JOHN C...hope you didnt take what i said about engineers as a "slam" ,god bless you for even caring ! Glad to see you even care !
...wish you the best! JOHN C...hope you didnt take what i said about engineers as a "slam" ,god bless you for even caring ! Glad to see you even care !
JOHN wrote:
>Ive still got some sound coming from the
>wheel wells so im going to try using "rubberized" rust
>inhibitor sprayed on the underside of the wells , (between
>the tires and wheel wells,NOT on the interior ),i think this
>will really help especially when the road is wet , for
>soundproofing , may sound like overkill but if im going to
>spend that much time in her itll be worth the effort... JOHN
Hey John,
A good idea I found is to build a box around the wheelwells using 3/8" plywood or so.. you don't need it real thick, and you don't wanna take up cargo room either. Anyway, make it as close as you can on the cargo side, then around sides and top, make it about 2" bigger than the wheelwell radius. before you put the top on, fill that sucker with household insulation, or sprayfoam, whatever you have on hand...makes a WORLD of difference in the noise.
Also, something some don't think about, stuff those big holes in side and rear doors with insulation, and cover them with 1/4" plywood or paneling or something. Then, use some spray adhesive, and some 'blanket material' (they sell both at Wal Mart) for padding, and cover your wood panels with some cheap leather lookin vinyl, naugahyde, some heavy cloth, denim, whatever, screw in some short shiny screws, or stick some chrome headed thumb tacks in every lil bit, and you have a nice custom lookin setup for notta lotta bucks!
Dreamer
[font color="blue"]Can ya tell I used to be into custom vans??? Now... what did I do with those heart shaped porthole windows, and the crushed velvet dice?
Hmmmmmm . . . wonder what FedEx would think of a driver showin up in a custom.. I can see it now, Mickey T's on Keystone Classics, chrome sidepipes, fur on the dash... Ok.. maybe not... [/font]
:7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :7
>Ive still got some sound coming from the
>wheel wells so im going to try using "rubberized" rust
>inhibitor sprayed on the underside of the wells , (between
>the tires and wheel wells,NOT on the interior ),i think this
>will really help especially when the road is wet , for
>soundproofing , may sound like overkill but if im going to
>spend that much time in her itll be worth the effort... JOHN
Hey John,
A good idea I found is to build a box around the wheelwells using 3/8" plywood or so.. you don't need it real thick, and you don't wanna take up cargo room either. Anyway, make it as close as you can on the cargo side, then around sides and top, make it about 2" bigger than the wheelwell radius. before you put the top on, fill that sucker with household insulation, or sprayfoam, whatever you have on hand...makes a WORLD of difference in the noise.
Also, something some don't think about, stuff those big holes in side and rear doors with insulation, and cover them with 1/4" plywood or paneling or something. Then, use some spray adhesive, and some 'blanket material' (they sell both at Wal Mart) for padding, and cover your wood panels with some cheap leather lookin vinyl, naugahyde, some heavy cloth, denim, whatever, screw in some short shiny screws, or stick some chrome headed thumb tacks in every lil bit, and you have a nice custom lookin setup for notta lotta bucks!
Dreamer
[font color="blue"]Can ya tell I used to be into custom vans??? Now... what did I do with those heart shaped porthole windows, and the crushed velvet dice?
Hmmmmmm . . . wonder what FedEx would think of a driver showin up in a custom.. I can see it now, Mickey T's on Keystone Classics, chrome sidepipes, fur on the dash... Ok.. maybe not... [/font]
:7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :7 :7
Whiterabbit
Expert Expediter
Dreamer...good ideas thx!...about the portholes,you could cut a piece of clear plexiglass to fit on the backside of them , silicone them really good make em water tight , cut a hole at the top of em ...fill with water and add a goldfish or two,..,especially if you run for fed excc... ahhhhh the joys of bein a independent
ahhhhh the joys of bein a independent