Too much rattling in the free world.

[pinballandvodka]

Howdy. I am deathly afraid of (significant) rattling during long trips with my Thor ACE. I drove it 10 miles home with some pots and pans under the sink and it made my eyes twitch. This rig does not ride amazingly by any shot, and that's just fine. But I am really maybe overly focused on keeping everything in it's place. I know some rattling is expected, but 8-10 hours later that sound is like rattle torture.

I have tightened a bunch of stuff and put a custom shelf in that slides over the oven top to make it more practical when not cooking (see pic) and that makes the oven lid rattle go bye bye. That's nice and snug and cannot come out without some real effort. Other things may not be so lucky. Are there things y'all either have a hard NO on as far as what needs to be stored/stowed before moving and other tips to get the rattle to a minimum? We are rolling w/o a single piece of glass inside the rig except what's stuck to it. Got plenty o' velcro, magnets, and gorilla glue at the ready

Thanks for your hints!

 

[pinballandvodka]

oops

 

[16ACE27]

Howdy. I am deathly afraid of (significant) rattling during long trips with my Thor ACE. I drove it 10 miles home with some pots and pans under the sink and it made my eyes twitch. This rig does not ride amazingly by any shot, and that's just fine. But I am really maybe overly focused on keeping everything in it's place. I know some rattling is expected, but 8-10 hours later that sound is like rattle torture.

I have tightened a bunch of stuff and put a custom shelf in that slides over the oven top to make it more practical when not cooking (see pic) and that makes the oven lid rattle go bye bye. That's nice and snug and cannot come out without some real effort. Other things may not be so lucky. Are there things y'all either have a hard NO on as far as what needs to be stored/stowed before moving and other tips to get the rattle to a minimum? We are rolling w/o a single piece of glass inside the rig except what's stuck to it. Got plenty o' velcro, magnets, and gorilla glue at the ready

Thanks for your hints!

No pic. You got it while I was typing - I added it to your original post.

We used cut pieces of cushioned shelf liner between pots/pans/lids. Wrap the microwave rotating glass plate in a hand towel.

 

[pinballandvodka]

No pic. You got it while I was typing - I added it to your original post.

We use cut pieces of cushioned shelf liner between pots/pans/lids. Wrap the microwave rotating glass plate in a hand towel.

genius.

 

[16ACE27]

genius.

The screen door may need some stick-on felt buttons too.

 

[ghnl]

I always assume that anything that can fall, will. We try to pack things in a pre-fallen position. And I added labels to all the overhead compartments that say, "Open Carefully, Items may have shifted during travel."

 

[PS89]

For your dishes and cookware, just use your kitchen towels, wash clothes, and pot holders to isolate them. You were going to bring them along anyway.

 

[Lt Keefer]

Had you ever driven a motorhome before your Ace? The first time I drove one, back in the 80s, I was amazed at all the noise from how I packed. Then I realized my old bumper pull was probably just as noisy, but we didn't ride in it. I got rid of most of my glassware/plates and switched to paper and solo cups. Put cardboard spacers between the pots/pans. All the counter stuff is now secured with a bungee net. I also fixed a lot of squeaks. In time you will adjust to the 'sound' of the camper. Have you checked your tire pressures? Sometimes dealers set them too high.

 

[Jimbo57]

When we had the 5th wheel we used magnetic baby locks on door and drawers because it was like a 8.0 earthquake when we got to location in the truck never felt anything , in our ClassA we feel ever dip, crack or patch in the road so we are much slower.

 

[dkoldman]

Have you tried more Vodka and less Pinball

My Top 3 favorite RV Squeakies

1. Metal on screens on driver and co-captains window. I uses some black tape but it is temp, on a long trip I take the screen out.

2. Main door, something inside the locking mechanism seems to be having a party whenever we drive. I just have to deal with it.

3. Microwave, but it is resolved with putting the rotating plate in a large padded shipping envelope.

 

[pinballandvodka]

I always try more vodka than pinball. No such thing as a vodka desert in the U.S. Although Pinball is having a renaissance in the last 10 or so years so it's becoming less likely to not find a pinball machine when rolling through rando towns.

So- These are three great ideas. Thanks. I am defenestrating this microwave and may or may not hack a combo crock pot/thing into that place- slow and low, that is the tempo.

I have never driven an RV until about a month ago. That said, I drove box trucks in NYC at 20'whatever foot Uhauls with car trailers cross country so I'm fairly comfortable with it.

W/R/T breakable thangs- I just assumed out of the gate literally getting rid of anything that can break the only option- So literal that I sold off the family china and bvlah blah. I've replaced it all with plastic/pet/whatever/something made out of a dinosaur.

I was thinking neodymium button magnets either epoxied or sunk depending if wood or whatever plastic the Thor interior is made out of. There is a lot of work to do with this thing IMHO. Nothing shocking just practical. That cutting board/stove cover thinger picture I posted will likely need magnets at some point

I finally broke into the TV compartment outside (also broke off the twisty cheap metal thinger on one side too) and came across a literally brand new looking TV (as in, not even a speck of dust in this compartment). The TV is huge (to me) 28"-30-32"?. Also to me it looks like a bar. The TV is going into the trash, Goodwill, whatever, within a day. Maybe after the nado's roll thru

Thanks to all.

 

[pinballandvodka]

Have you tried more Vodka and less Pinball

My Top 3 favorite RV Squeakies

1. Metal on screens on driver and co-captains window. I uses some black tape but it is temp, on a long trip I take the screen out.

2. Main door, something inside the locking mechanism seems to be having a party whenever we drive. I just have to deal with it.

3. Microwave, but it is resolved with putting the rotating plate in a large padded shipping envelope.

Reading again, can you elucidate your thoughts on the #1? Metal on the screens?

 

[dkoldman]

Reading again, can you elucidate your thoughts on the #1? Metal on the screens?

Think driver window. There is a screen on the inside of the RV, so if you open the window it keeps bugs out and allow air through, but it is also made to slide over the glass so half the window is wide open, think if you needed to crawl through.

The problem:

The perimeter of the screen is made of metal when in motion the vibration of the metal against the metal of the sliding window rail is annoying. It is just a bad design, the screen should have some type of felt around the perimeter to keep metal for rattling. Both windows do the same.

Here is a picture I found of my Microwave when traveling, no more banging or rattling around.

 

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

As Ace said above, I put these felt pads all over. They are around the screen door, TV stands on the wall, between the doors on cabinets, I put a towel under the iron rails and glass top on the stove. I have a 21 THOR ACE, and no rattling so far and its been over 4 yrs.

Ive got the north south bed, so no door in that slide between walls, I walked away from a brand new HR back in 2020 when i test drove. I just couldn'e deal with the rattling door.

 

[DKStone]

Howdy. I am deathly afraid of (significant) rattling during long trips with my Thor ACE. I drove it 10 miles home with some pots and pans under the sink and it made my eyes twitch. This rig does not ride amazingly by any shot, and that's just fine. But I am really maybe overly focused on keeping everything in it's place. I know some rattling is expected, but 8-10 hours later that sound is like rattle torture.

I have tightened a bunch of stuff and put a custom shelf in that slides over the oven top to make it more practical when not cooking (see pic) and that makes the oven lid rattle go bye bye. That's nice and snug and cannot come out without some real effort. Other things may not be so lucky. Are there things y'all either have a hard NO on as far as what needs to be stored/stowed before moving and other tips to get the rattle to a minimum? We are rolling w/o a single piece of glass inside the rig except what's stuck to it. Got plenty o' velcro, magnets, and gorilla glue at the ready

Thanks for your hints!

Noticed everyone saying what you can do internally re noise, however, we found out it was external. We’ve only been RVing since 2017, so learning stuff every outing. One thing I noticed while riding in the RV (2018 Four Winds 26 was the noise and rattling. Went for new tires at 5 years. Tire man did not have tires like ones that came with the RV, however he said he had some that were a bit larger and he thought better for RV. Boy was he right!! Now, no more rattling, smoother drive and can actually hear each other talk. I am enjoying traveling in it so much more now. Amazing. Just saying.

 

[16ACE27]

Noticed everyone saying what you can do internally re noise, however, we found out it was external. We’ve only been RVing since 2017, so learning stuff every outing. One thing I noticed while riding in the RV (2018 Four Winds 26 was the noise and rattling. Went for new tires at 5 years. Tire man did not have tires like ones that came with the RV, however he said he had some that were a bit larger and he thought better for RV. Boy was he right!! Now, no more rattling, smoother drive and can actually hear each other talk. I am enjoying traveling in it so much more now. Amazing. Just saying.

It helps when you're not riding at the edge of the capacity of the tires. More margin is always better.

 

[pinballandvodka]

Are you saying don't store gold bouillon in the Roving Vanity?

 

[jimg1680@aol.com]

Noticed everyone saying what you can do internally re noise, however, we found out it was external. We’ve only been RVing since 2017, so learning stuff every outing. One thing I noticed while riding in the RV (2018 Four Winds 26 was the noise and rattling. Went for new tires at 5 years. Tire man did not have tires like ones that came with the RV, however he said he had some that were a bit larger and he thought better for RV. Boy was he right!! Now, no more rattling, smoother drive and can actually hear each other talk. I am enjoying traveling in it so much more now. Amazing. Just saying.

I've had my 2016 ACE 29.3 for two years, the biggest thing that quieted all the noise was new Sumo Springs, new ICON shocks, and a new rear stabilizer bar. Still can be noisy, but the dash doesn't rattle much anymore and the ride is soooo much better.

 

[Vibeman]

We have a 2020 Hurricane 29M, bought slightly used in November 2020. First and only motor home we have ever owned. It is a truck, riding on stiff truck tires and leaf springs so a lot of large and small shocks are transmitted to the coach continuously while driving, over time things just get loose and movement increases. Auto manufacturers spend a LOT of time and effort preventing rattles during the design and assembly processes, motor home manufacturers spend very little. That being said, early on I adopted a methodical approach to noise reduction, addressing the worst offenders first , sticking with them until they were resolved, or reduced to the point where it was no longer practical to go further. My #1 improvement by far was the most difficult and time consuming but made the biggest improvement. That was partially disassembling the entire dash and bracing it with 2x4, plywood, adhesive and screws then adding stick on heavy sound deadening panels everywhere I could. #2 was the bottom panel on our screen door rattled so I taped it with black Gorilla tape. That totally solved that rattle but the door itself still rattles where it contacts the door frame. I found that if I spray the gasket and latch with silicone spray before each trip it is greatly reduced. It must be done often. #3 was that our overhead bunk settles down on the transport pins during travel and once it contacts them it will squeak and rattle. I greased the pins with lithium grease but again this must be done periodically. The best thing I have found was to just raise the bunk back up to the top every time we stop. The engine must be stopped to do this but it only takes a few seconds. #4 was solved by my wife. The shower door latch still allowed some movement in the door and it would bang sometimes. She just puts a small towel in between the door and frame before latching it thereby eliminating the movement and the noise. We have done many other small improvements such as those already mentioned. Just work through them methodically until solved. My next improvement will be to stiffen the TV mount over the dinette. It is weak and allows the TV to bounce and rattle during travel. Our dinette table would rattle too. I lubricated and then tightened the pivot bolts that allow it to raise/lower and that solved that problem.

 

[NOMO925]

All class As are basically noisy rattle traps. Just some more than others. It just takes some getting used to and as others have stated, thin styrofoam, paper towels, kitchen towels and shelf liners between the little noise makers do wonders.