wind noise while driving with truck camper?

[doublebanzai]

i'm a total newbie - actually, not even a newbie, as i don't even have a camper... but i am thinking of getting one, and have looked at pop ups, hard sides, etc.

i'm picturing driving for long distances at highway speed in a truck, and with a camper on top, is there a lot of added noise? and if so, how to mitigate that. i like peace and quiet when i'm driving, sometimes listen to books on tape, etc --- a lot or even noticeably louder noise might be pretty irksome.

thanks! some gr8 ideas in these forums, which i discovered today.

 

[PaulT]

Buy a Tundra and keep windows rolled up. Very quiet.
Just kidding. Don't notice any noise due to camper. If any window is open, there is wind noise, of course.

Paul

 

[Cayuse]

With my Tundra-Grandby combo I had a lot of wind noise from about 30-50some mph. Put a wind deflector on the cab and voila wind noise is all but gone. A big part of it will be dependent on the gap between the cab and the camper overhang.

 

[Stalking Light]

I have a faring on my Tacoma/Eagle and that reduced the noise but it wasn't that bad to begin with. The only time I really noticed was when I forgot to buckle to top down and then drove off.

 

[Bosque Bill]

I have to mildly disagree with my esteemed colleagues. There is much more wind noise in a truck, compared to a passenger car, and although it can be reduced, it cannot be eliminated. Now, I have a Tacoma, perhaps those folks in a larger, better insulated Tundras do have less noise to begin with. In a car I could hardly hear the engine noise, in my truck it is inescapable.

I don't think the camper contributed too much extra noise, but it did add some. I did add a fairing/deflector which helped a bit, but I added it to reduce wind gust affects on the camper & handling, and it was successful in that.

All that said, I used to listen to audio books while traveling in my car. I simply cannot do that now. Maybe some of the issue is my advanced age and thus my hearing acuity is less than when I was younger. But when the book reader puts any character in the words and speaks a soft passage, I lose what is being said. It's just too hard to try to follow the plot.

I bought an XM satellite radio and listen to that while driving. I can enjoyably listen to classical music, even the soft passages, without issue. I can listen to talk radio (very rarely, perhaps to catch up on the news on a long trip) and hear everything that is being said clearly. I enjoy listening to baseball games on the satellite radio. I've had to give up listening to books.

Please don't be tempted to use ear buds or phones while driving. It is illegal most places because it is dangerous to cut yourself off from what is happening around you - you can't hear sirens, big trucks or fast cars overtaking you, or even engine noises that might indicate something is mechanically wrong (or coming lose on your camper.) It is easy to get lost in the world the audio book creates, don't make that worse by using head phones.

 

[doublebanzai]

Buy a Tundra and keep windows rolled up. Very quiet.
Just kidding. Don't notice any noise due to camper. If any window is open, there is wind noise, of course.

Paul

i'm wondering if larger trucks like tundras are inherently quieter than the little tacomas.... larger cars seem to be much quieter than smaller ones - from engine, wind, and other noise... they seem to absorb sound better, and probably are better insulated against sound, much more cush.....

 

[billharr]

Wind noise on my 2005 Tundra and my 2002 Hawk with short cabover was unbearable. WOP-WOP LOUD. Wind deflector made it go away. 2013 Hawk with large cabover was better. I still use the wind deflector and the Tundra is as quite as my Rav4.

 

[doublebanzai]

I have to mildly disagree with my esteemed colleagues. There is much more wind noise in a truck, compared to a passenger car, and although it can be reduced, it cannot be eliminated. Now, I have a Tacoma, perhaps those folks in a larger, better insulated Tundras do have less noise to begin with. In a car I could hardly hear the engine noise, in my truck it is inescapable.

I don't think the camper contributed too much extra noise, but it did add some. I did add a fairing/deflector which helped a bit, but I added it to reduce wind gust affects on the camper & handling, and it was successful in that.

All that said, I used to listen to audio books while traveling in my car. I simply cannot do that now. Maybe some of the issue is my advanced age and thus my hearing acuity is less than when I was younger. But when the book reader puts any character in the words and speaks a soft passage, I lose what is being said. It's just too hard to try to follow the plot.

I bought an XM satellite radio and listen to that while driving. I can enjoyably listen to classical music, even the soft passages, without issue. I can listen to talk radio (very rarely, perhaps to catch up on the news on a long trip) and hear everything that is being said clearly. I enjoy listening to baseball games on the satellite radio. I've had to give up listening to books.

Please don't be tempted to use ear buds or phones while driving. It is illegal most places because it is dangerous to cut yourself off from what is happening around you - you can't hear sirens, big trucks or fast cars overtaking you, or even engine noises that might indicate something is mechanically wrong (or coming lose on your camper.) It is easy to get lost in the world the audio book creates, don't make that worse by using head phones.

I'm definitely concerned about more engine noise in a truck, than compared to my Accord (which is noisy enough...) In fact, one of the things i'll be looking for is which trucks are quieter... however, if a tacoma can handle a pop up camper, i'd prefer a smaller truck. They seem to be right on the edge of handling a loaded pop up, though... I'd consider a Tundra or truck like that, if it's quieter, but I don't think I'd like driving a larger truck...

I definitely listen to audio books when i'm going on a long trip - they are life savers. I'm older, like you, but listen almost solely to non-fiction audio books. you might try that - in terms of your hearing loss. there is much less change of voice in non-fiction.

I must apologize for using ear buds, though........... this is partly because my cd player in my car is broken, but also because of the difficulty of car noise vs hearing. Even though my hearing is slightly impaired, the drone of the engine and other car noises is draining.....

I'm worried that I just might find the noise level of trucks, and maybe with a TC on top, too noisy.... sounds like a fairing may help....

Are diesels quieter than gas engines? I've never even ridden in a diesel car or truck......

 

[doublebanzai]

well, found this on something called tundratalk.......... jeeze, maybe i'll hafta spring for a pretty new tundra... afraid of the cost of that, though... and, just not real sure i'd want a larger truck, to park, and to go off road (if i go off road....)

http://www.tundratalk.net/forums/tundra-general-discussion/162425-how-quiet-cabin-highway.html

and then this from the ventura county star....maybe if i go this route i'll try non-fancy trim.... ?

The '16 Tacoma is much quieter and more refined inside. You'll hear the engine under moderate acceleration but, like luxury full-size pickups, most of the noise — road, wind and exhaust snarl—comes from behind. It's not sedan-quiet but noise won't be a fatiguing issue, and since the fancy trim comes with larger wheels and lower-profile tires, it feels both noisier and stiffer.

 

[Taku]

When we first installed our Ocelot on our 05 Tundra, we would get loud wind noise when it was windy out, while driving at highway speed. Built a wind deflector and that helped. Remounted the camper (more or less permanently) with no wind deflector but was very careful to have the camper body tight against the front box rail. Have not had wind noise issues for two years. The only difference between then and now (with no wind deflector) was making sure the camper was tight to the box rail. And there is quite a bit of room between the camper and roof of the truck. You might think about using a bluetooth speaker that is directional if you are having trouble hearing your selected noise diversion.

 

[Squatch]

My '06 Tundra is the quietest pickup I've ever owned. The combo of that and the small Eagle camper make for a very small addition to the frontal profile of the truck. Don't even notice wind noise at all till over 70 mph.



The little fairing on the roof rack in this pic is no longer used.

 

[Ronin]

I had a 2003 Tundra/Hawk and didn't notice any wind noise. I currently have a 2014 Tundra/Hawk and if anything it's quieter because the new Tundra is more insulated. Whenever I'm hauling kayaks there is a lot of noise but that's off topic. I drive 55mph up 75mph and all I notice is the sound of the engine.

 

[CarlG]

Fresh off of 10 days in mine, this topic looms large for me. Wind noise in my setup (Ram 3500 + flatbed Hawk) is pretty substantial. Now, it's certainly not so bad that you can't enjoy a podcast, but its very noticeable.

i'm wondering if larger trucks like tundras are inherently quieter than the little tacomas.... larger cars seem to be much quieter than smaller ones - from engine, wind, and other noise... they seem to absorb sound better, and probably are better insulated against sound, much more cush.....

Maybe. Hard for me to compare. I think the larger frontal area of the flatbed model + higher mounting may be contributing factors for me. If I built over again I'd pay more attention to the height of the flatbed and try to find one that resulted in a few inches lower overall height.

Are diesels quieter than gas engines? I've never even ridden in a diesel car or truck......

Nope. But the wind noise is far more bothersome than the soothing growl of the engine.

 

[Smokecreek1]

I've been driving my F-150/Granby combo year round for almost 12 years now, usually with the windows down, and about the only time I have any real wind noise is on the freeways. Sometimes it's hard to hear the radio so i just shut the window and it goes away ! Anyway, most of the places I drive there is poor or no radio reception so the noise is no big problem with me. Now compared to the duce in a half I drove in the Army, the is no noise at all! You want to hear some real wind on the camper noise, wait 'till you are camped on some dark rainy and snowy night and you get hit by one of those Washoe Zephyrs (called norther in some places). Now that's a show stopper. What's more amazing is that despite all the noise and shacking, you survive it and everything holds together !

Smoke

 

[doublebanzai]

Wind noise on my 2005 Tundra and my 2002 Hawk with short cabover was unbearable. WOP-WOP LOUD. Wind deflector made it go away. 2013 Hawk with large cabover was better. I still use the wind deflector and the Tundra is as quite as my Rav4.

so the 2002 hawk that didn't extend that much over the truck cab --- somehow was unbearably loud? and what sort of wind deflector did you use? and the longer(?) cabover was quieter, but you still need to use a wind deflector?

 

[Vic Harder]

Do wind/rain fairings on the windows help? Most of the noise in my rig is from the windows.

http://www.weathertech.ca/en/side-window-deflectors/

 

[craig333]

Get the newest truck you can. They're always improving on quietness. Stay away from a diesel though they're no where near as loud as they used to be. Get off the pavement as soon as possible. Soon as I'm on dirt I want to listen to nature, not the radio.

Maybe because I've always worked in high noise environments but the truck noise doesn't bother. Camper didn't add much if any that "I" could notice. There's always aftermarket ways to reduce noise. Additional insulation, coatings, even floor mats. Spend some time googling noise reduction for whatever vehicle you choose.

 

[billharr]

so the 2002 hawk that didn't extend that much over the truck cab --- somehow was unbearably loud? and what sort of wind deflector did you use? and the longer(?) cabover was quieter, but you still need to use a wind deflector?

It is a pressure thing I am sure. Cracking a window cuts the noise or moving the heater vent to recirculate will reduce the noise. Neighbor down the street has a Tundra and Hawk like mine he said he has no wind noise. He does have an inflatable boot for his rear window pass through. A first generation Tundra with standard Hawk has a lot of room over the cab. I feel if the area was tighter you would not have the noise. I have a large wing I bought at a yard sale. With it I have no noise.

 

[abqbw]

I have a 2010 Tundra and a 2016 Tacoma. I can't believe how loud the road noise is in the Tacoma for a brand new generation truck. It's horrible. Complete fail by Toyota. It has regular factory all terrain tires. The Tundra isn't especially quiet but it is much quieter then the Tacoma. The Tacoma only has a camper shell (which actually made it more quiet than with no shell). The Tundra has my Hawk. It didn't really increase the noise but did cause a little wop-wop-wop shudder at speed. I added a simple Yakima fairing to the cab of the truck and it cured the wop...

 

[doublebanzai]

thanks, everyone for the info ........ i hadn't even heard of those deflectors, fairings, etc... surprised how noisy the 2016 tacoma apparently is....i'll have to try out some trucks on the freeway, etc!