sound deadening

[atvfanatic]

Driving my transit connect for the first time I quickly realized it needed sound deadening.  I pulled every panel and installed 10mm deadening everywhere I could find a metal panel.  Then added corrugated plastic to cover where there was none, doors, walls, rear ceiling.  I also added a second light in the rear and switched them both to LED bulbs.  BIG upgrade.  Seeing how I use this van for work, I build shelving for totes.  I am loving this thing so far!

[RDinNHandAZ]

I hear ya. Well now I can hear you! I bought a 2010 TC last spring to convert to a one man camper and I was surprised at how loud it was and how much road noise it generated. I too added some sound insulation, some polyisocanurate ridgid board, glass fiber, some Reflexix and carpet as both sound proffing and insulation. I built a slide-out bed and cabinet galley as many others have done. All this helped and when I purchase new tires I’ll look for some who's feature list is quietness. I didn’t do anything to the roof as it had the liner already. I also went with lighter gray color and maple plywood to build the cabinets to keep it light inside.

I wish I had recorded the improvement with the decibel app on my iPhone.

Edited February 22, 2025 by RDinNHandAZ

[atvfanatic]

I too didn't think to check before and after with a decibel reader.  Tires made a big difference for me as well.

[darb]

On 2/20/2025 at 4:46 PM, atvfanatic said:

 I also added a second light in the rear and switched them both to LED bulbs.  BIG upgrade.

 

 

Did you use a factory second light, was it plug and play or did you splice?

[atvfanatic]

On 4/15/2025 at 11:31 AM, darb said:

 

Did you use a factory second light, was it plug and play or did you splice?

I ran a wire over head spliced into the existing factory light and picked up some LED aftermarket lights that snapped in the factory holes.

[Chip]

I added a lot of sound deadening to my '21. I used an app on my phone to quantify noise reduction, but it didn't show a huge improvement. When it rains, that is quieter. Noise from outside the van, it's quieter. I believe most of the noise comes from the road, and even with foam pads and carpet, it's still noisy. The noise is my strongest complaint about the Connect.

 

When traveling, I often have the "belly" filled with gear, and that makes a significant improvement in noise level. I call the footwell of the second row of seats, removed from the cargo versions, the belly. Stock, the cargo version, at least mine, have openings between that hidden space, the belly, and the drivers compartment. So road noise from the belly is piped into the driving area. I've read the passenger versions are significantly quieter, but have never ridden in one to know.

 

 

[windguy]

On 8/31/2025 at 6:51 PM, Chip said:

The noise is my strongest complaint about the Connect.

 

Good post. I agree. I too did a lot of sound proofing when I got my 2015 cargo van but I consider it was a marginal improvement. 

I too have the footwell area for the second row seats filled with stuff as a storage compartment. Again better, but marginal. You still get a significant amount of road noise. 

 

[JackGrimshaw]

Put a ladder rack on your roof and you won't hear the road noise