The Garage - SEMI Truck Soundproofing

The Garage: SEMI Truck Sound Deadening Projects

Featured Build: Big Orange Nemo

1989 Kenworth SEMI TRUCK + SLEEPER

Thomas lives and works out of his truck. When he's on the road for long stretches, he needs his ride to be quiet and cool. So who did he call? Second Skin! That's right... Thomas selected the best-of-the-best for his build.

Start with 160 sq ft of Damplifier Pro everywhere to kill the vibration and stop heat transfer. Then add 96 sq ft of Luxury Liner Pro on the floor, firewall, and walls to block out the diesel, road, and exhaust noises while offering a great thermal insulation value. And finally finish with 72 sq ft of Heat Wave Pro to thermally insulate the the cab ceiling, the sleeper, and walls the near the exhaust stacks.

Thomas has been thrilled with his results after the Second Skin treatments. He's been crossing America in the Big Orange Nemo build since 2012. from 2012. Check out his build for ides and strategies inside your SEMI and truck sleeper cab!!!

When traveling the road for a living, every dB matters. That's especially true when you add a huge Detroit Diesel under the hood. Thomas reached out to us soon after and said "I want this bad boy quiet, give me what you got".

That sweet engine is what makes this big boy fly down the road no matter the size of the load!!!

Thomas's floor before the Second Skin upgrade. Looks like it must have been crazy hot and loud.

Starting with a clean and bare cabin side firewall

Kenworth SEMi Soundproofing Damplifier Pro

First up, Damplifier Pro on all the floor, doors, ceiling, walls, and sleeping cab. It took about 160 sqft to cover the entire truck and sleeper cab.

When dealing with diesel noise, you want to get as high up the cabin firewall as you can with both Damplifier Pro and Luxury Liner Pro.

After the anti-vibration layer, Thomas skinned the floor, doors, and walls with about 96 sq ft Luxury Liner Pro Mass Loaded Vinyl.

Luxury Liner Pro with High Temp Foil Tape on the seams and edges. The grey spongy side goes down towards the metal with the black vinyl side facing out.

Cab with 100% coverage of Luxury Liner Pro MLV. On the walls with the exhaust stacks, Thomas layered Heat Wave Pro on top of the Damplifier Pro/Luxury Liner Pro combo to give it even more thermal insulation in those hot spots.

Thomas added a layer of Heat Wave Pro everywhere there was a heat source on the outside of the cab or sleeper.

For the ceiling Thomas went with 72 sq ft of the high R-Value Heat Wave Pro. It's lightweight and will keep the sun's heat out and the A/C inside the cabin and sleeper.

Final layer of Heat Wave Pro in the sleeper to keep the exhaust stack heat from coming through.

After all the Damplifier Pro, Luxury Liner Pro, and Heat Wave Pro was installed, the interior went back together very nice.

Next, let's get the dash went back together. Lots of shine!

And it's all complete, this big rig is ready for quiet rides across the country.

Thomas N, proud owner of the Big Orange NEMO

Even when it is snowing, it's nice and warm inside Thomas's rig. Thanks to the Luxury Liner Pro and Heat Wave Pro!

If you see The Big Orange Nemo rolling down the highway, reach that arm out the window and give em a Toot Toot!

More SEMI Truck Sound Deadening Projects

2017 volvo with sleeper

Type of Project: Cab & Sleeper

Products Used: 118 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Deadener (Floor/Doors/Walls/Ceiling)

90 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Sound Barrier Material (Floor/Doors/Walls)

28 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Ceiling)

Accessories: Spray Adhesive (3 cans), Wooden Roller, Foil Tape

2000 western with sleeper

Type of Project: Floor, Doors, Hood, Ceiling, & Sleeper

Products Used: 148 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Deadener (Floor/Doors/Hood/Walls/Ceiling)

100 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Mass Loaded Vinyl (Floor/Doors/Walls)

30 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Ceiling)

18 Sq Ft of Mega Block Heat Shield (Hood)

Accessories: Spray Adhesive (3 cans), Wooden Roller, Foil Tape

2015 kenworth t680

Type of Project: Floor, Doors, & Sleeper

Products Used: 100 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Deadener (Floor/Doors/Walls)

45 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro automotive MLV (Floor)

55 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Walls/Doors)

Accessories: Spray Adhesive (2 cans), Wooden Roller

1990 International

Type of Project: Floor & Firewall (Heat)

Products Used: 55 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Deadener (Floor)

45 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Mass Loaded Vinyl (Floor/Firewall)

10 Sq Ft of Thermal Block Heat Shield (Engine Side Firewall)

Accessories: Spray Adhesive (1 can), Wooden Roller, Foil Tape

LMTV (Light medium Tactical vehicle)

John's feet and bum were tired of getting roasted by the extreme heat of this awesome tactical vehicle. When you are basically sitting on top of your engine, life gets really hot. John ordered the 24 sqft of Mega Block 1,000 degree F heat shield with 1/2" thick hydrophobic melamine foam to deflect away the heat, thermally insulate, and even absorb some of that loud engine noise.

LMTV with major heat issues, driver's cab was far too hot.

LMTV Light Medium Tactical Vehicle Heat Insulation

24 sqft of Mega Block Heat Shield to block the heat and noise.

Hood popped, heat blocked, ready to rock and roll!

2018 Peterbilt 389 flattop

Type of Project: Peterbilt Cab Soundproofing

Products Used: 120 Sq Ft of Spectrum Liquid Deadener (Floor/Doors/Walls/Ceiling)

70 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Sound Barrier Material (Floor/Walls)

16 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Doors)

32 Sq Ft of Heat Wave Pro Thermal Insulation (Ceiling)

Accessories: Spray Adhesive (3 cans), Spray Gun + Bottle, Foil Tape

2010 mack pinnacle

Type of Project: Floor, Doors, & Firewall

Products Used: 40 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Sound Deadening (Floor/Doors/Firewall)

32 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Sound Barrier Material (Floor/Firewall)

8 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Doors)

Accessories: Spray Adhesive (1 can), Wooden Roller

LOVERLAND CAMPER oN FUSO CHASSIS

Our overland camper is built on a Fuso medium duty truck chassis. The cab-over configuration places the engine between the driver and passenger. As originally configured, the cab had no sound proofing or heat insulation, making for a loud and often very warm cab environment. I had a phone conversation with Second Skin and received some helpful suggestions to improve the situation. I installed Damplifier Pro sound deadening mats on the floor of the cab, under the OEM vinyl flooring. Mega Block hydrophobic foam heat shield was installed under the cab, above the engine. I was concerned that the half-inch thick Mega Block would be difficult to install because the area was composed of complex shapes with many curves and several control cables to work around. It turned out that, working carefully, the Mega Block could be formed into the complex shapes reasonably efficiently. The adhesive on the back of the Mega Block sheets is extremely sticky, so I had to tactically plan to when remove the backing once I had the sheet mostly in place. Four sheets (16 sq-ft) was adequate to completely cover the underside of the engine compartment. The front wheel wells are immediately below the driver and passenger seats, resulting in considerable tire and road noise. Spectrum was applied to the front wheel wells using a paint brush. I applied four coats totally about 4 mm in thickness. Applying the Spectrum was straight forward and cleaning up with water was easy. I am very happy with the results of the above installation. Excellent products and great support from Second Skin.