Hah, yeah you would. Yeah, it's really hard to quantify stuff like this without a decibel reader and some equipment. My subjective opinion is about 2x in general. I notice it particularly on the freeway -- road noise is substantially reduced. Perhaps someone should be the true guinea pig and record the sound levels driving around in their car before and after doing an install like this.

All I can really say is that it makes a very noticeable difference that is worth the 2 hours (if you're being careful and measuring well) and $20 it takes to accomplish.

EDIT: I should also add that my numbers might be off because I didn't have a carpet-backed cab before doing this install, which probably made a huge difference as well. So maybe a typical person should expect at least a 50% reduction in road noise, and 100% reduction if they apply it as thick as possible in areas that they can get away with (under seats, near firewall, back of cab, over transmission ridge, etc.).

 

I think I have a new project I want a nice quiet well insulated interior!

 

You have to take your carpet out to replace your shifter bushing?

 

For the fancy schmancy sound deadening stuff, ballpark, what do you think it would it cost to do the same job?

 

Cool. My truck isn't insured right now... maybe I'll get around to doing this while it isn't being driven. I like my ride being quiet and comfortable.

 

I don't know if you do normally, but I think I will because I lined the insulation up and under the shifter cover, so it won't be easy to access without removing the carpet first. Maybe someone can clarify for me...

For some legit sound deadening foam (that WILL work better, no doubt), I think the cheapest you could do it for is about $100 and up. For example: http://www.amazon.com/Dynamat-10455-.../dp/B00020CB2S

The problem with some professional sound deadening stuff is the time it takes to install, the obvious high cost, the smell of some of the materials, their temperature rating and tendency to melt, as well as their permanence.

I will be honest: the only reason I chose the $15 Reflectix is because it's cheap, I'm impatient, and I wanted something that would be easy to install and easy to remove. I got all those things. But I won't deny that a professional sound deadening solution would likely be much better. You can read more about professional sound deadening here: http://www.sounddeadenershowdown.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

 

When I had my Runner apart to paint I installed sound deadening pads in all my doors and quarter panels. Made a big difference on how quite my ride is. Now when I close my doors you get a nice heavy thud, not a tin-ny twang.

 

Very informative link. Thank-you.

 

the reflectix worked great and easy to do! thanks Monochrome for the info!

 

well.. my interiors getting ripped out this summer...
thats gotta keep the a/c working better.

 

 

ok, so a bit of an update from my installation:

i've had it in for almost a year, and i can safely say that i think there are better ways to insulate the cab. the noise reduction is mediocre, and it kinda keeps the air conditioning in. that being said, it works extremely well keeping the heat in. if it's sunny out, i barely use the heat, and if it's night, all i need is the heater on low/med low. love it in the winter, it's okay in the summer.

my $0.02

 

Get your self some fat mat off e-bay. I bought a $150 worth of the stuff and laid it on triple thick in most places in my truck. Tremendous effect on the heat/a/c effectiveness. Nice and quiet in the cab now also. If your going to go to all the trouble to pull out the seat, carpet and door panels, put something good in there.

 

^^ thanks for that, good to know

though, hindsight is 20/20