How Sound Proof are Modern Airstream Trailers?

[NoBanjoBurns]

Hi, I'm curious how much outside noise one can hear inside a modern Airstream trailer when all the doors and windows are buttoned up. Can you hear human voices talking outside the trailer?

I live in Los Angeles and will be getting a 16' Bambi soon. I'll be parking it in my yard, but the street is pretty close and teenagers tend to like to loiter and chat nearby because of the view. If I have guests stay in the Bambi, I'm wondering if I should provide earplugs so they don't get woken up by the sounds of the city.

[tbrowne]

It depends! Too many factors weigh in on the question to say what person inside will hear. In all likelihood they will hear something. A sound machine playing white noise might be the best answer.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Yes, if folks call to me from outside the trailer, I can hear them. If a car goes by on the road 50' from the trailer, I can hear it. This is with all the doors / windows / vents closed and nothing going on in the trailer. None of it is as loud as if I have a window open.

Bob

[richard5933]

Of course, if you are running the a/c then you can't hear anything from outside the trailer.

[NoBanjoBurns]

Yeah, I'm mostly just interested in the sound of human voices. Can you hear 3 or 4 people talking at a moderate level 25 to 50 feet away while inside the trailer? And is it more like a muffled sort of sound or can you clearly hear what people are saying? Since there isn't much insulation between the aluminum walls, I'd imagine that Airstreams would be rather lousy at dampening outside noises.

And yeah, I realize that there are a variety of scenarios that will provide different results here, I guess I'm just trying to set up my expectations here.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by NoBanjoBurns

Yeah, I'm mostly just interested in the sound of human voices. Can you hear 3 or 4 people talking at a moderate level 25 to 50 feet away inside the trailer? And is it more like a muffled sort of sound or can you clearly hear what people are saying? Since there isn't much insulation between the aluminum walls, I'd imagine that Airstreams would be rather lousy at dampening outside noises.

And yeah, I realize that there are a variety of scenarios that will provide different results here, I guess I'm just trying to set up my expectations here.

Hi

What's a moderate level? How well can you hear? Is there any other noise in the trailer?

If it's dead quiet and you have good hearing ..... you can hear a lot of stuff.

Bob

[NoBanjoBurns]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

What's a moderate level? How well can you hear? Is there any other noise in the trailer?

If it's dead quiet and you have good hearing ..... you can hear a lot of stuff.

Bob

Hearing is normal for a 40 year old. No other noise is in the trailer. You’re lying in bed, trying to go to sleep. People are talking outside at a moderate level (normal talking voice) about 25-50 feet away. Do they sound like they’re in the trailer with you? Or is it just light mumbles you hear?

[s1000pre]

It probably cuts the sound by 50%. Not sure what the goal is, as others have said, turn on a fan. They wont hear the fan, you won't hear them talking.

[skyguyscott]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Of course, if you are running the a/c then you can't hear anything from outside the trailer.

Ha!

Running the A/C will also force those loitering outside to move to a location where they can hear each other talk.

[Stevienext]

Originally Posted by NoBanjoBurns

Hi, I'm curious how much outside noise one can hear inside a modern Airstream trailer when all the doors and windows are buttoned up. Can you hear human voices talking outside the trailer?

I live in Los Angeles and will be getting a 16' Bambi soon. I'll be parking it in my yard, but the street is pretty close and teenagers tend to like to loiter and chat nearby because of the view. If I have guests stay in the Bambi, I'm wondering if I should provide earplugs so they don't get woken up by the sounds of the city.

Who knows? (since some hear better/worse than others) Earplugs are cheap---go ahead and supply some for your guests. They can decide if they need them or not. : )

[richard5933]

A more thorough answer...

We moved to the Airstream from a 1974 GMC bus conversion. It was relatively quiet and we only heard people talking outside if they were immediately next to the bus. We always considered it to be relatively well insulated against sound intrusion.

In the past year of traveling in our Airstream, we have made numerous comparisons as might be expected. Sound intrusion is one that comes up frequently, and I think that the most accurate assesment I can make is that the Airstream does okay. Not as well as the bus, but okay. We've noticed that low frequencies come though to the inside about the same, but voices and birds chirping more so.

All that said, it's all relative to what you're used to. If you are used to sleeping with windows open and city noise outside, then I'd say you'd have no problems. But, if you're used to sleeping in a quiet suburban setting with closed windows and no outside noise at all, then there's going to be a transition period required to adjust to the added sound intrusion.

[fraslin]

We have a 2022 16' Bambi and have been surprised by how quiet it is. Some RV parks are near highways and we don't hear the road noise for example. Would you hear voices - probably to the same degree you hear it inside your house. But if you had a little white noise, say the fan, you'd wouldn't hear it at all. And as @richard5933 says with the AC on you will hear nothing but the AC

[NoBanjoBurns]

Originally Posted by richard5933

A more thorough answer...

We moved to the Airstream from a 1974 GMC bus conversion. It was relatively quiet and we only heard people talking outside if they were immediately next to the bus. We always considered it to be relatively well insulated against sound intrusion.

In the past year of traveling in our Airstream, we have made numerous comparisons as might be expected. Sound intrusion is one that comes up frequently, and I think that the most accurate assesment I can make is that the Airstream does okay. Not as well as the bus, but okay. We've noticed that low frequencies come though to the inside about the same, but voices and birds chirping more so.

All that said, it's all relative to what you're used to. If you are used to sleeping with windows open and city noise outside, then I'd say you'd have no problems. But, if you're used to sleeping in a quiet suburban setting with closed windows and no outside noise at all, then there's going to be a transition period required to adjust to the added sound intrusion.

Thanks! That's very helpful!

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by NoBanjoBurns

Yeah, I'm mostly just interested in the sound of human voices. Can you hear 3 or 4 people talking at a moderate level 25 to 50 feet away while inside the trailer? And is it more like a muffled sort of sound or can you clearly hear what people are saying? Since there isn't much insulation between the aluminum walls, I'd imagine that Airstreams would be rather lousy at dampening outside noises.

And yeah, I realize that there are a variety of scenarios that will provide different results here, I guess I'm just trying to set up my expectations here.

It depends on how tired your guests are :-)

[John Ware]

Originally Posted by NoBanjoBurns

Hi, I'm curious how much outside noise one can hear inside a modern Airstream trailer when all the doors and windows are buttoned up. Can you hear human voices talking outside the trailer?

I live in Los Angeles and will be getting a 16' Bambi soon. I'll be parking it in my yard, but the street is pretty close and teenagers tend to like to loiter and chat nearby because of the view. If I have guests stay in the Bambi, I'm wondering if I should provide earplugs so they don't get woken up by the sounds of the city.

Ck out post #29 on the Upset Neighbor thread. My 23' FC is very quiet inside and out.

[Peej]

Hi! I built a recording studio into a 30 flying cloud.
Granted my microphones are extremely sensitive!
I have had to add baffles around my microphone to alleviate
Outdoor noise. Im currently parked in Colorado next to my drummers house. Inside their house .. they can hear every conversation we have. We rarely hear them. The air conditioner is super loud.. nothing can be done about that until Airstream addresses it. My Air conditioners work great, but they register 88DB inside the Airstream. All things i have learned to deal with as Im loving the stream!

[dsatwork]

Originally Posted by NoBanjoBurns

Hi, I'm curious how much outside noise one can hear inside a modern Airstream trailer when all the doors and windows are buttoned up. Can you hear human voices talking outside the trailer?

I live in Los Angeles and will be getting a 16' Bambi soon. I'll be parking it in my yard, but the street is pretty close and teenagers tend to like to loiter and chat nearby because of the view. If I have guests stay in the Bambi, I'm wondering if I should provide earplugs so they don't get woken up by the sounds of the city.

As fulltime 2015 30RB International Airstream owners, we are constantly amazed at how quiet it gets when all the doors are shut and windows closed. Most of the time we leave the driver side bedroom window open, but rarely are bothered by outside noise and we stay in Thousand Trail campgrounds, Elk Club RV parks (generally located by busy roadways) or dry docking anywhere for overnights. I think your guest will be just fine...don't worry about it.

[jeffb831]

Don't forget that sound is a two-way street and sounds from conversations and other "activities" within the trailer are just as likely to be heard outside.

[bcheever]

I have a '21 Caravel and a wife whose one fault is that she is a total diva about noise when we travel. We have been really surprised at how quiet it is inside the Airstream. Noisy neighbors at the next campsite, highways, barking dogs get easily screened out.

In fact we sometimes mix in nights in hotels on long trips and we are surprised how much noisier hotels are then the Airstream! I don't think you will have any problems, but if you do you can easily turn on the AC in fan only mode.

Will be a great guest room they will remember for a long time.

[SouthForkAS]

In LA? With bored teens close by? Fugedaboutit!
Prepare the guest room.
If you were in FLA w the AC running all night, not so bad.