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Topic: Rattle inside the wall (Read 602 times) previous topic - next topic

Rattle inside the wall

Something is rattling inside the wall of my 36' U295. Driver side, behind the driver's window and in front of the wooden wire chase that's behind that window. Where the "X" is shown in the photo, may e a little higher. The noise is coming from inside the wall; I can feel it with my hand while driving. Does anyone have pics of what's inside this wall?
1998 U295 36' No slides
Towing 2018 Jeep Wrangler
Previous rigs:
  1995 26' Fleetwood Flair
  1998 34' Fleetwood Bounder
  1997 40' Bluebird BMC
  1999 24' Winnebago Minnie Class C

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #1 –
Dont believe anything is in the wall.. That wood piece holds the electrical wires that run down I believe.. Also check your pull down flap on your awning.. Sometimes mine flaps
2002 U320 36' Single axle  MOST MODED IN HISTORY SO MUCH ITS ALMOST ILLIGAL
2 slides ( living room and bedroom)
undisclosed
male
female
genderless
nonbinary
transgendered

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #2 –
I have the same issue. The TV antenna seems to have rattle of its own and it is different from the awning pull-down strap flapping around. I've stowed the strap properly and can hear a creaking noise from that location while going down the road. Of course I am too busy driving to track it down 😅
Bob and Pam Brumbaugh
Ernie (English Bulldog)
2000 U320 WTFE 40' Build # 5740 (former)
Xtreme "Lights and Paintjob"
Motorcade# 18659
Souderton, PA
Towd: 2021 Ford Ranger
Quickee Mini Golf Cart (former)

We Are....Penn State!

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #3 –
Did you check the cabinet  :D
2002 U320 36' Single axle  MOST MODED IN HISTORY SO MUCH ITS ALMOST ILLIGAL
2 slides ( living room and bedroom)
undisclosed
male
female
genderless
nonbinary
transgendered

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #4 –
Could be the valance above the window is a little loose.
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Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #5 –
Yup, TV antenna and awning would be where I would start.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #6 –
If you have an awning over your driver window, the flap that you pull down to extend the awning could be the culprit.  The flap can hit against the fiberglass or window and feel like it is coming from that area!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #7 –
Of course it has to be inches from your ear while driving! Sounds frustrating. I would agree with others comments.

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #8 –
  Expanding foam .  .  .

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #9 –
It's not the cabinet above; it's not a loose valence; it's not the awning pull-down strap.
To further the mystery, it only happens when we first start driving in the morning, like when we're pulling out of a campground on less-than smooth roads, or maybe rocking and rolling on dirt/gravel road. I can't remember it ever happening when we're on a paved road and moving at 30 mph or more.
I haven't been up on the roof to check the TV antenna wire yet.
1998 U295 36' No slides
Towing 2018 Jeep Wrangler
Previous rigs:
  1995 26' Fleetwood Flair
  1998 34' Fleetwood Bounder
  1997 40' Bluebird BMC
  1999 24' Winnebago Minnie Class C

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #10 –
Some of those plastic antennas rattle around in the wind or rough roads.  I've had to tighten the screws from inside.  Also, has some of the wires on my solar panels come looks and slap around in the wind.  Needed to be tied down again.  Anything slapping the roof sounds loud.
Joe Phebus and Jaime Trujillo
2002 U270 3410  Build: 5953 Motorcader # 18595
2100 W Solar, 600 AH Battleborn Batteries,  Victron Multi-Plus II 3000 Inverter, Cerbo GX, & MPPT Chargers
1992 Geo Tracker

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Dan & Annie –
It's not the cabinet above; it's not a loose valence; it's not the awning pull-down strap.
To further the mystery, it only happens when we first start driving in the morning, like when we're pulling out of a campground on less-than smooth roads, or maybe rocking and rolling on dirt/gravel road. I can't remember it ever happening when we're on a paved road and moving at 30 mph or more.

Where is that "X" relative to the mounting points of the driver's window awning ends?  When the awning is retracted, is there any play/gap at that end of the tube?  Wondering if it could be the awning tube rattling against the side of the coach.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #12 –
I have a Girard awning with a wind speed sensor on the roof.  It took me a long time to figure out that the most annoying rattle that would start at around 30mph was actually that sensor spinning around.  The noise was so non-directional that I could not figure out where it was coming from.  Through a process of elimination I finally figured it out and now I wrap it with tape prior to a long road trip to keep it from spinning.  I would like to replace it with the newer motion sensor that retracts the awning automatically.
George Mann
2002 U320 #5934
2017 Rubicon
2013 BMW GS
Waterford MI

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #13 –
One idea:  One person drives, the other in the back with a mechanic's stethoscope probing around to try and isolate the source location.

Gene
97 U320 3rd Owner

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #14 –
I have to chuckle at this, it's probably irrelevant but a few of my window awning straps would slap against the windows, drove me nuts. Dsd and I were at King Of Hammers and while we were pulling up camp he looks up there and says "I have a fix for that". He took the rod and while allowing the awning to retract he pulled the strap to the side shortening the strap until nothing was hanging out. Talk about feeling stupid! He has a way with that! LOL!!! Jim.
Jim and Dona
2002 U295 36'
Lily, blue healer. Our fury person
Manx mid travel Ecotec turbo
2022 Bronco badlands Sasquatch
Trail 90 and 110cc

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #15 –
Quote from: fourdayoff –
I have to chuckle at this, it's probably irrelevant but a few of my window awning straps would slap against the windows, drove me nuts. Dsd and I were at King Of Hammers and while we were pulling up camp he looks up there and says "I have a fix for that". He took the rod and while allowing the awning to retract he pulled the strap to the side shortening the strap until nothing was hanging out. Talk about feeling stupid! He has a way with that! LOL!!! Jim.
I never thought of doing that. Good tip.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Rattle inside the wall

Reply #16 –
For years I had a large amount of rattle on my roof. I thought it was the cellular antennas today I have one on either side. They're mounted on springs so I just assumed that's where the sound was coming from. One day it occurred to me that it could be the TV antenna too. I think it's a king? When I redid the front cap I removed the wiring to it so it's not powered anymore I don't watch over the air and TV. Inside there's a rotating switch that when turned one way seem to crank down on the antenna a little bit and most of the noise was gone after that.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired