Ok so finished up most of the sound deadening today.
Things have kind of changed. I tried several times to get the mass backed vinyl and foam to work stay out in the quarter panels inside but it was very time consuming tender to keep flopping over. I still may revisit this option depending on how my current solution works out.
So after learning that the ACC Carpet has a mass backed option I figured that would be easier. For the LJ they only offer the cut to fit yourself option. So I got that for the back figuring it wouldn’t be to bad and for the most part it wasn’t. Other than finding a way to make it stay attached on the sides. (Photo below)
For the front I looked up Bedrugs part numbers for the TJ and LJ and they are the same. So figured I could order the “OEM fit” for the front from ACC for the TJ. Well I am not sure if TJ’s and LJ’s use different carpet in the front or not but I was not impressed at all with the fit and had to spend a long time trimming and cutting etc to get it to fit.
Here’s a couple photos of the finished installation.
I ordered a quality jute for the floor and use a 1/8” closed cell foam on the vertical to act as a decoupler so noise doesn’t transfer through the vinyl. I tried the Jute everywhere but there was no way to get it to fit so had to compromise on the verticals.
This photo shows what I have going on
Sound deadener on bottom, 1/2” jute on top of that. Followed by ACC Mass Backed ESSEX carpet. The top is just a weather tech floor mat.
This is the main problem area, both sides are similar. I can’t get anything to stick to the mass backing. Tried some super aggressive industrial strength velcro that is a nightmare to get off metal and it won’t adhere at all to the mass backing on the carpet so not sure how I am gonna finish this out nice.
I still have to see if am gonna try to do the rocket covers or not. The pieces they sent look like messy cut scraps and am not sure if they are worth the work.
One other problem is I am going to need to find longer bolts for the back of the center council since the carpet is thick and they are now too short.
So review time about the installation process.
I expected the ACC carpet to save me time in the front and fit much better than it did. If I would have known the fitment was gonna be that off I would have just stuck with original plan because it was likely just as much if not more work to make the carpet fit. The Bedrug took all of 5 minutes to install when I did it.
I have only takin the Jeep on a short drive and test trip. I think the best way to describe it is it sounds more refined. I hear less booming and resonance and think it may be a bit quieter. The head liner was night and day this is much more subtle. All the noises are basically still there but it is more distant and doesn’t seem to resonate as much. The real test will be if it is easier to communicate with my daughter in the back seat on long drives which was the whole point.
So as of now would I do it again?
If I happened do have another LJ laying around with nice OEM carpet I would pull it up and do the 60% coverage deadener for sure I think it was worth it and only took a couple hours to do and call it good.
If It was only a trail Jeep the Bedrug is really hard to beat. For a hybrid like mine I think my original plan would have been the better choice and one day if this carpet ever gets wrecked I will likely just go back to the bedrug, but only do the mass loaded vinyl underneath on the floor and just not worry about the verticals since it is quite tuff to get it to stay on them without using a bunch of adhesive I don’t want everywhere.
Long drive review to follow after I get it on the freeway for at least an hour. Really need a passenger inside to talk with to be sure. It might be much quieter, but hard to tell.