How-to.....Make the rear seats livable for your passengers.

[pyroman131]

Absolutely. I bought the EcoFi carpet tiles suggested in this thread and they're barely heavy at all. The house insulation I purchased is also very light weight and easy to compact or can be shredded in layers depending on user preference.

After going through and sound deadening your car, you couldn't possibly be adding massive weight to your vehicle unless you're lining everything possible on the inside and under the trim. I would say less than 75 pounds easy. That's an Olsen Twin right there, so you should be fine.

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by bluefront

I have some of that industrial carpet minus the adhesive backing. Do you think I'd see similar benefits if I used it and stuck it down with some adhesive spray? Or does the carpet you bought have some sort of rubberized sticky back that would help with the sound absorption?

[bluefront]

No backing on that carpet at all.....this is outdoor carpet designed so water will flow right through it and evaporate or drain away. That's why I used it on the outside wheel wells.

The adhesive is applied in stripes, and apparently is not permanent. You can pull up the carpet and reposition it if need be. I haven't had a piece come loose yet (fingers crossed).

This stuff works like open-cell acoustic foam......sound enters the carpet fibers, bounces around, and gets muted. It'd be nice if a thicker piece would fit everywhere, but some areas are a tight fit.

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by bluefront

No backing on that carpet at all.....this is outdoor carpet designed so water will flow right through it and evaporate or drain away. That's why I used it on the outside wheel wells.

The adhesive is applied in stripes, and apparently is not permanent. You can pull up the carpet and reposition it if need be. I haven't had a piece come loose yet (fingers crossed).

This stuff works like open-cell acoustic foam......sound enters the carpet fibers, bounces around, and gets muted. It'd be nice if a thicker piece would fit everywhere, but some areas are a tight fit.

Thanks for the reply. I have a wagon so there is a ton of road noise coming from back there. I bought a roll of carpet padding and put it under the rear cargo mat, along both side panels, under the rear hatch panel and under the rear seat and it certainly muted things. I was thinking about using the carpet and putting it on the rear cargo floor and in the spare tire area and then covering that with my carpet padding, and then the rear cargo mat.

[bluefront]

The more of this sort of padding you can cram in there, the better. I've always liked to use stuff that's easily removable however. Should any of the interior carpeting get wet for some reason......it'll dry out quicker if it can be lifted up or removed. Heavy carpet on the floor does work good....if it'll fit. It doesn't have to be glued down on the floor.

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by bluefront

The more of this sort of padding you can cram in there, the better. I've always liked to use stuff that's easily removable however. Should any of the interior carpeting get wet for some reason......it'll dry out quicker if it can be lifted up or removed. Heavy carpet on the floor does work good....if it'll fit. It doesn't have to be glued down on the floor.

Good point. With the weight of the carpet padding I added and the cargo mat it'll hold it down anyway. I think I'll add some padding on the underside of the board over the spare tire too. I'll do that tonight if it's not raining.

Do you think there would be any benefit to cramming some carpet padding under the rear door panels on top of the thin beige stuff that came from the factory?

[bluefront]

You mean inside the door panels? There is some room there. I've done my driver door so far......

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by bluefront

You mean inside the door panels? There is some room there. I've done my driver door so far......

Yes, on the inside of the panels. Did you notice any difference? I think I'm going to need another roll of carpet padding.

[bluefront]

If I did notice a difference......it wasn't very much. I'm considering pulling all four panels and adding more carpet. My driver door is missing a block of "crash-foam".....before I got the car the driver window was broken. Whoever fixed it probably threw the foam away.....the dealer wants $50 for it. Think I'll make one out of a can of insulation foam.....

[shane_c]

How about above the headliner? Di you add any carpet above there? I had a quick look last night and it looks like there is enough room for me to add a sheet of carpet padding.