Exterior Door Insulation/Rattles

Got fed up with the blinds on the entry door and took it off today.  Less noise (my opinion).  I believe the door panels are rattling.  Questions: 
1.  Is there insulation in the door?
2.  Are there metal or wood beams that run crossways in the door.  If yes.  I can screw the panels to them.
3.  Has anyone put low density spray foam in the door for insulation and to stop the darn noise?

Thanks Bob

1.  - I assume so.
2.  - I don't know.
3.  - Not me, my door never squeaked or rattled.

Ask your questions to the factory.

Are you sure the door is not loose with the door latch?

Got fed up with the blinds on the entry door and took it off today.  Less noise (my opinion).  I believe the door panels are rattling.  Questions: 
1.  Is there insulation in the door?
2.  Are there metal or wood beams that run crossways in the door.  If yes.  I can screw the panels to them.
3.  Has anyone put low density spray foam in the door for insulation and to stop the darn noise?

Thanks Bob

I have been looking at my door with the object of putting in one of the Lippert windows with an integrated shade. Might be taking it apart to see what is in there. I agree with the blinds being a royal PITA, and I am hesitant to install another set.

I will report back with pictures when I do. 

You can ask the factory, but I am betting they have never taken one apart. On my 2006, the door is a complete assembly made by Liftco, and guessing by the model 'Phoenx' it is made for PC. They prolly just put the whole assembly in at the factory.  Liftco has not been very helpful at all, they dont deal with consumers as much as Lippert does. Thats my experience in the past few months, anyway..

I would be hesitant to use spray foam in the door. 


Is the rattle in your door a 'Going down the road rattle' or a 'slam it and it makes noise ' rattle? Can you duplicate the rattle pounding your fist on different areas of the door? I am betting there are supports inside, sometimes welds break and make rattles. Diagnostics are the key here for a proper, permanent repair.

Isn't it funny how you can barely hear the person sitting next to you in the cab, but every rattle going down the road is amplified ?
Now back to the thread at hand....

Latch is tight.  Screws/bolts/hinges are all tight.  I believe it is just the panel(s) are not tight.  I will work on that today. 
AND it is incredible that I (we) can hear every rattle in an RV.  My wife says the same-you can't hear me or the TV but the rv  rattles drive you crazy.

LOL!   Well, after putting in the sound dampening, insulation and rubber mat up front...  Noise is not a problem. I can hear Mrs V Snoring in bed while I drive. No more hot floor up front either.    BUT... it did make rattles more noticeable.    Re-designing the TV mount, and fixing the (factory!) mis-stapled brace and screws to the cutaway roof did WONDERS. No more 'creaky ship' sounds during slow speed bumpy travel, and no more rattles at 55mph above the head. 

Well... went out and started to poke around and see how to disassemble the coach door.

It LOOKS like I first must take out the window, door latch and shade. Then it appears that the inner door panel slides up and out the top. There is a piece of aluminum trim attached to the top of the inner panel, and not attached to the door with any other fastener. Feels loose also, that could be a rattle source. Some 1/2" carpet foam, or equivalent, might stop a rattle there.

There is a row of Philips head screws on the inside of the door on the hinge side, but does not look like they would impede the door inner panel sliding up and out. Dunno. May get wild and crazy and rip things apart. 

EDIT - saw your post right after I posted, Bob!  Check the top of that door panel. And 'hand tapping' should show any rattles to the inner door structure.

Maybe some chipboard (thin cardboard) strips as shims in any loose spots might do the trick if it is the panel.

There's   a thread  about the retractable screen door rattle. Maybe  that's
what you are hearing?  Our side  door has sliding  curtains on a pair of rods above and below the window,  so the only rattling mini blind is on the  galley window. The door rattle was solved by adjusting the latch. After implementing Ron's loose microwave oven fix those other rattles got louder LOL.

 Boy oh boy, I can't stand rattles and squeaks.  In our 2007 E350 PC-2350 (no slide out) we had an orchestra of them when the rig was new.  One by one I chased them down with great success, but it is a process that never seems to rest.  I have to say that considering what we are driving, I managed to quiet-down our trips comfortably so.

Here is a list of things I have done.

- Have the right tire pressure, not over-killing on PSI.
- Inspect the entry door frame perimeter screws making sure every one is tight to the main house.  I was surprised some were sheared off, especially the two on the bottom through the threshold.
- Spray a "touch" of silicone lube in each cabinet door spring latch. Try one latch and wait making sure the plastic does not melt.  Some seemingly harmless sprays literally melt the plastic latch.
- Install rubber drawer liners everywhere, even in utensil trays.
- Place paper towels in between stacked cookware.
- Use Corelle plates because they stack very tightly and take up very little space.
- Contain all non-perishable food that is in cans, bottles and similar, in small baskets, then placed in cabinets.
- Chronic microwave oven squeaks solved through spiked "T" nuts, machine screws, and felt pads
- Flip-up counter extension, added felt pads in critical places on hinges
- Placed a thick silicone pot holder on the stove grates, then set the covers on.
- Opened up the TV and placed many felt pads throughout to prevent the metal shielding from singing
- Roof top crank-up antenna, added felt pads on the bottom feet and wing tips.
- B+ front cap cabinetry, added screws per Phoenix, Kermit's instruction.
- E350 chassis, replaced front coil springs with lower-rated ones that better match our "actual working" load, softening the ride up front.  The softer the suspension, the more quiet the ride.

We have thermal windows which I think also helps with general road noise.  We do not have a slide out in our PC so I wouldn't know if they are a source of noise.  It would be interesting to read from others concerning their slide out(s).

When felt pads were called for, I use this type sold everywhere, but just $1 at Dollar Tree.


When I solved the bigger noise generators, the lesser ones rose to the occasion.  Eventually I reduced noise to wind, tire, and general machine-rumble noises that cannot be addressed without stopping motion altogether.

Fortunately, I've never noticed a single squeak or rattle in my unit--it's almost perfectly silent in operation!!

Now, if I ever listen to all the members of my family that are urging me to get hearing aids........   

Fortunately, I've never noticed a single squeak or rattle in my unit--it's almost perfectly silent in operation!!

Now, if I ever listen to all the members of my family that are urging me to get hearing aids........   

Like the guys that I ride motorcycles with....

Me:  How do I get rid of this noise? What is it?

Them:   GET LOUD PIPES!   

Its true. Riding in 'The Pack' of ~50 bikes this bikeweek, I couldn't hear a rattle.    Or much else for a few hrs after.....       Next year: Ear plugs. 

Again,  Thanks for the inputs/advice.  I did notice the roll up screen door hitting the frame.  Will put something between the 2.  I will try some  shims in the door panel temporarily.
Volk, waiting to find out what is in the door.  BTW, riding with other motorcycles I never hear and rattles OR anything after riding. LOL

    OK, its as I expected. Remove the door latch, Inside window trim, the shade top mounts and the two retainers on the bottom. The inner panel slides up and off!   

(When I previewed this pic here, it shows as stretched horizontally.    NOT sure why, but you can still see what is needed. )



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Inside is 1" polystyrene insulation. Not glued, just placed in the holes.



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There are two pieces of wood, and two pieces of foam that fell out. I could see the wood being a someday rattle... 





To check on them, and to 'de-rattle' them, you would not have to remove the panel. Just remove the window trim ring inside, and pull the panel out towards you to insert some foam. Plenty of room to work.

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If you find you need to screw the door panel to the interior braces, there are 5 horizontal members. The top and bottom of the door, and three internal. The internal ones are faced with wood stapled to the aluminum. This MIGHT be a rattle source, if so screwing through all layers should eliminate that. You dont have to remove the door panel for this, I have the measurements taken from the top down, of the internal braces. I got a pic of the bottom to show thickness.







Door Latch side -


Hinge side -


There are 4 angle braces on the bottom. All the same measurements from the neighboring braces-


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Looks like mine had water come in, but not TOO often. Black mold, but very little rot. 



Top trim detail, it is glued  (with sealant?)  to the wood.



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I stuck the loose foam and wood pieces on with a 'sticky loop' of duct tape -



Sliding the panel back down, I put tabs of duct tape on to keep the foam and wood pieces from catching.



Panel slid down easily and into the bottom groove.

Reinstall the latch, window trim and shade and you are good to go!   


There is a row of philips screws on the inner hinge side, and the magnet tells me they are holding some steel inside the aluminum. Probably a brace? The magnet did not stick up where the hinge bolts were, just between or near the screws. I did not remove the insulation to see it inside.



Window cutout is 16 1/4" x 24 1/4 "  as close as I could tell. I did not want to break the seal of the window to get exact measurements.  But it sure helps in the search for a replacement with internal blinds. 

Nice pics and descriptions.  Is that what you call fun on a Friday afternoon?    

I thumped on the inside of my door. It sounded like a rattle could come from anywhere right in the center, the edges seemed tight.
I might pull the window trim and slide a drywall shim down in to take up slack there.

Nice pics and descriptions.  Is that what you call fun on a Friday afternoon?    

   Its Saturday here.    And yeah, I am a real 'gearhead'.    Finding out is fun. Helping others is a bonus. 

I have been wanting to know what was in there. And it took longer to do the post than to do the R&R of the panel.   

And now with internals of the door well known, I am SEARCHING for a replacement window with internal shade. So far they have been too narrow.