TheSamba.com :: View topic - Quietening down the sliding door, for stealth

Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:20 am

there's nothing really wrong with the sliding door, all the rollers etc are greeased properly, we are still stealth camping in and around san diego, when it's quiet at night, the noises the sliding door makes seems louder than ever.
having looked at the sliding door rollers on an oddyessy they seem to have plastic looking rollers, maybe similar to the power flex bushings
a possibility maybe, to change out for a plastic {quieter} roller
what do you think

Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:43 am

Sounds like a great idea! I installed UHMW tape a couple years ago and it helps a lot, but I would love to have the door close even quieter when camping. The only downside to a plastic roller would be the likelihood of a shortened lifespan. If you can source a readily available roller that doesn't cost too much, I would do it for sure.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:58 am

Friends call my sliding door the "Westy Slammer", they must think its loud also?

Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:41 am

I've been trying to find the closing mechanism from an (old) handicap van.
it has to be an older one because they just buy them w/electric closers oem nowdays

but my thoughts is with an electric closer it'll slide it smoothly, slowly and quietly to the closed position.. better than we can do by hand.

just a wild thought..

one thing though is that the noise is always louder for you then the rest of the night as you are expecting it right at that very moment and attenuated to it.

lastly a real tidbit of help for you.
do you have the rear most handle installed to pull the back in..
you can attain almost silence, if you pull the back in while you turnthe front handle to unlock then lock
not all vans have the provision for the rear handle mount. but some/many do oem.

best luck.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:14 am

Bingo :!:

ROBU12G000
€ 80
Sliding door polyamide 12G rollers.

Each time you open and close the sliding door, it makes a lot of noise.
Quite annoying when you are on a campsite and have to get out at night.

If you simple replace the rollers by these Polyamide ones, the noise is reduced with at least 50%

www.busman.be

Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:16 am

danfromsyr wrote:

lastly a real tidbit of help for you.
do you have the rear most handle installed to pull the back in..
you can attain almost silence, if you pull the back in while you turnthe front handle to unlock then lock
not all vans have the provision for the rear handle mount. but some/many do oem.

best luck.

I put an extra handle on rear of door and the result was great, just a little tug and the door is secure, no slamming - which never really worked anyway - and my wife can now shut the door with ease as well. a worthwell mod that is easily accomplished. 8)

Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:29 am

Fixing roller noise sounds good, but it seems like the biggest noise on my door is the "bang" of the front and rear latch engaging. Any ideas for that?

Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:32 am

Just use the passenger door.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:34 am

Quietest of all is to fall out of the window.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:42 am

It was funny, camping at Westies at Watkins this year you could hear sliders opening and closing at night. The whole camping loop was filled with Westies/Vanagons.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:44 am

My Westies have the late inner rear hatch release.
So stealthy 8)

Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:44 am

tencentlife wrote: Quietest of all is to fall out of the window.

Why not just pee out the window?

Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:45 am

tencentlife wrote: Quietest of all is to fall out of the window.

That may depend upon how many ya had an hour ago :lol:

Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:59 am

Christopher Schimke wrote: tencentlife wrote: Quietest of all is to fall out of the window.

Why not just pee out the window?

My agonised cursing from arching my back while bending my head against the ceiling to get my business over the windowsill tends to attract police who think a murder is taking place, that's why.

Maybe you pop-toppers or 5.5-footers don't have this problem.

Maybe a "sally port" of sorts at the appropriate height. Or the pee-bottle concept, although I've always found that method rather disgusting.

In all seriousness, though, I agree that a rear grab handle obviates the need for momentum to make the rear end latch so with that one can slide more slowly and make much less noise.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:04 am

tencentlife wrote: Christopher Schimke wrote: tencentlife wrote: Quietest of all is to fall out of the window.

Why not just pee out the window?

My agonised cursing from arching my back while bending my head against the ceiling to get my business over the windowsill tends to attract police who think a murder is taking place, that's why.

Maybe you pop-toppers or 5.5-footers don't have this problem.

Maybe a "sally port" of sorts at the appropriate height. Or the pee-bottle concept, although I've always found that method rather disgusting.

In all seriousness, though, I agree that a rear grab handle obviates the need for momentum to make the rear end latch so with that one can slide more slowly and make much less noise.

Sounds like you need a Hi Top....and then some :D

Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:18 am

Quote: Sounds like you need a Hi Top....and then some

What I want is the Pilzdach for my tintop. About $1200 plus some ridiculous shipping cost from Reimo puts it a little out of reach. Anyone have one lying around? I may resort to making my own.

Now we're way off-topic, sorry.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 9:25 am

tencentlife wrote: Quote: Sounds like you need a Hi Top....and then some

What I want is the Pilzdach for my tintop. About $1200 plus some ridiculous shipping cost from Reimo puts it a little out of reach. Anyone have one lying around? I may resort to making my own.

Now we're way off-topic, sorry.

Reimo is the shiz.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:12 am

Will some good soul please post a photo or a link to a photo of the extra handle on the door that some folks have mentioned??? Never seen one, I'd like to get a photo of one so that it will help me locate one or fabricate one.

Thanks!!!

Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:15 am

danfromsyr wrote: lastly a real tidbit of help for you.
do you have the rear most handle installed to pull the back in..
you can attain almost silence, if you pull the back in while you turnthe front handle to unlock then lock not all vans have the provision for the rear handle mount. but some/many do oem.

All jovial jesting aside, I don't think I've ever seen that rear oem slider 'pull in' handle before. Do you have a pic ? Otherwise I'll devise my own that won't 'catch' when opening the slider.

Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:12 am

Something like this:

Never seen one on the later model sliders. Makes it so you can slide easy and pull shut in one quick motion. Reduces the noise from a long roar to a quick shot, but still far from silent.