Headliners yes or no

[zouch]

i voted Bacon, because,..

i added the Hotheads headliner with the side window panels and the Sound Assassin dampening strips.

i installed all the SA strips one weekend, and there was a noticeable difference in perceived noise at speed. (yes, stereo sounded better, and didn't need to be as loud, all that.)
i added the actual headliner panels the next weekend, and while it looks much better, i noticed very little (if any) real difference in noise on the road.

so, Bacon. because it was the SA strips that made the noticeable difference in background noise, not the headliner itself (though i do think it looks much better finished with the headliner than it did without).

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[AC77]

I installed the covering. It looks nice cozy ? lol. And on top I’ve been trying to attach the factory sound pads but they fell off from heat. Trying to find a good adhesive for that material to carpet top

 

[dabolay]

when it comes to highway driving sound quality.......yea or nay...what brand works the best? or doesn't work?

Regarding highway sound quality, I look at my Jeep a lot like I look at my motorcycle. When riding my motorcycle I wear a helmet, but I also wear ear plugs. I want to get as close to 24 dB attenuation as possible. I feel the same way about my Jeep... especially when I have the panels removed and/or the doors off. I'll wear ear plugs.

I don't use any headliner because I appreciate the ability to fully clean the interior whenever I need to. I don't know what benefit a headliner would be if the doors and panels were removed.

My first driving experience with a Jeep was my dad's CJ5 that he purchased new when I was much younger. He kept it long enough that I was able to drive it legally. It had one of those white soft tops with zip out windows. I was having to much fun driving that I never considered if I was to hot or not or if there was too much road noise. It had a 90 MPH speedometer but I never felt comfortable driving it over 60 or 65 on the Interstate. It had a decent heater for cooler weather, snow, and the sort... but no A/C.

 

[Ratbert]

I guess I just don't understand, I buy a Jeep because it is a Jeep. They are not quiet and don't ride like a luxury car but than again that's why I buy a Jeep. If I wanted quiet and smooth than I would not by a Jeep.

Sometimes it'd be nice to have a relatively normal conversation when cruising along at 85 MPH.

 

[Ratbert]

Several years ago, I installed the Hothead Headliners with Sound Assassin strips on our 2018 Sahara, including the rear side windows panels. I did a before and after sound db comparison on the same freeway, same day, same speed to compare using a phone app. There was a noticeable 8-9 db difference for me, which practically meant that I did not have to turn up the radio as much to hear it.

Our 2024 XR came with the Mopar headliners and side window panels installed. I personally DO think that it makes a difference. Could I live without? Sure. But every little bit helps when you're talking about a fiberglass top with nothing else between you and the outside. Headliners don't really cost that much in the world of mods, and I personally think they are worth it.

You did that in one day? I'm guessing you did the first half (installing the Velcro) the day before.

 

[jadmt]

I guess I just don't understand, I buy a Jeep because it is a Jeep. They are not quiet and don't ride like a luxury car but than again that's why I buy a Jeep. If I wanted quiet and smooth than I would not by a Jeep.

maybe you haven't been married close to 40 years and maybe you don't have a wife who likes to go but has cancer and you want her to be comfortable between offroad destinations...a wife that has done the rubicon, dusy ershim, all the san juan trails several times, been to Moab maybe 20 times probably did close to 80,000 miles on the back of a motorcycle in all kinds of conditions and never once complained but now wants a bit of comfort getting between destinations...I guess you probably wouldn't understand and I wouldn't expect you to. We all have different expectations of why we buy what we buy

 

[ObiMatt87]

You did that in one day? I'm guessing you did the first half (installing the Velcro) the day before.

I did do it all the same day. Really wasn't bad, but just took some time getting the Velcro and Sound Assassin strips in place, then slapped it all together. It also really cleaned up the inside look. I want to say maybe a couple of hours? It's been a while.

 

[Dusty Dude]

Are there kits that are used inside the doors for noise reduction? Or would I have to Rube Goldberg something?

 

[Gio]

I've had the factory liners in the last two Wranglers. The second (current) vehicle arrived without them and I did notice a little echo inside when conversing and the radio was a bit more tin sounding. The dealership (in another state) stated the order didn't include the headliners but when
I read them back an e-mail I sent asking for them, they actually were very receptive and sent out a set for free to a dealership closer to where we live.

I noticed sound improvements and some thermal improvements after the install but I feel the factory set is overpriced and not as complete as it could be.

The black does make the inside look a bit nicer IMO.

Does anybody know if the Hotheads or another product makes and sells the strips the factory option doesn't provide?

 

[XJConvert]

full hothead + the add'l strips. i actually did a ~10 minute neighborhood + highway drive with a db meter before and after, and I don't remember the amount, but there was a measurable difference. anecdotally, they are definitely quieter and its less echoey inside. as far as temp, i put them on basically right after I got the jeep in early spring last year, so I wouldn't know. definitely cooler in the summer than the soft top though.

I just ordered a sunrider, hopefully its not a massive step backward in noise, or I may have to add the hothead for that. I'm going 'full-time' hardtop, selling the soft top, hence the sunrider. I just don't have a great place to put the hard top for storage, and there are some other issues at play, as much as I liked the soft top.

 

[Ratbert]

I did do it all the same day. Really wasn't bad, but just took some time getting the Velcro and Sound Assassin strips in place, then slapped it all together. It also really cleaned up the inside look. I want to say maybe a couple of hours? It's been a while.

The original installation video I watched didn't stress that waiting at least 24 hours (48 hours with lower temps) between installing the Velcro and attaching the top was required. The subsequently published one said that up front, but they stupidly seamlessly went from Velcro to installation in that part of the video.

Hopefully @Hothead Headliners is listening.

 

[ObiMatt87]

The original installation video I watched didn't stress that waiting at least 24 hours (48 hours with lower temps) between installing the Velcro and attaching the top was required. The subsequently published one said that up front, but they stupidly seamlessly went from Velcro to installation in that part of the video.

Hopefully @Hothead Headliners is listening.

Ah, gotcha. I did not have issues, but I can see how that could potentially be an issue. Here in the heat of TX things adhere really quickly. In a cooler clime I could see that being different.

 

[ObiMatt87]

I've had the factory liners in the last two Wranglers. The second (current) vehicle arrived without them and I did notice a little echo inside when conversing and the radio was a bit more tin sounding. The dealership (in another state) stated the order didn't include the headliners but when
I read them back an e-mail I sent asking for them, they actually were very receptive and sent out a set for free to a dealership closer to where we live.

I noticed sound improvements and some thermal improvements after the install but I feel the factory set is overpriced and not as complete as it could be.

The black does make the inside look a bit nicer IMO.

Does anybody know if the Hotheads or another product makes and sells the strips the factory option doesn't provide?

Yes, they do sell the SA strips in multiple packages. Here is the link to the basic page so that you can choose what you want:

Sound Assassin - Packages | Hothead Headliners

Separately, I agree that the OEM headliners are massively overpriced for what you get, though they do look good. IMHO, though, the Hothead Headliners are better at what they are intended for when it comes to noise/temp reduction, for ~half the cost.

 

[pfletcher229648]

I chose Bacon cause Batman wasn’t an option.

We have two JLURs with SOT tops and I first considered the Hothead Skyliner. However 99% of the top is open, so I found there was really no benefit to be had.

I’m 58 and trust me my range of hearing is not what it was just 10 years ago, but my wife and I never have an issue talking when the SOT is closed. When the SOT is open and the windows are down, it’s loud but we love it.

 

[Wbino]

I guess I just don't understand, I buy a Jeep because it is a Jeep. They are not quiet and don't ride like a luxury car but than again that's why I buy a Jeep. If I wanted quiet and smooth than I would not by a Jeep.

Obvious answer for the win.

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