I've given the noise factor a lot of thought. I believe my 14 year old Freightliner is ok. I can have a normal conversation with the passenger without any problems. BUT when there is wind, doesn't have to be crazy wind, the conversation thing starts going down hill and you have to talk louder in a more unnatural way. Never gets even close to earplug time though. If I had any issues I would research about insulating and do it. And I would get a meter for cabon monoxide.

 

I'm in a 2009 Prostar (company truck). I can carry on a normal conversation with my wife in the truck most of the time at highway speeds. But, if the wind is blowing, forget it. The top of the drivers door sucks outward, allowing the wind to make it almost impossible to hear anything.

The 2002 Volvo 770 I used to drive was the quietest truck I'd ever drove. It made no noise at all. If I didn't 'feel' the engine brake, I would never know it was even turned on.

 

2009 Prostar Limited, ditto! Complained to international when truck was new and under warranty, they didn't change a thing. Other than strong head wind, truck is fairly quiet.

 

[QUOTE=Malaki86;495384]I'm in a 2009 Prostar (company truck). I can carry on a normal conversation with my wife in the truck most of the time at highway speeds. But, if the wind is blowing, forget it. The top of the drivers door sucks outward, allowing the wind to make it almost impossible to hear anything.

QUOTE]

Yeah! I've gotten hit in the face with rain and snow when goining into a headwind, it's that big azz mirror and a wimpy door.

 

I got new hearing aids that are programmable and had one of the programs set to half volume to mute with just a push of the button. I was amazed at how fewer headaches I get at the end of the day. Noise pollution can and will ruin your hearing and frazzle your nerves.

 

My father is in a 2008 Prstar Limited, and he drives for Wal-Mart...... took his truck to the IH dealer in Indy with the same problem and the dealer said it's what those trucks do and put some type of a door-brace on it. They said they were looking to do a recall to install the fix on ALL of the Prostars but IH decided it was too costly. They didn't charge Wal-Mart anything and did the conversion on all 28 trucks at his DC. Just a thought for you guys, since there is a fix, just not sure of the cost.

 

HUH???? WHAT???? LOL

I am unfortunatley the subject of this daily. I am 30yrs old and can hardly hear out of my left ear due to driving the last 8yrs with the window down. My father is almost deaf in his left ear from 40yrs of this and also has the hearing aids you speak of Not cheap at all, I'd say about $4500 each. i now only lower the passenger side window for fresh air and run the AC if it gets warm.

 

2009 Prostar also and I agree with the other Prostar comments. My hearing is bad too and I'm trying not to lose more. My half-assed solution is to never play the radio. I miss the radio. Driving sucks without even a radio to listen to. Deafness would suck worse though.

Oh and windows closed unless I'm stopped.

 

I have a Motorola DroidX smartphone and I downloaded a free app from the "Android Market" site called 'DeciBel'. I checked the noise level inside the truck with the engine turned off and the working power inverter pushed the meter to 43 Db! I tried the program again at 59 MPH driving on Hwy 11 in Sasketchewan Canada and it was 73 Db. 2004 International with a Cat C15. The only thing I did noise-wise, was to install some insulation material on the inside of doors to prevent cold air from getting in in winter.

 

dont know what mine is in my company truck but its louder then others we have. hands down the quietest truck i ever drove is a trans star with the maxxforce 10 motor. after that was a columbia with a c15 (acert). went for a short ride in my buddy's 379 with a 6nz i thought it was quiet he thought it was loud and needed new mufflers.

my boss just got in a 387 with a new paccar motor. started it for a few min. tonight very quiet. i'll drive that sunday night ( i hope) and will report back.