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The Garage: School Bus (Skoolie) Sound Deadening Projects
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated: February 9, 2024
Read Time: 8 Minutes
The Garage: Bus, Skoolie, & RV Sound Deadening Projects
Author:
Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated:
February 9, 2024
Read Time:
8 Minutes
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Updated: Feb. 9, 2024
Read Time: 8 Minutes
Featured Build: Gas Monkey Garage C60 Mini Bus
Raising cane's school bus by gas monkey garage
In October of 2021, we were contacted by the world famous builders at Gas Monkey Garage to help them with a sound and heat issues in the Raising Cane's 1987 Chevy C60 Mini Bus Build which was going to be a rolling restaurant. The Mini Bus Package was custom built to handle the heat issue and add insulation to the entire bus for noise and heat, allowing the Raising Cane's cooks and customers to enjoy hanging out in this bus on their trips across America. This build kit is the exact products and materials used in the "Raising Cane's Bus Build" from Richard Rawlings and the Gas Monkey crew in Texas. This amazing combination of American made products will give you the best sound and thermal insulation that money can buy for your School Bus. If you're inspired by Gas Monkey Garage to do your own Skoolie Bus build, look no further, because this package has everything you need for top-of-the-line temperature and sound control.
The Vision. When Raising Cane's needed a rolling restaurant that would catch everyone's eye...they reached out tot he legends of fabrication Gas Monkey Garage. Richard was all in for this huge project.
Dude, Where's My Bus? - Sound Deadening the Cane's bus with Spectrum liquid soundproofing. 20 gallons of Spectrum used on the floors, doors, side walls, ceiling, and wheel wells.
The Gas Monkey Garage crew has found their bus for the Cane's project. Let the fun begin...
First up, making sure that engine works well and getting the firewall fixed up and sealed tight.
Engine is good and the firewall is fabricated nicely.
I spy the Second Skin boxes full of American made goodies used to quiet down and cool this Rasing Cane's Bus.
All hands on deck, with Richard Rawlings, spotted putting in work on the Cane's bus, right behind him is a box full of Second Skin goodness.
The Cane's Skoolie build is all taped off and ready for interior Spectrum spray and exterior body paint.
And it begins...the application of 20 gallons of Spectrum liquid sound deadening on the floor, doors, firewall, side walls, wheel well humps, and ceiling. Three 1mm coats throughout, with 30-60 minutes in between coats to cure to touch.
Ken of Gas Monkey Garage throwing down some Spectrum liquid sound deadening on the Cane's bus.
Coat one is in the books...looking so good!
Low grade warmth to speed up the curing process in between coats. With normal conditions the coats cure to touch in 30-60 minutes depending on temperature and humidity level.
After three 1mm coats, the bus is fully treated for vibration noise, road noise, and heat transfer. Next up, the sound blocking (Luxury Liner Pro), sound-absorbing (Mega Zorbe), and then time to build out the interior.
In this ongoing project, the crew has arrived at the sound blocking layer for the floor and wheel well humps. In goes the Luxury Liner Pro mass-loaded vinyl infused with closed-cell foam. This project used a whopping 20 sheets for 180 sqft of coverage from the firewall to the rear across the entire floor.
The masterminds plot, project to be continued...
Fifty Shades of Red - Luxury Liner Pro sound blocking barrier layer. We used 20 sheets of Luxury Liner Pro across the entire floor, over the wheel wells, and around the generator box.
Beanie the bus
This awesome #Skoolie build is the traveling home of some very cool customers. 2 couples, a set of twins, and 4 best friends - Gaby, Halle, Matt, and Skye are renovating a retired police bus (1995 Ford B800) into a tiny home to live and travel in throughout North America this fall. The skoolie, named Beanie, will be completely off-grid capable and the build will be completed by August of 2021!
You can follow their adventures at 4babesandabus on Instagram, on their web bio page, or follow them on YouTube at Beanie the Bus
Beanie the Bus gets the Second Skin treatment!!!
Let the adventures begin...all out of college and ready to hit the road for a traveling life full of adventures!
Teamwork makes the dream work. Getting full coverage over those loud wheel wells is always a great idea.
Installing Second Skin does cause immense joy, just ask the crew of Beanie the Bus.
Big flimsy wall metal, needs at least 60% coverage of the good stuff, Damplifier!
The concentration is strong, channeling the inner sound deadening spirit for maximum adhesion.
We did mention that sound deadening brings joy...just look at those beautiful smiles. #SecondSkinForTheWin
Always use a wooden roller to get the best bond for maximum effectiveness and life long adhesion.
Time to hit the roof with the Damplifier sound deadening mats. Rolled on with perfection.
Over 400 sqft of Damplifier 1mm butyl vibration mats all across the walls, doors, and ceiling.
More School Bus and Skoolie Soundproofing Projects
2000 GMC Blue Bird
Type of Project: Hood, Firewall, & Driver Area
Products Used: 95 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Deadener (Driver Floor/Drtiver Side Wall/Hood/Engine Side Firewall/Driver Ceiling)
32 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Sound Barrier Material (Driver Floor, Cabin Firewall)
24 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Driver Ceiling/Driver Side Wall)
35 Sq Ft of Firewall Ceramic Coating (Engine Side Firewall/Hood)
35 Sq Ft of Heat Wave Pro Jute (Engine Side Firewall/Hood)
Accessories: Spray Adhesive (2 cans), Wooden Roller, Spray Gun + Bottle, Foil Tape.
Blue Bird
Type of Project: Floor, Doghouse, and Undercarriage
Products Used: 180 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Deadener (Floor/Doghouse)
180 Sq Ft of Heat Wave Pro Jute (Floor/Doghouse)
160 Sq Ft of Spectrum Liquid Sound Deadening (Undercarriage)
Accessories: Spray Adhesive (3 cans), Wooden Roller, Foil Tape, Spray Gun
1997 Freightliner Bus
Type of Project: Cab & Passenger Area
Products Used: 320 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Deadener (Floor/Doors/Walls/Ceiling)
120 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Sound Barrier Material (Floor)
100 Sq Ft of Heat Wave Pro Jute (Walls)
100 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Ceiling)
Accessories: Spray Adhesive (6 cans), Wooden Roller, Vinyl Tape
2015 Chevrolet Starcraft
Type of Project: Floor, Walls, Ceiling, Doors, and Undercarriage
Products Used: 200 Sq Ft of Spectrum Liquid Sound Deadening
80 Sq Ft of Firewall Ceramic Coating (Undercarriage)
Accessories: Spray Gun with 3 Extra Bottles
Blue Bird Bus Doghouse
This project was one of our first customers to ever use the Mega Block product back in 2016. He covered the entire bus doghouse with Damplifier Pro and then Applied the Mega Block on top with foil tape on the seams and edges. This reduce his heat transfer into the bus cab by 20 degrees, keeping him nice and cool while driving.
Finished project, bus doghouse covered with sound deadening and thermal insulation.
Before Second Skin...
Everyone loves how helpful cats are, let the project begin.
After cleaning the surface, the butyl vibration sheets are applied with a wooden roller.
16 sqft of Damplifier Pro, that ghosted black on black logo looks so clean.
Next up, the heat shield. Mega Block 1,000 degree heat shield is perfect to block the sound and heat coming through the doghouse.
16 sqft of Mega Block Heat Shield to block the heat and noise.
1985 Chevrolet RV Chasis
Type of Project: Full Vehicle for Burning Man Event
Products Used: 160 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Sound Deadener (All interior metal surfaces)
80 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe (Walls and Driver station)
80 Sq Ft of Mega Block Heat Shield (Walls and Driver station)
80 Sq Ft of Thermal Block Heat Shield (Walls and Driver station)
80 Sq Ft of Heat Wave Pro Thermal Insulation (Walls and Driver station)
Accessories: Spray Adhesive (3 cans), Spray Gun + Bottle, Foil Tape
1998 Thomas School Bus
Type of Project: Floor, Walls, Doors, and Ceiling
Products Used: 420 Sq Ft of Damplifier Pro Sound Deadening (Floor/Doors/Walls, Ceiling)
210 Sq Ft of Luxury Liner Pro Sound Barrier Material (Floor/Firewall)
160 Sq Ft of Mega Zorbe Melamine Foam (Walls/Ceiling)
Accessories: Double Sided Tape (3 rolls), Wooden Roller, Vinyl Tape
School Bus Startedonlove
Bez and Amy bought a school bus to travel and live life in. They used 600 sqft of Damplifier and 120 sqft of Heat Wave Pro to sound deaden and thermally insulate their bus. Traveling with their doggies and working from the road are their goals for the future.
You can follow their adventures at startedonlove on Instagram
Bez, Amy, and the doggies ready to skin the bus with Second Skin!
Laying out the sheets to get an eyeball of how much area you'll need to cover is always a great start.
Amy makes it look way to easy to apply sound deadening. You can grab one of our sweet Second Skin shirts under the accessories tab.
The bus soundproofing is coming together nicely...
Floor finished and ready for the flooring to go down.
Now it's time for the thermal insulation. Amy & Bez chose the Heat Wave Pro for its versatile nature and high R value.
Setting the stage for a nice hang out spot in the back of the bus.
Driver area getting the thermal treatment as well. Got to keep the driver cool and calm during the trips.
The doggies approve of the Second Skin sound and heat treatment.