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Last Updated on August 24, 2024 by Paul Clayton
If you own a UTV, chances are you must be in need of noise-canceling headphones to get rid of the vehicle’s loud noise. Even though UTVs offer us many benefits, the loud noise is certainly not one of them.
Even a good UTV model will leave you wondering why UTVs are so loud.
The good news is that with this article, you will now understand why these vehicles make so much noise. More importantly, if you practice the suggested tips, then you won’t have to put up with a noisy UTV anymore.
Table of Contents
Reasons Why UTVs Are So Loud
The following reasons play a huge role in making UTVs loud and noisy.
Engine noise
The heavy performance engine of a UTV is super complicated in its functioning. Multiple parts of the engine, including pistons, camshafts generate heavy noise as they move. Additionally, the gearbox and the external clutches and belts boost the engine’s noise.
Most UTVs also have big bore cylinders. These cheap, lightweight cylinders improve the performance of your vehicle. However, they also add to the overall noise of the engine.
Non-insulated Engine Covers
Plastic or metal covers protect the engine of a UTV. Additionally, these covers enhance the look and design of the vehicle.
What you don’t know is that these covers are designed with thin, non-insulated material. The boxed engine of UTVs is layered with covers and becomes a sound reflector.
You might be wondering why the problem of noise doesn’t occur with a regular car? Well, the engine and various parts of cars are covered with sound insulation materials.
Why is this feature not replicated for UTVs? The answer is simple: manufacturers use non-insulated engine covers to keep the product cost and weight of the vehicle low.
Roof and Windscreen
Roofs and windscreens protect the drivers and passengers. Whether it is sunlight or dust particles, these parts come with the promise to keep you safe from everything.
Did you know that roofs and panels tend to amplify the sound of a UTV? Yes, you heard it right.
The roofs and other panels of these vehicles are designed with thin plastic sheets or metal. The textural quality of these parts eventually causes the sound and vibration to bounce back.
Even more annoying is the fact that the flexible panels change soft vibrations into actual noise.
In the end, you are just sitting in a vehicle that creates noise with every move.
Dump-bed
Dump-beds are installed in UTVs for moving around heavy equipment. Generally, dump-beds are a useful feature in any UTV.
Having said that, dump-beds of plastic sheets or metal hardly lower down the noise of the UTV. As a matter of fact, they add noise to the vibrations of the vehicle.
Exhaust System
Nobody expects that the exhaust function of a four-stroke UTV engine will be quiet. However, it is surprising to see that these exhaust systems do not have a noise-canceling feature.
Other vehicles like regular cars come with resonators, catalytic converters, and mufflers. Such additional features significantly reduce the sound of a regular car’s exhaust function.
In the case of UTVs, there is no extra space to accommodate all these additional components which explains why UTVs are so loud.
How To Lower Down A UTV’s Noise?
Customers often believe that they are bound with noisy UTVs for life. This is not true. I have compiled some easy methods, which you can follow and reduce the noise of your UTV.
Reduce Cab-Noise
Firstly you have to invest some time and energy to make the cab a safe space.
You can start with lining up the roof through Dynamat. Dynamat or similar products will break the vicious cycle of sound reflection within the cab.
Similarly, you can replace the thin sheet roofs with soft roofs. Soft roofs are effective in letting the sound waves escape the cab.
Do add insulating material to the door panels and floorboards as well. Remember that while insulating materials reduce the noise of UTVs, they will add weight to their structure.
Solution for Dump-Bed Noise
Consumers like to buy UTVs with spacious dump-beds. However, what they really don’t want is a noise-producing dump-bed. Fortunately, there are multiple solutions for a noisy dump-bed.
You can paint the dump-bed with a bed liner. Once you have done this, you will notice a drastic reduction in its vibrations.
If the dump-bed is of no use to you, then you can remove it from the vehicle. This latter option will reduce both the weight and sound of the UTV.
Fix The Noisy Exhaust System
The performance of a UTV greatly depends on the function and capacity of its exhaust system.
You can not entirely quiet down the noisy exhaust system because it will impact the vehicle’s performance.
Nonetheless, you can install a silencer for the UTVs exhaust system. The good thing about silencers is that they are easy and simple to install. If you have basic mechanical skills, then you can easily install a silencer and save yourself from a trip to the mechanic.
The automobile market is full of aftermarket mufflers and silencers. Keep in mind that a decent quality silencer is not cheap and costs around $150-200. This investment is definitely worth it because a silencer will bring down your vehicle’s noise by 25%.
Replace The Tires
Sometimes the noise of a UTV becomes unbearable because of its all-terrain or mud tires. Driving a UTV with off-road tires means compromising the peace of your surroundings with the noise these tires produce.
Luckily, many UTV tire companies now produce smooth and more balanced on-road tires. The benefit of such tires is that they allow you to drive without making any noise.
Also, bear in mind that there are special noise-reducing tires available, too. Many companies design tires with a unique type of rubber which reduces noise once they hit the road.
Get A Headset
If you think the other suggested alternatives are not your cup of tea, then I have a creative solution for your noisy UTV. Taking inspiration from race drivers, I will suggest that you get yourself a good quality race headset.
How will this solve the problem at hand? Well, these headsets come with a noise-canceling feature.
Even if your vehicle is roaring with all its power, you will still not be annoyed by the noise.
These headsets are expensive but, on the bright side, they save you from extra work and make you look classy like a professional race driver.
Buy An Electric UTV
As a last resort, you can choose to replace your current UTV with an electric one. An electric UTV works differently, which means its engine produces little to almost no noise.
To keep up with changing demands of customers, many companies are now offering Hybrid and Electric UTVs.
Electric UTVs are just like gas-powered UTVs as far as switches, tires, and steering wheels are concerned. However, the horsepower and power delivery of an electric UTV is different from a gas-powered UTV.
Conclusion
I hope the above-stated reasons can now help you understand why UTVs are so loud. Rather than driving a noisy UTV, I suggest that you try out the proposed solutions. These tried and tested solutions will definitely improve your driving experience.
