how to stop rattling

Way back this spring, we’d spent a solid few weeks working on the van and decided to actually, you know, take it out for a drive. Within a few blocks, we were appalled at how loud it was inside.

“Is this gonna be our life?” I yelled over the rattling din.

We did some research and overwhelmingly the answer seemed to be: “Yeah, just turn up the radio!” Forget that — here’s what we’ve found that works:

Secure everything. Doors and drawers especially. And shelves — anything wood has to be firmly attached.

Drawer liners. We used Con-Tact. They’re holding up pretty well, except the one under our stove; the little rubber feet things are slowly disintegrating the liner. C’est la vie.

Muffling silverware/plates. Plastic plates and silverware are another option, but that isn’t our aesthetic. And so, we layer bandanas between anything metal that might rattle. The stove was one of the main culprits, but layering a couple of microfiber towels over the grill did the trick. Hot tip: You can’t have too many microfiber towels when you live in a van. They’re just so useful.

Organization. Buffer stuff that might rattle with stuff that doesn’t. Making everyday objects pull double-duty is key for van life.