Headliner delete

[Curious Hound]

So, who has removed their headliner and left it out? Why did you do it? Do you regret it? Any problems with condensation, noise or heat/cold?

I need to remove mine soon to do a couple small projects. And I'm considering leaving it out. I would then apply sound deadening material to the flat areas and paint the entire inner side of the roof some pleasant color. Follow that with application of velcro loop material as a place to put velcro- backed patches from various places and events.

This would make it easier to find the inner structure of the roof for mounting things like radios and supplemental radio speaker (one of the projects already planned). I will also soon be mounting a solar panel that will cover a majority of the roof. So the sun will not be beating down directly on the roof surface any more. That, plus the sound deadening material should help negate the loss of the headliner as an insulator.

What are your experiences with this?

 

[19Walt93]

I've driven trucks with no headliner and it does have an impact on noise. Condensation didn't seem to be a problem.

 

[Brain75]

I didn't remove it, so I didn't post a reply, but walt's comment made me realize I drove one without a headliner and then that exact same truck with... Absolutely agree, about 5x as loud without all the interior pieces... My 1948 came to me with basically no interior (a ratty seat hidden under a seat cover), I drove it a bunch as is, and then put the interior kit in it (all painted textured cardboard - reproduction of the 1948 original), no sound deadening, no foam, nothing else just a sheet of cardboard made a world of difference in the noise.

FWIW, I just recovered my headliner in the ranger, and as long as it was down I put some sound deadener behind it. I have a tight truck with no rattles, no squeeks and I want to keep it nice and enjoy it as a nice truck..

 

[Curious Hound]

I guess I should have added that I have no air conditioning and almost always ride with windows down anyway. So I'm not sure I would see a 5X increase in noise.

Since posting this, earlier, I went out to the truck to measure something. While there, I looked and noticed that the fabric is coming loose from the headliner. I had it professionally recovered soon after buying the truck around 8 years ago. Seeing the fabric coming loose is swinging the pendulum further into the realm of "remove forever". I can stick the headliner in the attic over the garage in case I ever want it back.

 

[Brain75]

'48 has a level you pull real hard on and it opens a vent in the cowl turns the cab into a maelstrom - that's your AC right there.

 

[19Walt93]

The headliner in my 93 came from LMC and it fits perfect.

 

[Uncle Gump]

With 35 inch mud tires... normal squeaks and rattles... lockers clicking... beagles barking... etc... you'll never notice the headliner is missing.

 

[Brain75]

I did the "order foam backed suede" from amazon and pick up a can of headliner spray at walmart method - happy enough with the results (as long as the backer board isn't trashed)... around $75-80 I think total.... spray the adhesive on over a throw away tarp outside - you will never get overspray off whatever it lands on.

 

[Curious Hound]

The headliner in my 93 came from LMC and it fits perfect.

The one I have is original to the truck (93 Splash). So it fits perfect also. Fit isn't the issue.

 

[Curious Hound]

With 35 inch mud tires... normal squeaks and rattles... lockers clicking... beagles barking... etc... you'll never notice the headliner is missing.

That's kinda how I was thinking. How much louder can it get?

 

[Uncle Gump]

That's kinda how I was thinking. How much louder can it get?

Hell man... just following you around at two car lengths... I had to turn my radio up to drown out your round noise.

 

[Curious Hound]

Hell man... just following you around at two car lengths... I had to turn my radio up to drown out your round noise.

You should hear my square noise.

 

[SenorNoob]

Sounds like you have a plan. Execute.

 

[Snoranger]

It’s going to be noticeably louder… But, you’re the one who will have to deal with the noise when you drive it 2/3 of the way across the country later this year.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I haven't really ridden in a Ranger that has one... but there does seem to be quite a bit more noise.

My truck never has had a headliner.





I don't know how a third gen compares but all the plastic trim around the ceiling is different for headliner delete first gens.

In your case you could always get that stick on sound deadening stuff if you wanted.

Never really noticed anything with heat in the cab, my truck has A/C but it is a late bloomer... it didn't get it until a couple years ago.