Loose lug nuts?

[mcfarmall]

I finally discovered why they want you to check the lug nut torque constantly on trailers...at least on my trailer anyway.

So the question in my mind has always been "Why does everybody want me to torque the lug nuts on the trailer frequently when my truck and car lug nuts stay tight for indefinite periods of time with everyday driving?"

Well sportsfans I figured it out today!! On my car and truck, the center hole of the wheel is machined to a very close tolerance fit to the vehicles axle hubs. So close in fact that a small amount of rust on the hub can make the wheel very difficult to remove. In this situation, the majority of the radial load on the wheel is carried by the outside diameter of the hub. The lug nuts essentially hold the wheel tight to the hub.

On my travel trailer, the wheel bore measures 3.19" ID and the hub measures 2.60" OD. This leaves a gap of 0.295" all the way around the hub ergo the entire radial load on the wheel is supported by the 5 lugs of the bolt circle. See the photo with the calipers which shows the gap.

With this fact in mind, it's easy to comprehend how loose lug nuts could cause problems, so keep those nuts torqued!!

[Tunce the traveler]

I'm going to check my nuts right now!

[havnfun]

Checked my nuts earlier today and one was a bit loose. Tightened it up. Guess it's getting older.

[Parcany]

Everytime any work is done with the tires, wheels,brakes on our trailer I always check the torque. Have found that more than once whoever does the work doesn't torque the lug nuts, and when I find it I call them and tell them about it. Sometimes I get a thank you and others I get a few choice words.

[Philpaint]

They say you need to torque them at a specific torque. How can I know if it's done right without professional tools? In the manual, they say you gotta torque them like 4 times in the first 100 km

[norty1]

Originally Posted by Philpaint

They say you need to torque them at a specific torque. How can I know if it's done right without professional tools? In the manual, they say you gotta torque them like 4 times in the first 100 km

Go to Harbor Freight and buy a $20. torque wrench. Keep it in your rig so you can check them any time you need to.

[mcfarmall]

Harbor Freight has torque wrenches on sale very often and for checking the lug nuts on your trailer they work fine. Get the 1/2" drive one and if you don't own a set of 1/2" drive sockets pick up a set while your there.

On the 23B the proper torque is 75 ft/lbs...my truck 150 ft/lbs. When I rotate the tires on my truck I have to get my gorilla son to break them loose with a 4 foot pipe on a 4 way lug wrench!!!

Norty1 beat me by 1 minute you rascal!

[Threebutchers]

Originally Posted by norty1

Go to Harbor Freight and buy a $20. torque wrench. Keep it in your rig so you can check them any time you need to.

W*M has one for $20, too

[Brownie]

I never used a torque wrench on the lugs of my old trailer, but a torque wrench was one of the first things I bought for the Eagle. After reading McFarmall's post, I'm glad I did. Plan to do it when I de-winterize . . . still getting below freezing most nights here in Michigan.

[Tunce the traveler]

I, once had a wheel come loose near Spokane on I-90 and I could feel it in the car. They were tightened and I didn't say "torqued" by the dealer just before I left Bellingham. That was just around 300 miles from the start of the trip.

[namusmc65]

Looks like the torque wrench will be the next purchase I make.
Thanks for the info.

[mcfarmall]

Today I went and looked at my FIL's boat trailer and his heavy duty (7,000 lb) utility trailer and both of them have a large gap between the center hole of the rim and the trailer hub. I'm going to conclude from this observation that it is common practice for trailers.

[Philpaint]

Torque wrench bought!!!

[Rustic Eagle]

Great! You'll find it a useful tool to have.

Just food for thought....., pull out your WDH instructions and check the torque settings on your WDH once in awhile as well.

With my Reese WDH the ball mount bolts (3/4 size) have a 300 ft/lb installation specification. I torque the nuts to 150 ft/lbs (my torque wrench maximum), remove the torque wrench....., then turn the nut another 1/4 turn with a breaker bar to achieve the 300 ft/lb requirement. May have to put a cheater pipe on the breaker bar.

Bob

[norty1]

Most of the less expensive ones are rated for 200 fp and will do fine for almost anything Rv related.
They are not top quality but are great to have with you.

[Philpaint]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Great! You'll find it a useful tool to have.

Just food for thought....., pull out your WDH instructions and check the torque settings on your WDH once in awhile as well.

With my Reese WDH the ball mount bolts (3/4 size) have a 300 ft/lb installation specification. I torque the nuts to 150 ft/lbs (my torque wrench maximum), remove the torque wrench....., then turn the nut another 1/4 turn with a breaker bar to achieve the 300 ft/lb requirement. May have to put a cheater pipe on the breaker bar.

Bob

Oh I didn't tought of that, by luck the E2 as to be torque at 250, wich is the maximum of the wrench I bought!

[namusmc65]

Bought my first torque wrench this past week at Harbor Freight while we were in Dothan, Al. Got a set of 1/2inch sockets and away we go. Went out this morning and torqued all my lug nuts. Only one was even slightly under pressure. One click on the wrench all the way around. Now I will keep it with me.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by namusmc65

Bought my first torque wrench this past week at Harbor Freight while we were in Dothan, Al. Got a set of 1/2inch sockets and away we go. Went out this morning and torqued all my lug nuts. Only one was even slightly under pressure. One click on the wrench all the way around. Now I will keep it with me.

Great addition. Now you won't have to wonder if they are properly torqued!

[outofhere]

Hi just wondering if I need to jack up the trailer first to relieve the pressure on the bolts

[Camper_bob]

Last night I torqued my lugs expecting to find one loose after 6 months of ownership and a couple random trips, and everything was nice and snug. I was pleasantly surprised!