stuff breaking:caps & hubcaps

[JudyB-JAY]

Every time we have borrowed our 2017 Redhawk to the son, things get broken. Recent trip: fresh water cap plastic broke off, gas cap "umbilical cord" broke off, and both hubcaps on the front wheels rolled into never never land. This is the 2nd time on the hubcaps. Has anyone else had frequent hubcap loss and if so, how did you prevent it from repeating? Am thinking of leaving them off and having the naked wheels chromed.

 

[Bill Johnson]

Every time we have borrowed our 2017 Redhawk to the son, things get broken. Recent trip: fresh water cap plastic broke off, gas cap "umbilical cord" broke off, and both hubcaps on the front wheels rolled into never never land. This is the 2nd time on the hubcaps. Has anyone else had frequent hubcap loss and if so, how did you prevent it from repeating? Am thinking of leaving them off and having the naked wheels chromed.

Sounds like your son is saying to himself, I didn't pay for this, so I don't need to take care of it. One other thing if you have progressive or some other insurance the people driving need to be named on the policy. If a person not listed on the insurance the motorhome will not be covered. They want a lot more money for each person. If it was my son he would never drive it again. My son did ask me and both of us told him NO!

 

[22Seneca]

Long before I owned my own.... I borrowed my parents motorhome once in my early 30's. Class A, not a Jayco, but still related. I am more meticulous and careful than even my father, also a gearhead, and most of my automotive knowledge I learned from him.

The trip was a disaster.

Even though I was keeping distance from other vehicles, the windshield picked up a rock chip.

My driveway was really, really tight, and I was backing it in before my other half got home from work, trying to make room so the garage could be accessed. The sun was in the mirror, and I rubbed one of the compartment doors with a piece of short garden fencing that I couldn't see in the side mirrors. It left a mark that I couldn't get out with some gentle buffing.

Of course I returned the motorhome full of fuel, freshly washed, the interior cleaned. I said I'm sorry, I'm willing to pay for a new windshield and bodywork/repaint of the bin door that had a scrape. My dad said don't worry about it (although I know it ticked him off).

But I'll never borrow someone's motorhome again after that!!! I felt so awful.

I'd say if your son didn't offer to replace/fix what was damaged during HIS trip, then the next time he asks, it's a NO.

 

[gunafulltime]

Every time we have borrowed our 2017 Redhawk to the son, things get broken. Recent trip: fresh water cap plastic broke off, gas cap "umbilical cord" broke off, and both hubcaps on the front wheels rolled into never never land. This is the 2nd time on the hubcaps. Has anyone else had frequent hubcap loss and if so, how did you prevent it from repeating? Am thinking of leaving them off and having the naked wheels chromed.

Make an appointment for your son to be checked by the dealer. After six months (minimum), they'll check the umbilical cord and send him home naked and chromed.

 

[norty1]

I once loaned my utility trailer to a friend to move some things around his house. He called me from somewhere in Illinois and said the axle bearing froze up and ruined the axle. I told him good luck fixing it. He bought a axle and wheels and had to spend a couple of nights in a motel.

When he returned it, he wanted me to pay for the parts and he did the labor. I told him I would split the parts with him because he knew it was not supposed to be driven out of state without a license tag.

I paid him and we are no longer friends. He never called to borrow it again and that's a good thing!

 

[Route 66 Traveler]

I don’t even let my daughter or grandkids use our travel trailer while parked in the backyard! Too much could go wrong just from inexperienced users.

 

[bucko-JAY]

Sounds like your son is saying to himself, I didn't pay for this, so I don't need to take care of it. One other thing if you have progressive or some other insurance the people driving need to be named on the policy. If a person not listed on the insurance the motorhome will not be covered. They want a lot more money for each person. If it was my son he would never drive it again. My son did ask me and both of us told him NO!

Yep. It might be just an unlucky thing these happened when a borrower had these happen, or they were careless. I'd be asking for some assistance to the repair costs, but then again, I have a son too, and know how that would go!

 

[pconroy]

Back to the point about the hubcaps, wheel covers - no. On mine they're on so doggone tight, it takes a lot of work to remove them.


They were difficult for me to reinstall. I'd suggest checking to make sure they're on completely.


Yes, the gas cap tether broke on mine. I rigged up a replacement.

 

[Taftcoach]

Looking through threads here it's very unusual for things to break in these units. They go years without issues. Lol

People, especially family, are more important to me than things. I'd buy the replacement parts and ask my son to help me fix it. It gives us a little more time together which I treasure.

You mentioned the second time for the hub caps, was that both times with him driving or did it happen to you also?

 

[Frodo13056]

I use these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/16-08-15-F...Simulators-Over-the-Lug-BOLT-ON-/171894229150

The fact that each simulator bolts on to 2 of the existing wheel studs makes it almost impossible to lose one and makes it super easy to install / remove them. I've been using these for 40K miles or so with no issues.

 

[mini4mw]

20k miles and never had a hubcap come off, pot holes and all. gas cap tether still there too. I've taken the front caps off a few time to replace flat and re-align with the tire filler tube. They do not come off easily and I use a small crowbar to get them off and a rubber mallet to get them back on. Not sure how both could be missing.. maybe one, but not both, unless they were taken off and not put back on right.

 

[Scoutmaster253]

20k miles and never had a hubcap come off, pot holes and all. gas cap tether still there too. I've taken the front caps off a few time to replace flat and re-align with the tire filler tube. They do not come off easily and I use a small crowbar to get them off and a rubber mallet to get them back on. Not sure how both could be missing.. maybe one, but not both, unless they were taken off and not put back on right.

Both front hubcaps can pop off if you hit a bump (like a RR crossing) at a high enough speed to cause the tires to flex a bit. Please don't ask me how I know this. Kids.

 

[bucko-JAY]

People, especially family, are more important to me than things. I'd buy the replacement parts and ask my son to help me fix it. It gives us a little more time together which I treasure.

I always tell myself this whenever he borrows something and it breaks. Then I hug my son. He always says I'm squeezing him too hard. I tell him that if I let go, I might hurt him harder.

 

[thirdktm]

We just removed the wheel covers. I forget what they're called -- first letter is an 'S.' I couldn't get 'em to stay on.
One time, we drove 150 miles on the interstate, got off onto a rural two-lane, then slowed down to about 20 mph -- and the wheel cover came off and rolled down the road.

 

[GarlicDude]

I lost one hub cap and took the other off for uniformity. When we stop it makes it much easier for lightly touch the hub and make sure it's not over heating, and another chance to beat on the tires as the long haul guys do.

 

[JudyB-JAY]

You all made me laugh!!

The motorhome was bought as a “family” gift. Our daughter and hubby used it once, no damage, but they loved it so much they bought their own! Now son, that’s another matter. But yes, the hubcaps came off for us and we replaced them. With son, one came off in Utah and the other in AZ on a single trip. Too much traffic to stop for. And the tethers came off in 22F weather. Dealer tells us hubcaps are always falling off and manufacturer that did them no longer in business. The ones mentioned by Frodo 13056 will be my replacements. Dealer has ordered screw plugs for the water inlet as otherwise there’s plumbing to get into, and I got a replacement locking gas cap from AutoZone. And……..in our travels we have been sideswiped on the drivers side…..$8000 in insurance payout, and met up with a gas station stanchion which took off the backside of our RV, another $9000 for insurance. Oh..And I forgot, I slowly backed up into a tree with the awning out…and DOWN. Yep, crap happens, I just thought it was only ours!! Thanks for all the comments…it was a great laugh and I learned alot!!

 

[GaryNK]

At a very young age I was taught that if you loaned something it was returned in the same or better condition. If you borrowed something, it was returned in the same or better condition. Obviously that can not be the case 100% but in this case......

 

[pconroy]

And I forgot, I slowly backed up into a tree with the awning out…and DOWN.

I did that.

 

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

I don’t even let my daughter or grandkids use our travel trailer while parked in the backyard! Too much could go wrong just from inexperienced users.

X2
Yup! First rule we made, before we even bought this rig, is nobody - no friends, no blood kin, no stranger within the gates - nobody will ever use our trailer without one of us present. Our kids and siblings are fine with that rule and no one else matters.

 

[Keith955]

I have a 2021 Greyhawk 29MVP. My hubcaps are somewhere in Mississippi, I think. I just installed Pacific Dualies wheel simulators. They look a lot better and the fronts don't stick out so far. The wheels are 8 lug and the wheel simulators are held on by 4 of the lug nuts. If they fly off you have bigger problems. Also. Maybe you should not loan out your RV.