tires and wheels fell off of my trailer

[thtrog]

The sticker on my Boatmate says re-torque to 110 ft.lbs. at 100 and 500 miles whenever a wheel is installed. Still hate it for you...good luck with the repairs.

[xpjim1]

Few years ago both my friend and myself though someone loosened the lug nuts on our trailer tires at the lake. I was following him and saw his wheel wobbling. We pulled over and tightened the lug nuts. I had already shered off one of the bolts. We both need to buy new rims and new bolrs . I check everytime now going to and returning from the lake

[mls6722]

I tightened my lugs a couple weeks ago to 100 ft/lbs, then drove 450 miles. I just checked them and all were still right at 100 ft/lbs. I'll be keeping a closer eye on them after hearing this story.

[IDBoating]

Guess I need to buy a torque wrench. Any suggestions on type/brand?

I have had very bad (as in "damaged the equipment I was working on") experiences with the click-type and electronic torque wrenches. I now have a selection of torsion bar torque wrenches. You apply torque, the separate metal bar bends to show the force you're applying, done. There are no moving parts, nothing to be (mis)adjusted, nothing to ever go wrong. That's my $0.02.

Here's a typical photo:



This 1/2 inch drive unit is $25 from Sears. It will last the rest of your life.

[TigeTrojan]

Like I said before, I had never checked my lugs (on anything) other than right after I changed a tire.

I am heading out to Lake Mojave later today, so last night I went through my normal routine and pre-trip check list, and added checking my lugs. 3 of the 4 wheels were locked solid, but all 5 lugs on one wheel were a little loose. I was able to put maybe a quarter turn on each one. Don't know if they were loose enough to come off during the trip, but I sure am glad I checked.

[wired1236]

Funny - or not so.

So how many people checked their lugs after this post?

I did since I put new wheels on this winter and I was able to put 1/4 turn more too to get it up to 90ft lbs.

[hyphen79]

Funny - or not so.

So how many people checked their lugs after this post?

I did since I put new wheels on this winter and I was able to put 1/4 turn more too to get it up to 90ft lbs.

I check mine before every trip out to the lake. Hell, I even keep my torque wrench and sockets in the truck with me. Had an issue a few years ago where my lug nuts came loose, and I said never again.

[Dave K]

Oh man sorry to hear that. I hope the dealer and trailer manufacturer will have some good will and help with the cost.

If it was a broken stud, I would tell them that the trailer manufacturer made a mistake and torqued the nuts too tight and once one stud broke it was a chain reaction. I'm not sure down in the States but there a law here about "merchantable quality" and the ultimate responsibility of the vendor.

[Wickedcummins]

Dont think he is gonna inform us of the REAL STORY

[jzts0214]

I heard from someone that he was driving somewhere. when he got there he saw a tire was missing so he decided to drive it back without tightening or checking the other wheels and lost the other one on the way to denver. I dont know if this is true but that is what I heard.

[Wickedcummins]

yah I herd he lost a wheel and noticed it when he launched his boat. Boated the day away loaded it up and drove home with ONE wheel then of coarse lost that one.. SMART move.. Get your wallet out!

[konajay]

My Boatmate trailer had only about 300 miles on it when I started hearing a funny noise coming from the trailer. I got it home and found that one of the wheels was about to fall off the axle. They were so loose I could turn the lugnuts with my fingers! It was a close call and now I check them regularly.

[Duncan]

I have had very bad (as in "damaged the equipment I was working on") experiences with the click-type and electronic torque wrenches. I now have a selection of torsion bar torque wrenches. You apply torque, the separate metal bar bends to show the force you're applying, done. There are no moving parts, nothing to be (mis)adjusted, nothing to ever go wrong. That's my $0.02.

Thanks! Ordered one up.

[Dave S]

I know this is an old post, and I have been out of the aftermarket wheel and custom truck scene for a years, but whenever we sold and/or installed aftermarket wheels, one thing we always checked was that the taper on the lugnut matched the taper on the wheels. Back 10-15 years ago there was different taper for different wheels hence steel vs. aluminum. If the taper was wrong and wrong lugnuts, the lugnuts sure will come loose in a hurry. We also had this happened to a customer once, and they were told and you should check lugnuts at about 50 miles and again at 500 miles after wheels have been removed.

[gman]

How often do you check the lugs on your car? Probably never!