Forum Discussion

Explorer

Sep 15, 2016

Lost a wheel

Back from Minnesota - our trailer limped to the RV dealer (Ballantyne RV) in Victor, NY on 3 tires. We lost a wheel on the fifth wheel on the NYS Thruway. Did not feel a thing when it came off the RV. I happened to look back at the RV when a car passed us looking "distressed" as it got in front of me - the one that I think had a close call. I saw allot of smoke coming from the rear axle on the RV. I thought I had a blow out and was surprised when I saw that the wheel was missing. Some NYS Thruway reps found the wheel about 1 mile from where we stopped on the thruway. We were thankful that the wheel did not strike another vehicle. It did start a small grass fire though. We got some great help from trooper Shawn and Benson's Service.

We were fortunate that the problem happened 90 miles from home and only 7 miles from a RV dealer. Looks like minimal damage to the side of the RV. Did rip away the cable support (cables are intact).

Will have to replace the rear axle and will have the front axle/bearings/brakes inspected.

Word of caution - Good Sam Road Service(GSRS) sent out a wrecker that was not licensed for RV repairs on the thruway (I-90). A state trooper helped me call a wrecker that was authorized to work on RVs on the NYS thruway. GSRS cost us an extra 3 hours on the thruway waiting for a wrecker. So - always ask if the wrecker service is licensed to provide service on a thruway (toll road)

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

17 Replies

tinner12002
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
Not so sure that I wouldn't replace the axle too!
Tiger02
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
You should replace that "solo" tire, may be damaged.

I saw that as well. Thinking the race disintegrated or melted away allowing the brake drum and wheel to come off. Not sure if that's possible, but it sure does look like both inner and outer bearings are on the spindle from the picture.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Sep 15, 2016
We Cant Wait wrote:
The outer wheel bearing appears to still be on the spindle minus the bearing nut????

That would have to be the inner not the outer . .I would expect that the seal is still there also , just on the other side of that bearing.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Sep 15, 2016
You should replace that "solo" tire, may be damaged.
We_Cant_Wait
Explorer
Sep 15, 2016
The outer wheel bearing appears to still be on the spindle minus the bearing nut????
rhagfo
Explorer III
Sep 15, 2016
When was the last time you had the bearings checked/serviced?
agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 15, 2016
That happened to us in Utah. We had the bearing replaced (after a hot bearing) and the tire store that did it left a small retaining plate off when they worked on it. It looks like a washer. That caused the wheel to come off 1500 miles later. I just happened to look in the mirror and saw the wheel rolling into some trees alongside the highway. Never would have figured it out except the machine shop machinist noticed it was missing when I had the bearing pressed in there.