12v Impact Wrenches

dennislanier wrote:
...As others have suggested, at LEAST 18 volts would have a better chance. In my opinion better to spend more money and be satisfied than $50 for something that probably won't work for your purposes. Over the years I have had 4 different air impacts that were rated about the same torque, and they were NOT equal in actual use, hence my statement above. I suspect the battery powered would also vary depending on the manufacturer.

..Problem with cordless battery operated units is, now you have one more battery to have to keep charged, replace every so often when it wears out, etc.

If its for something you use regularly (like for stabilizer jacks), thats not a problem. However, for something that will rarely be used (for emergencies) like is the case here, being able to use your MH's 12V power supply (or possibly 120V) is much more practical.

You think the battery in that cordless unit is going to have any power at all, when its been sitting for a few years and you get it out at the side of the road when you have a flat? Nope, it won't. Now, you have to sit at the side of the road for another 1/2 hour or so to charge it before you can do anything.

With a 12V powered unit, you can just connect it to your MH's 12V power supply and get to work. No extra batteries to have to keep charged or replace. I'm betting thats why the OP mentioned 12 volts.

Will

RetSgt7114 wrote:
Does anyone use a 12v impact wrench on their rig? I'm thinking about getting one from Amazon for about $50.00. It is supposed to have 240 f/lbs of torque but is that strong enough to take off the lugs on a class c dually? Tnx

Probably not. Even air-powered impacts (depending on quality) have a hard time. It seems these ratings for foot pounds of torque are inaccurate or outright fabrications in some cases. As others have suggested, at LEAST 18 volts would have a better chance. In my opinion better to spend more money and be satisfied than $50 for something that probably won't work for your purposes. Over the years I have had 4 different air impacts that were rated about the same torque, and they were NOT equal in actual use, hence my statement above. I suspect the battery powered would also vary depending on the manufacturer.

18V is FAR better than 12V.

..I think several are missing the point, question that the OP asked. He (original poster) owns a Motorhome, not a TT or 5er. He asked about 12V impact drill/wrench, specifically for the purpose of handling the lug nuts on his Motorhome.

He did not ask about cordless drills that can be used to work stabilizer jacks. Such would be pretty much worthless for what he wants to do here.

This is a subject I'm interested in as well, actually. I've been thinking about getting a 12V impact as well, one thats strong enough to take the lugs loose on our Class A MH. Specs call for 165 ft-lbs of torque on the lug nuts, but I'm sure it will take a lot more than that to break them loose.

Here's a Kawasaki 12V impact wrench at Northern Tool I've been thnking about. However, not sure if 280 ft-lbs will be enough, to take off the lugs on a Class A?

A friend has one and brought it out to help us change out a leaf spring on his 5er. I laughed at it. It looked like a cheap Harbor Freight impact gun. I was getting a breaker bar for the 3/4" nuts on the U Bolts and he hit it with the impact gun. It whirled a few seconds and then hit...whirled again and another hit. Did that over and over for about 30 seconds and what do you know....the nut spun right off.
I don't think this one would do a lug nut on a Class C but it truly was amazing in what we were using it for.

I have a battery powered Porter Cable impact wrench that I use on the scissor jacks. Bought it when lifting my golf cart. It broke loose most of the lugs on the golf cart wheels. There were a few I still had to do by hand.

I have an 18V elcheapo that I got at O'Reilly Auto Parts for $99 on sale. I havent found anything that I couldnt get loose yet. I even used it to get a pinion yoke off a buddy's jeep that he worked 2 days on. I just keep it under the back seat in the dually. When I unload the jeep off the trailer for a day on the rocks I grab it and strap it into the back of the jeep in case of repairs on the trails. If I need it in the 5er I will have it with me for whatever needs I may have.

I think cp makes a 1/2 that is just as powerful as the air powered.

I have a Milwaukee 19.2 commercial.

I tried it once on my manual crank jacks and it just sheared the solid pin on the curbside.
(yes I kept the jackscrew lubricated)

Never really minded hand cranking the old rear jacks to say the truth.
Too much trouble for the effort saved + we have electric jacks now anyway :)

Bucky Badger wrote:
I use a drill...I cannot stand the sound of impacts while i'm camping, so I figured I wouldn't do it to others

Thank You! We appreciate your thoughtfulness. :)

The 12 volt impacts are basically a toy. I find a portable CO2 tank with a regulator will run my 1/2" air impact just great, and it works anywhere. (but not in a CG)