Just wanted to relate a story friends of ours passed along to us. This was a valuable lesson for them. While traveling from Ok. to Tx. suddenly a big rig passed them and started flashing his lights and slowing in front of them. John looked in his mirror and saw smoke coming from the toad. Once he pulled over (the big rig also pulled over to help) John discovered a tire missing on the left, rear side. The driver stated the tire flew off about a mile back. John mentioned there were some kids hanging around the toad at their last stop, and they all ran off when he approached. Did not think anything of it. Their car was towed to a repair shop and they are awaiting their insurance representative for the repairs to begin. They have yet to pass along the total damages, but you can imagine after dragging the toad on the wheel (less the tire) for over a mile. Moral here is inspect or check the toad lug nuts as well as the rig lug nuts. This could easily have turned out much worse for them.

If the tire came off it was not the fault of the lug nuts. So which was it, the tire or the lug nuts which let the wheel come off?

The OP said the wheel was still on so lug nuts have nothing to do with it.Maybe the tire was flat and came off the rim.

Another good reason to have a TPMS on anything being towed. A couple hundred bucks could have saved that grief.

The entire tire and wheel was gone from the brake rotor. The brake rotor was touching the ground. Indeed, it appears the lug nuts were intentionally loosened. If I hear more from him I will pass it along.Sorry that was not clear on my original post.

When DW and I were driving to Colorado once, we were on I-40 headed west. I noticed (understatement alert) a wheel come off an 18 wheeler's trailer headed in the opposite direction across the median. It bounced across the median, and rolled across our side of the interstate about 100 yards ahead of us and into a big open field.

Check the toad lug nuts as well | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Medico
Explorer II
Oct 19, 2013
I just did this prior to leaving for Fl. I had the tires rotated on the toad about 2 weeks ago, and stopped down to recheck the torque prior to taking off. The new aluminum wheels (I say new although they have been around for a long time) do allow the lug nuts to loosen at times so it is important to recheck torque after a while, 100 miles sounds about right.

The point of my thread though is to check them during your pre-trip check you should be doing on your MH. It does not take long to check for a condition that would allow the whole wheel to come off.
Pirate1
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
How many folks recheck the torque too after removing a wheel, after 100 miles or so? I have done it religiously for years but have yet to ever find a single lug nut that need more torquing. I did have some knuckleheads working for me once who put the lug nuts on backwards. They won't stay tight very long.
stuckinthesand
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
Locking lug nuts.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Oct 18, 2013
Bobbo wrote:
When DW and I were driving to Colorado once, we were on I-40 headed west. I noticed (understatement alert) a wheel come off an 18 wheeler's trailer headed in the opposite direction across the median. It bounced across the median, and rolled across our side of the interstate about 100 yards ahead of us and into a big open field.

Those can kill you!! I've got these on the motorhome for that very reason:

But they don't make them for toads, unless you have 3/4" 19mm lug nuts or larger.

Watch the video: Wheel Check
Medico
Explorer II
Oct 16, 2013
If the lug nuts are loosened enough to allow the whole wheel to come off, then checking them by hand without a lug wrench should be sufficient to check for this condition.
down_home
Explorer II
Oct 16, 2013
Things have changed, in this Country. We could go on and on withe infinite examples. A lot Kids and Adults don't know the bounds of civility and morals taught by the Bible or Parents.
Hate to think we have to be constantly vigilent but apparently they, from the account loosened the lug bolts thinking it would be funny or just nasty.
Visual check of Toad wheels and tires might need a little more attention. Not sure I can tell if lug nuts are loose from just looking though.
powderman426
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013
mowermech wrote:
So, now, in addition to inspecting all hitches for vandalism, and inspecting all tow bar pins for vandalism after each stop, we also need to get out the torque wrench and check the torque on all lug nuts. Those vandals with lug wrenches are all over the place!
I suppose it would be a good idea to get the gauge out and check all the tire pressures, too.
While I am sorry to read about what happened to your friend, one incident does not constitute a clear and present danger, and there is no way to know whether the lug nuts were deliberately loosened, or just came loose (I had that happen once, long ago).

Having lost a wheel, I now check frequently (not every time I stop), but occasionaly for torque. A marker pen can be used on exposed lug nuts to see if they have moved from original torque. Believe me its no fun sitting on the side of the road with no wheel. Yes I had a spare, but when the wheel came loose it took all the studs with it. I now carry some extra studs just in case. As for air pressure, thats what a TPMS is for.
mowermech
Explorer
Oct 16, 2013
So, now, in addition to inspecting all hitches for vandalism, and inspecting all tow bar pins for vandalism after each stop, we also need to get out the torque wrench and check the torque on all lug nuts. Those vandals with lug wrenches are all over the place!
I suppose it would be a good idea to get the gauge out and check all the tire pressures, too.
While I am sorry to read about what happened to your friend, one incident does not constitute a clear and present danger, and there is no way to know whether the lug nuts were deliberately loosened, or just came loose (I had that happen once, long ago).
Bobbo
Explorer III
Oct 16, 2013
When DW and I were driving to Colorado once, we were on I-40 headed west. I noticed (understatement alert) a wheel come off an 18 wheeler's trailer headed in the opposite direction across the median. It bounced across the median, and rolled across our side of the interstate about 100 yards ahead of us and into a big open field.
Medico
Explorer II
Oct 16, 2013
The entire tire and wheel was gone from the brake rotor. The brake rotor was touching the ground. Indeed, it appears the lug nuts were intentionally loosened. If I hear more from him I will pass it along.

Sorry that was not clear on my original post.