If you haven't checked those lug nuts on your trailer or motorhome lately, then better do it before that first spring trip.I got my fifth wheel out of storage yesterday and parked it in front of my house to prepare for a trip leaving tomorrow. This morning, I noticed a lug nut in the street about 30 feet from the fiver. Who could that belong to? Well, it was mine!! One nut had dropped off right there in front of my house after a five mile trip from the storage site. Several other nuts were slightly loose and needed to be torqued. I should check lugs before every trip, but I have to plead guilty.

I learned that the *real* hard way by losing a wheel. Imagine looking in the side mirror and thinking "wow.. poor guy.. lost a wheel"

Sounds like that storage yard may not be very secure if people are messing with lugnuts.

We check the torque on the lug nuts and the tire pressure each time we tow our 5th wheel. Some might consider this overkill . It only takes a couple of minutes and has become part of our pre-departure check list.

We had bought a 2011 Keystone travel trailer (have since upgraded to a coach) and the manual had very specific torque instructions... like a two stage approach. But it also said to torque before every trip. These were aluminum rims, if it matters.

You had a little help loosening the lugs!

Check those lug nuts | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

jake2250
Explorer
Apr 09, 2013
I use a red paint pen after torquing the wheels and mark their position. I have white steel wheels so red is easy to see. I also do a hand tight check before each trip.. Seems to be working for me....
Bucky_Badger
Explorer
Apr 09, 2013
I don't check lug nuts on a regular basis, bit I never had a loose one when I did check
mrquacker
Explorer
Apr 09, 2013
And don't forget your toad/daily drive/TV.

DW said the Jeep was handling poorly at slow speed. Went out and found one wheel only had two lug nuts. Studs were gone or broke.
BB_TX
Nomad
Apr 09, 2013
And check the nuts on your U bolts on your axles also. And just about every other bolt/nut/screw on the rig at the start of a new season.
Only 3 of my 32 lug nuts needed any tightening at all. And then less than 1/4 turn.
But over half of the nuts on my U bolts needed retorqueing.
rhochnadel
Explorer
Apr 09, 2013
You had a little help loosening the lugs!
blangen
Explorer
Apr 09, 2013
We had bought a 2011 Keystone travel trailer (have since upgraded to a coach) and the manual had very specific torque instructions... like a two stage approach. But it also said to torque before every trip. These were aluminum rims, if it matters.
jnharley
Explorer
Apr 09, 2013
We check the torque on the lug nuts and the tire pressure each time we tow our 5th wheel. Some might consider this overkill . It only takes a couple of minutes and has become part of our pre-departure check list.
VW_Factor
Explorer
Apr 09, 2013
Sounds like that storage yard may not be very secure if people are messing with lugnuts.
2oldman
Explorer II
Apr 09, 2013
I learned that the *real* hard way by losing a wheel. Imagine looking in the side mirror and thinking "wow.. poor guy.. lost a wheel"

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Check those lug nuts

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