Trailer Lug Bolts

Bicycle pedals rotate around the axle that is tightened onto the pedal shaft. If the pedal tightened up, it could loosen the axle. Very big difference between that and lug nuts. I don't believe precession enters into the equation.

It obviously isn't an issue since no one does it anymore, and there doesn't seem to be a epidemic of wheels falling off on the left hand side. The laws of physics don't seem to have changed since they thought it was a good idea. One of those old engineer's tales.

fj12ryder wrote:

j-d wrote:
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Which side of the trailer is this happening on? Now that pretty much everybody now uses right hand threads on both sides, the Left/Driver side poses a problem since driving forwards tends to loosen right hand threads on the left side of a vehicle.
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What? Seriously? Joke, right?

Nope. Precession. If there's any looseness at all, the bolt/nut will very quickly set itself free.

Same reason bicycle pedals are left-hand threaded on the left pedal.

Lynnmor wrote:
Way back when I started driving, Chrysler products and some others used left hand threads on the left side. It actually was a good idea as there was some benefit. It was great fun watching the inexperienced twist off the studs.

I don't think there was any real benefit, that's why they don't do it anymore. How could there be any effect on the studs by the wheel turning on the axle?

fj12ryder wrote:

j-d wrote:
...
Which side of the trailer is this happening on? Now that pretty much everybody now uses right hand threads on both sides, the Left/Driver side poses a problem since driving forwards tends to loosen right hand threads on the left side of a vehicle.
...

What? Seriously? Joke, right?

Way back when I started driving, Chrysler products and some others used left hand threads on the left side. It actually was a good idea as there was some benefit. It was great fun watching the inexperienced twist off the studs.

j-d wrote:
...
Which side of the trailer is this happening on? Now that pretty much everybody now uses right hand threads on both sides, the Left/Driver side poses a problem since driving forwards tends to loosen right hand threads on the left side of a vehicle.
...

What? Seriously? Joke, right?

FWIW, the guys at Discount use impact wrenches, but at a pretty low setting. Bet they don't get much > 50-60 lb' given that they still need to turn the torque wrench most of a turn, sometimes a bit more, to hit the click. I've not seen them fail to use a torque wrench any time I've watched them. I assume that other big shops do things the same way.

Lyle

Check taper of lug nuts and mating taper on wheel. Make SURE the tapers match AND the corners of the nuts do not contact the recessed hole on the wheel.

Lot of good advice here, as usual.
Thanks again to all.

When I get back to the trailer, will check all the studs, new and old, for stretching. And try to replace those that are.

myredracer wrote:

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Yes, odd that it is happening to the same wheel. I'd want to investigate and see if there is a cause instead of just replacing the bolts once more and hoping it won't happen again. Is a wheel bearing loose, does the wheel/hub run true, lug nuts not torqued correctly or maybe bent spindle? Do the shoulders on the nuts have the correct angle to match the rims?
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It's a mystery to me.

Last year when I got new tries, the tire jockey used an impact wrench, but on on all 4 wheels.

I always use a torque wrench, the same on all 4 wheels. Have rotated the tires 3x and replaced the grease & seals once before. I adjust the wheel bearing nut the same way on all four wheels.

Maybe the studs on this one hub were over-torqued at Outdoors RV ?
If only the original studs seem stretched that might confirm it.

Dunno about a bent spindle. The original tire did have more wear on the inside corner IIRC. That's one of the reasons I rotate. But I then upgraded the spring bushings/shackles to HD shackles, bronze bushings and wet bolts 2 years ago, and got new tires 1 year ago. So far that odd wear has not been so apparent.

Position is curb-side, rear axle. And we do a lot of cramming into tight spots. Have literally had the truck at right angles to the trailer. Trailer has 44K miles, we live in it maybe 4 months a year, change sites frequently.

As others have mentioned, the Studs shouldn't be that hard to change. Let me ask...

Which side of the trailer is this happening on? Now that pretty much everybody now uses right hand threads on both sides, the Left/Driver side poses a problem since driving forwards tends to loosen right hand threads on the left side of a vehicle.

Is this breakage happening not just at one Hub position, but also with the same Wheel? I've never heard of the hub studs not being correctly centered or spaced, but I suppose it could happen. Or, past problems have damaged the wheel, causing repeat failures.

Finally, how much really tight maneuvering to you do? Tandem trailers create extreme side forces on the wheels, tires, hubs, axles then you turn tight on pavement with good traction and "scrub" the tires. We had a tandem axle boat trailer that weighed out about 4000 with boat on it. Two 2000 capacity axles with 13" 4-lug wheels. Broke the passenger side ends off both axles maneuvering the downhill and turn from driveway to street.

They were most likely over tightened and stretched.
I would replace any of them that don't go on smoothly, especially if they bind in the middle.