Lost a wheel

[Norskeman]

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.

[d-mac1]

I'm wondering if the outer bearing was't worn when it was repacked, and then it got worse and disintegrated. I wonder how long it had been on the trailer?

Was it perhaps a day with a decent side wind? Or in the 6k miles since repack, was there any big side wind days? Its the rear wheel, so it would get more sideways pressure than the front one....at least a little more.

I'd double check all my bearings.

[wvcampers]

I had the same thing happen about 2 years ago. The outer wheel bearing failed. It had been serviced about 12 months prior. I replaced the axel and all of the tires. The tires were Michelin Ribs that were 6 years old, so it was time anyway. The bearings that come on the axels are made in China. I was able to get replacements made in the USA by Timken.

[minnow]

Like others have posted, I would replace that rear tire also. When the front tire came off the entire weight of the rig on that side was supported by that single tire. It is probably internally damaged.
It's odd that I've never seen tires come off a traveling vehicle before this past year. However twice now within the past few months I've seen that and that's a real scary sight ! If one of those free wheeling tire/rim combos struck another vehicle, there for sure would be tremendous damage/injury to whatever was in its path.

[rhagfo]

Yea, that outer bearing looks like it pretty much fell apart.

[ford-willy]

Slownsy wrote:
The lug nuts did not fall of it was a bearing that collapsed.
Frank.

Right. My point was just that after "work" that had removed the wheel, we should always re-tighten the lug nuts for the first couple hundred miles at least on that wheel. If that had been done "maybe" the bearing problem would have been noticed before the catastrophic failure. Just IMHO.

[Slownsy]

The lug nuts did not fall of it was a bearing that collapsed.
Frank.

[ford-willy]

When towing any of my trailers I always have a breaker bar with short extension and socket sitting on my rear (crew cab) floor to periodically check the lug nuts. Especially after a tire or wheel has been changed you need to re-tighten/test them every 100 miles or so for about 3 tests. Its a must on a trailer.---- If you had been checking frequently as I suggested you may have noticed the trouble brewing before it became a total failure.

[Norskeman]

We Cant Wait wrote:
The outer wheel bearing appears to still be on the spindle minus the bearing nut????

I removed the nut and washer after I got the wheel from the NYS Thruway reps. The cotter pin was no longer on the nut. Could have been a failure of the outer bearing. The brake drum was in pretty bad shape. I was able to remove the 6 lug nuts and remove the brake drum from the wheel. The aluminum wheel was discolored and the tire had minor damage in one spot on the side wall.

I do not plan on using the wheel or tire. Too great of a risk of failure due to the overheating.

Thanks for those that have posted!

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width. LAST TIME!

[Norskeman]

rhagfo wrote:
When was the last time you had the bearings checked/serviced?

I had inspected all 4 wheels in April of this year. Inspection includes bearing repack, replace rear seal if needed, clean rust off the brake drum, clean brake pads, inspect brake magnets and replace cotter pins for the retaining nut. I did replace the magnet on that wheel this spring because there was a little wear on the front face of the magnet I replaced.

I put about 4,000 miles on the trailer since the inspection in April.

[ChooChooMan74]

Glad everyone is ok. For some reason, I am thinking about Darrell Waltrip.....

[tinner12002]

Not so sure that I wouldn't replace the axle too!

[Tiger02]

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]

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]

You should replace that "solo" tire, may be damaged.