Near tragic event!!
I'm not new at this. I have pulled boat trailers since I was 17 and Rv's for the past 16 years. I've owned 3 fifth wheels. My maintenance procedures are second to none in my opinion......up until last...
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Likes to tow wrote:
I don't believe I was running at speed when the wheel came off. I may have been in a tight turn in an intersection or turning onto a different road. The plastic dressing around the wheel well was totally undamaged. Had the tire came off at highway speed I think it would have damaged it in some way.
Decades ago, my Dad lost a wheel going down I-75...how did he notice...it went rolling by on a downhill. Luckly no one hurt.
No damage to the skirting. We figure when it came off, it was rolling at the same speed as the trailer. As long as it got clear before it took a bounce, make sense that there would be no damage.
If you were on an uphill, you likely would have pulled away from it.
TPMS are good but I also check the tires in the mirrors every few minutes (especially after a hard bump). I will admit, I don't put a torque wrench on them every travel day but I do a walk around and check the pressure and at stops, I feel the hubs for heat.
I'm with some of the others wondering how you didn't notice until you went inside? Backing into a site, I watch the tires to plot my turning line...then of course when I go to chock the wheels, I think I would notice.
