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...
Forum Discussion
Still wrestling with this event and analyzing the potential problem. All of this for the benefit of anyone who reads this post and will communicate it to others who tow trailers.....any kind of trailer including boats and utility. Many good comments have been made which have given me things to consider.
About the lug nuts being over-tightened. I'm doubting this and here's why. I took my torque wrench and set it in loosen mode at 100 lbs then increased it to the point at which in the loosen mode it would click when loosening the nuts. None began to loosen at more than 120 lbs. Most between 100 AND 110. In my opinion none were overly tight to cause seperation of the stud. I would think that would be well over that amount, maybe 150+? ? Last summer when doing annual maintenance I just apparently did not tighten this particular wheel enough and through the thousands of miles in the past year it worked loose due to brake drums getting hot in the Rockies and the fact this trailer has aluminum rims. I think steel brake drums and aluminum wheels would expand and contact at different rates. Now combine that with the fact I never checked lug nuts after the initial first 50 miles nor at any time since. They worked loose and continued to work loose until just recently the wheel apparently was vibrating on the drum!! When they let go they all sheared off even with the drum. Metal fatigue right at that point.
So beware of proper lug nut maintenance along with your brakes, bearing seals and grease. Tighten lug nuts good and check again after a few miles of travel when you have removed a tire. Use a torque wrench set at manufacturers recommendation. I was so fortunate to not have had a bad accident running on one tire without my being aware of it. Thankfully the tire was on the curb side and rolled away without striking a person or property.
About the lug nuts being over-tightened. I'm doubting this and here's why. I took my torque wrench and set it in loosen mode at 100 lbs then increased it to the point at which in the loosen mode it would click when loosening the nuts. None began to loosen at more than 120 lbs. Most between 100 AND 110. In my opinion none were overly tight to cause seperation of the stud. I would think that would be well over that amount, maybe 150+? ? Last summer when doing annual maintenance I just apparently did not tighten this particular wheel enough and through the thousands of miles in the past year it worked loose due to brake drums getting hot in the Rockies and the fact this trailer has aluminum rims. I think steel brake drums and aluminum wheels would expand and contact at different rates. Now combine that with the fact I never checked lug nuts after the initial first 50 miles nor at any time since. They worked loose and continued to work loose until just recently the wheel apparently was vibrating on the drum!! When they let go they all sheared off even with the drum. Metal fatigue right at that point.
So beware of proper lug nut maintenance along with your brakes, bearing seals and grease. Tighten lug nuts good and check again after a few miles of travel when you have removed a tire. Use a torque wrench set at manufacturers recommendation. I was so fortunate to not have had a bad accident running on one tire without my being aware of it. Thankfully the tire was on the curb side and rolled away without striking a person or property.
