Wheel lug nut torque?

I seldom use a torque wrench, but after twisting nuts and bolts for over 1/2 my career, I've got a perdy good feel for tightening lugs according to their size.
Your feel may vary.

Torque is always best. First you need to know, stud size? Wheel type? With this info a quick internet search should give you an answer.

Lug nuts on Aluminum wheels have a tendency to require tightening for about the first 150+ miles (Torque them after the first 25, 50, 100 and 150 miles after a wheel removal and also check them during your travels). We torque the aluminum wheels at 110 ft. lbs. Follow donn0128's advise on finding the proper torque for the wheels on your trailer.

30+ years with one camper or another. Never torgued a nut yet. Don't own a torgue wrench.

robsouth wrote:
30+ years with one camper or another. Never torgued a nut yet. Don't own a torgue wrench.

Yeah, I've repaired things from people who have a similar view. They usually have a couple air impacts, but no torque wrench. :)

I own 3 torque wrenches and use them fairly frequently. I worked as a mechanic for nearly 40 years and used them constantly.

Change of plans. I went to my storage yard to jack up the trailer and discovered that my 2 ton floor jack wouldn't lift the trailer enough to get the wheels off. Need a bigger jack so I'll just hook up and drag the whole thing to the tire shop.Oh well.....

Suggest you find out what the torque should be and estimate how to achieve it. Then re-check the tire shop's tightening. For example our Ford Class C chassis wants 140-ft-lb. I can do that fairly easily with my 1/2" drive torque wrench that has a handle nearly 2-ft long. I have a 4-way light truck wrench that's about 2-ft across. I have to go pretty much all-out to match 140 with that 4-way, one arm pulling one end of the cross, the other pushing the opposite end. Knowing that helps me be comfortable checking lugs or changing a tire. I don't keep the torque wrench with me on trips.

In any event, DO check all the nuts and DO re-check once in awhile. Particularly the Left/Driver side. All things equal, that's the side which'll work loose first.

More good information for those that don't torque their nuts:

Here