The day before i left on my epic cross country trip, I, of course, checked my tire pressure.3 of the 4 tires were still spot on, but the right rear was way low. I pumped it up. However, bad me, I neglected to do so every day. Two days ago, I checked it and it was down to 40#. On this trip, I'm carrying a 1.5hp, 3 gal air compressor. I pulled it out and aired the tire up to 50#.When I checked today, it was holding at 50#.

Also, don't forget to torque your lug nuts to their proper setting before beginning a trip.

TucsonJim wrote:Also, don't forget to torque your lug nuts to their proper setting before beginning a trip.I never understood why people do this. Once the wheel is on and lugs are tight, that's it. I check the pressure before each trip.

DiskDoctr wrote:TucsonJim wrote:Also, don't forget to torque your lug nuts to their proper setting before beginning a trip.I never understood why people do this. Once the wheel is on and lugs are tight, that's it. The wheel I lost off my truck while towing would indicate that's not necessarily the case. Aluminum wheels are especially prone to need retightening.

When suggesting that you retorque your wheels, I'm focusing on TT and FW rims. Towable rims face much higher sidewall loading than normal TVs experience. I've owned three towables, and the owner's manual was very clear to check the torque before a road trip. Also, when the wheels have been removed and reinstalled, the torque should be checked at 25 and 50 miles due to flexing of the wheel which might cause a lug nut to loosen. I will tell you that I carry a torque wrench with me, and it is very rare that at least one lug nut is not up to specified torque when checking them.

DiskDoctr wrote:TucsonJim wrote:Also, don't forget to torque your lug nuts to their proper setting before beginning a trip.I never understood why people do this. Once the wheel is on and lugs are tight, that's it. I check the pressure before each trip.They really do loosen up on towables for some reason. I have had many become finger loose on my several TT's and 5er in years past....

Make sure you check your tire pressure. | Good Sam Community

E_J_push_n_wind
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
Bucky Badger wrote:
PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
E&J push'n wind wrote:
A flat spare ain't much of a spare, for either vehicle.

Even if you call roadside assistance - they will want to use your spare to get the TT to get it to a safe location.

so what good is RSA? I would guess flats are a large part of their business

More often than not RSA will have an on board comressor so in the event your spare tires are flat or very low, they can add air. Minus RSA, unless you have a small 12V compressor, you are AOL (all outta luck). I keep a small 12V with me too, you never know when you may have a need. BTW, don't expect it to fill a flat or low tire very fast either. It'll take any tire of reasonable size a little while to fill.
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
TucsonJim wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
In tow a lot. In AZ there is no off season like many on here have.
I always use steel wheels. A new steel wheel will need retorquing until the paint has worn off of the seat that the lug nut clamps into.. After that I have never had one loosen up. I stopped worrying about it years ago.

The DW and I were driving south on Loop 303 in Phoenix about six weeks ago. On the shoulder, there was a brand new TT that didn't even have tags on it yet. It was missing a wheel/tire. There was a young man pushing a tire from about 200 yards back. I assume it was his and the brand new wheel had come loose from the brand new trailer and he was going to check out his brand new jack and his brand new lug wrench.. :S
I have never had a TT come with a jack OR a lug wrench.
Brand new, yes that is when it is most likely to loosen, if it were even tightened properly in the first place.
REWahoo
Explorer
Mar 04, 2014
hammer21661 wrote:
You better believe it cause they do.

Yep. This is what you're left with when a wheel separates at 60 mph...
hammer21661
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
DiskDoctr wrote:
Steel vs aluminum rims, eh? I have alloy rims on the 4Runner and steel on almost all the trailers and such I've towed.

Well, guess I have an experiment to run this season ;) I'll throw my torque wrench in the camper and check before each trip, after arriving at our destination, and when we return home.

I suspect I won't notice any problems, but since aluminum wheels on a camper is a combination where this phenomenon happens, I guess I'll find out!

I have a hard time believing properly installed and torqued wheels will work loose. I agree there are a lot of people who do not properly center the wheel on the lug nuts, tighten in the correct order, or tighten effectively...hmmmm :h
You better believe it cause they do.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
Steel vs aluminum rims, eh? I have alloy rims on the 4Runner and steel on almost all the trailers and such I've towed.

Well, guess I have an experiment to run this season ;) I'll throw my torque wrench in the camper and check before each trip, after arriving at our destination, and when we return home.

I suspect I won't notice any problems, but since aluminum wheels on a camper is a combination where this phenomenon happens, I guess I'll find out!

I have a hard time believing properly installed and torqued wheels will work loose. I agree there are a lot of people who do not properly center the wheel on the lug nuts, tighten in the correct order, or tighten effectively...hmmmm :h
rbpru
Explorer II
Mar 03, 2014
Had the opposite problem here. We left Indiana with 50 lbs. in 28 degree temps.

By the time I got to Florida and 80 degree temps the cold pressure was 58 lbs.

another halpful tip from this forum.
EcoBullet
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
Atlee wrote:
3 of the 4 tires were still spot on, but the right rear was way low. I pumped it up. However, bad me, I neglected to do so every day. Two days ago, I checked it and it was down to 40#.

When I checked today, it was holding at 50#.

Don't bet on it holding.

After sitting from June until January, 3 of 4 tires on my TT were at about 44, the 4th was at 37. I aired them all to 50 before departing on a 3,000 mile round trip to south Florida. I checked each time we moved to a new location and aired up as needed. The one that started out lower was usually several pounds lower than the others. After about 2,000 miles I was in a convenient location to a tire shop and had it checked. A 6 penny nail was the culprit.

Thanks to others about the lug-nut torque warning. I've been guilty of ignoring this.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
Mar 03, 2014
Huntindog wrote:
In tow a lot. In AZ there is no off season like many on here have.
I always use steel wheels. A new steel wheel will need retorquing until the paint has worn off of the seat that the lug nut clamps into.. After that I have never had one loosen up. I stopped worrying about it years ago.

The DW and I were driving south on Loop 303 in Phoenix about six weeks ago. On the shoulder, there was a brand new TT that didn't even have tags on it yet. It was missing a wheel/tire. There was a young man pushing a tire from about 200 yards back. I assume it was his and the brand new wheel had come loose from the brand new trailer and he was going to check out his brand new jack and his brand new lug wrench.. :S
Huntindog
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
In tow a lot. In AZ there is no off season like many on here have.
I always use steel wheels. A new steel wheel will need retorquing until the paint has worn off of the seat that the lug nut clamps into.. After that I have never had one loosen up. I stopped worrying about it years ago.
ADK_Camper
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
I actually had a wheel come off a pop-up camper at about 50 MPH on a winding Adirondack hi-way many years ago. I was terribly embarassed by the situation, but the nearby marina that got me up and running again said the situation is really quite common. He said he sees it a lot with boat trailers and campers. So my advice is, stop debating wheather or not it is necessary. Just do it!

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