What about the fifth-wheel? The driver who was towing the rig didn't even realize he'd lost a wheel, apparently until authorities stopped him. Says the news report: " Preliminary investigation shows the tire fell off due to improper tightening of the lug nuts, troopers said."
Most of us don't have much to do with tire changing, at least when we can avoid it. Changing tires on any RV, be it a trailer or a motorhome, isn't a pleasant job. We try and leave it to the tire shop folks. However, there are times when we may get that job, like it or not. When you mount up a spare tire due to a flat, how tight do you put on the lug nuts? "Down snug, and add two grunts," was advice your granddad may have given, but loose lug nuts are no respecters of old sayings.
Each manufacturer has specified torque ratings for lug nuts. Do you know what yours are? Do you carry a torque wrench? It may sound a bit extreme, but think of the damage that could be caused to your own rig, and then multiply the regret if that runaway tire clobbered somebody else.
Can't find lug nut specs for your trailer? Here's a link you can find the specifics for yours. Motorhome users have a bit of a harder time tracking down specs if they've lost their information and their unit is an "orphan." Take a minute to drive the rig down to a tire shop and ask them to give you the specs – and while you're on it, it might just pay to have them check them while you're there. If nothing else, you may sleep better.
Morning I have a 1999 Winnebago Adv 30' motor Home. I carry a 3 set service manual with me all the time. I kinda remember the wheel lug torque setting, (175 ft. pds.) but when I looked in the manual I couldn't find it for the exact bolt pattern that I have. That was very frustrating, not only to not find it, but the difficulty I had using the index, very confusing. I've sent Winnebago an email asking for torque setting for my wheel lug nuts. We’ll see if they can find it, but I did torque them to 175 foot-pounds.
ReplyDeleteI do have a secret weapon for those that don't own a torque wrench or theirs don't go that high. Depending on 2 factors, (1) the length of the lug wrench & (2) the weight required to get to the torque. Example, your torque is say 200 foot pounds, your wrench is 1 foot, so you'll need 200 pounds on the end of the wrench, about your average weight of a man. Depending on those factors you can determine what weight you'll need to get the required torque.
Dave