Why the lug nuts thing?

[Stargazer]

I have read and heard numerous times and places that one should frequently check the lug nuts on a travel trailer (and a motor home, too). Why? I don't frequently check the lugs on my van or on any other vehicle I have owned. What's the difference between them, in relation to wheels/axles on a TT/MH vs a motor vehicle? (I understand the tire difference...)

Thanks!

 

[Patrick46]

my motorcycle chain's box said to check the chain's tension every 300 miles. Are you kiddin' me??? I ride 600 miles a day sometimes.<BR><BR>check 'em at 'reasonable' intervals, and you'll be just fine<BR><BR>

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Cuz they might loosen up and end up causing you a world of grief. I've heard that tire shops often tighten them up with an impact wrench and, for some reason, that's not adequate and they might loosen up. I've had the lug nuts on a rear end loosen up, years ago, and luckily caught it before the studs were wrecked or I lost a tire/rim on the freeway. ..Willy.&nbsp;

 

[dusmir]

It's the dual tire lugs you need to check regularly. Dual wheels with a heavy load on them tend to loosen up from flexing. I drove a smaller car hauler for a while that would loosen up every 1000 miles or so. Had basically the same axle some motorhomes have. Front ones never did. Trailers usually have smaller wheels, and run at higher speed than a car wheel, which means more heat, which means greater possibility of loosening.

 

[Stargazer]

Thanks all! You can bet I'll check them regularly! Just wanted to know why they tend to loosen up at all. This is a single axle but the handbook talks about checking them anyway.

I don't plan on towing it much; rather travel in my van. Faster, easier, cheaper, and can go almost anywhere. Trailer is like a partner ;-) Weighs ya down.

 

[dusmir]

It only takes one time seeing your rear wheels pass you to get you to check them often. A single axle trailer isn't as big a problem as a dual wheel motorhome would be. Double axle trailers do quite a bit of flexing when backing it up or in sharp turns, but not so much on normal driving. Another thing on a dualie, if the lugs are over tightened, they can snap under stress and send one or both wheels off the side of a very tall ravine that's very hard to climb down, and even harder to climb back up lugging a heavy wheel.... so I've heard anyway...<img class="emoticon bbc_img" title="Roll Eyes - " src="/images/boards/smilies/rolleyes.gif">

 

[Stargazer]

On my list of things to acquire (lol, after having rid myself of most everything!) is a torque wrench. The owners guide specifies the amount of torque to put on each specific wheel.

Tools! Love love love 'em!