trip aftermath

[whoot]

I finally got my Casita out of the campground, after 2 days of rain melted the ice.

I inflated the Walmart Class C tires to 49 lbs, and they seemed to work fine. I will probably get Class D ones in the future.

There was a problem with the lug nuts, I had to tighten them about every 150 miles, which was unnerving. I don't know why they kept getting loose. I tightened them at 5,10,50,100 miles as directed in the wheel-well sticker, but they continued to loosen for the rest of the 850 mile trip.

My hitch was too low when I loaded the truck, so I changed it from a 3/4" riser to 4" riser.

[Defenestrator]

On the 4WDLo problem - never put it in 4WDLo unless you're actually off road or in really low traction (all snow and nice, not just a little here and there). When you turn, the tires can't rotate at different speeds and it builds up pressure in the drivetrain. That's why driving in reverse fixes it.

Depending on the design, you can back up carefully with the sway bar. Just be sure to stop if it starts to turn sharply.

Unfortunately, the lug nut problem is probably stretched threads on the studs and nuts. It's also possible that the holes in the wheels are a bit mangled or thinned around the edges, so there's not enough to grip on. Just in case, though, it's probably worth removing the nuts and making sure the threads and surfaces on both sides are clean and try, then re-torquing them.

It's a bad long-term solution, but if you need something to hold it all together long enough to get to someplace where you can get a more permanent fix in, you could probably add a second nut on top of the first to lock it in place. Loctite might also keep them from working their way out as quickly.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by whoot

There was a problem with the lug nuts, I had to tighten them about every 150 miles, which was unnerving. I don't know why they kept getting loose. I tightened them at 5,10,50,100 miles as directed in the wheel-well sticker, but they continued to loosen for the rest of the 850 mile trip.

Just a long shot but after reading of this happening with another member .....were the lug nuts put on 180* out with the flat side against the rims which would keep them from centering and seating?

[gordon2]

Any lug nuts that wont torgue properly or wont stay torqued should be replaced. Lug nuts are cheap - stock some extras. Of course make sure they are the proper ones, installed right, etc. also

[Steve L.]

In general, inability to stay torqued is a joint failure. The joint is usually designed to break the stud as opposed to stripping the nut or stud. A stripped joint gives the illusion that everything is okay whereas a broken stud is pretty obvious. There ought to be enough residual strength to move about with 4 studs remaining, assuming some caution. But I certainly wouldn't start a new trip missing a lug nut.

If at some time, the nuts had been overtightened it’s possible the stud has stretched some which then provides a false torque without having the proper clamp load. In your troubleshooting process, try running the nuts down with the wheel off. A stretched stud will ramp up torque before the nut gets to the hub. A stretched stud (yielded) needs to be pressed out and replaced. Not a especially gruesome repair.

[stevebaz]

One problem is over tightening the lug nuts, the nuts open the hole in the steel wheels and the nut bottoms on the hub but doesnt properly tighten down the wheel. Another problem can arise when lubricant is put on the threads. Lug nuts have been known to back off if there is any balence issues. An imbalenced tire will have a very large leverage force at the hub, wheel and lug nut interface as will a bent rim. Best to get checked soon. You loose a wheel you will have a very bad day and that bad day could involve an innocent bystander.