Lug Nuts

[mikey]

Originally Posted by acsimon

Forest River makes a big deal about checking and maintaining the correct torque on our trailer lug nuts. How necessary is a torque wrench for this check? Am I the only one with reservations about shelling out the dollars for a torque wrench? If you have a torque wrench did you find one at a reasonable price? How often to you check your lugs?

Whatever a torque wrench might cost you, it's still a lot cheaper that what loosing a tire/wheel on a busy freeway might wind up costing you.

Besides, proper maintenance is essential to safe travels. Ask yourself this: Do you really want to gamble with your family's well being?

Travel safe so that you can enjoy your journeys!

[maverick_415]

Originally Posted by mikey

Whatever a torque wrench might cost you, it's still a lot cheaper that what loosing a tire/wheel on a busy freeway might wind up costing you.

Besides, proper maintenance is essential to safe travels. Ask yourself this: Do you really want to gamble with your family's well being?

Travel safe so that you can enjoy your journeys!

Well said!

[Herk7769]

While not a fan of Harbor Fright (sp), Pittsburgh Pro is a known quantity.

1/2" Torque Wrench

Here is a 71% off coupon from an email I got yesterday.


My wrench is a Craftsman.

1/2'' Drive Micro-Clicker Torque Wrench: Make Every Turn RightSears

[mikey]

I actually took the time to check just what re-torquing all wheel lugs costs me in time spent. Less that 10 minutes. Who is so rushed, so busy that he or she can't spare this much to ensure his family's safety?

Quit quibbling over the cost of that torque wrench and do the right thing!

[OL Creeker]

I check the torque before every trip. The cost of my adjustable torque wrench is far less than the cost of an accident due to a wheel coming off. Consider it part of the cost of camping. I check my tire pressure in the morning before we leave. I have a 12 volt battery powered "Slime" compressor.

[Bill_C]

If you are going to use a cheater bar on a torque wrench, which is not a good idea to begin with, you have to keep the cheater end on the hand grip portion of the torque wrench. Otherwise you are changing the lever length from the nut (bolt) you are torquing to the handle. The torque wrench is calibrated for its' specific length from end to end.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Bill_C

If you are going to use a cheater bar on a torque wrench, which is not a good idea to begin with, you have to keep the cheater end on the hand grip portion of the torque wrench. Otherwise you are changing the lever length from the nut (bolt) you are torquing to the handle. The torque wrench is calibrated for its' specific length from end to end.

If you need a cheater bar, you need a longer torque wrench or someone a little stronger especially if you're only pulling 100#-150#. NEVER put a cheater bar on a torque wrench. If you have in the past, you no longer have a torque wrench, but a fancy ratchet with a long handle that turns (maybe), especially if it has a dent(s) in the barrel.

[OL Creeker]

Along these same lines, how often do you guys repack the wheel bearings? Do you trust FR to have that completed properly during construction?