I've driven cars for over thirty years, from the steel 13" wheels of Cortinas and Avengers to the huge alloy offerings of today.
I never in all of that time had a wheel come off, nor did any manufacturer warn that unless wheel nut torques were checked before every journey I would be courting disaster.
Is it really the case that caravan wheels, even modern alloy ones, are liable to roll off into the distance unless constantly re-torqued?
------------- Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.
No they are just a recommendation. Same way that having a wheel/tyre replaced these days they hand you a slip or put on the receipt that the wheels are to be retorqued after 50 miles.
Its just another health and safety overdose. For some reason alloys are more prone to losing a wheel though.
Maybe its because they dont get balanced as often as a car wheel?
When i had my tyres fitted at ATS they said its for a caravan and did not need balancing, I had to insist.
I never understood this either, as I've never had a car wheel come off. Like Grampian I had to insist they were balanced when the tyres were were fitted. As advised by the dealer I do check the torque before every journey as part of my OCD procedure that includes checking the tyre pressures of car an van and measuring the nose weight etc. If ten minutes of faffing stops me from starring on a Radio 2 traffic bulletin then I guess its worth it?
years ago when when garages first starting using compressed air wrenches.. steel wheels complete with snapped studs were coming off cars all over the place..
there were over tightening them.. i would never dream of re-torquing car or caravan wheels every trip but each to their own..
Not making them tighter - just checking they are not loose! The wrench is set at the correct figure and clicks to confirm that all is well. Or am I missing something?
Yeah the issue is that the wrench may not be that accurate. And some people want to feel it turn after the click.
Should apply just enough pressure to click and instantly stop.
If your worried about them coming off that badly make sure the wheels are balanced and use some threadloack.
Then fit those plastic tags that join them together.
they are checked to make sure they have not come loose.. at least one assumes so.. not everybody has a correctly set torque wrench.. the suggestion that they are so dodgy that they need checking every trip would lead some people to give an extra heave for good measure..
but its a dumb argument so i am out of it.. :)
i have never known properly tightened wheel nuts to come loose.. i did once see what happens when they are not tightened up in the first place.. the wheel still on the car had holes the of (thing big) worn in the steel rim and one of the studs was warn away and missing.. the thing i can never figure out was how the idiot owner could keep drying the thing in that condition.. it was a taxi and a passenger demanded the driver stop.. i was amazed when i saw what the wheel looked like.. he he
Quote: Originally posted by brianconwy on 17/8/2014
They fit on differently to car wheels. Car wheels usually fit onto a boss on the hub whereas caravan wheels are bolted onto a flat surface.
My though as well Brian, but the last time I suggested this a couple of so called no All's shot me down
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Torquing Wheels
