Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail
From: sticks <wolverine01@charter.net>
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel
Subject: Re: lug nuts
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2025 18:12:52 -0500
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On 6/9/2025 3:51 PM, Ted Heise wrote:
> TLDR: I got the wheel off and taken to a local tire repair shop!

Congratulations!  I am impressed with your work ethic and as shown now 
in this exercise and your air conditioner, and the solar/battery issue 
your willingness to stick with it and get it done.  Made my day seeing 
this post!


> On Sun, 8 Jun 2025 17:41:21 -0500,
>    sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
>>   On 6/8/2025 4:11 PM, Ted Heise wrote:
>>> On Sat, 7 Jun 2025 20:48:42 -0500,
>>>     sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
>>>>    On 6/7/2025 8:07 PM, Ted Heise wrote:
> 
>>>>> ...tried loosening the lug nuts--but failed. After many
>>>>> tries, I think the socket I have (13/16") is just slightly
>>>>> too big.  It wobbles a bit when placed all the way in.
>>>>>
>>>>> A 3/4" won't go on the nuts, so maybe I need metric?
> 
>>>>    Before doing anything else, you you should confirm the
>>>>    proper size of the nuts.  If still stripped see
>>>>    recommendations below.
> 
> As advised, I called Lance this morning.  They indicated the lug
> nuts have a 3/4" hex head.  I reasoned that I'd not been able to
> get a 3/4" socket onto the nuts because I'd dinged them up too
> much.  I also reasoned that a larger size bolt and nut extractor
> would be a suboptimal approach, so I got a 1/2" drive 3/4" hex
> socket, figuring I might have to hammer it onto the nuts.
> 
> As an aside, I actually had a 1/2" drive 3/4" socket already, but
> it was 12 point so I thought it wouldn't be a good choice.

That was smart and the right choice!

> 
>>   When I work on my vehicles wheels, I only use 1/2" drive.
>>   Just about everything requires 150 lbs or greater torque.
>>   That's too much for 3/8".  In my View, I have a dedicated 1/2"
>>   wrench, socket, extensions, and a small pipe to get more
>>   leverage.
>>
>>   Your wheels are deep and you have the trailer body to contend
>>   with.  You might need a 6" or 8" extension to be able to clear
>>   that and put a pipe on the end of your socket wrench.
> 
> I already had the 1/2" drive extension.  Along with the 1/2" drive
> 3/4" hex socket I got a 2 ft pipe that was large enough to fit
> over the handle of my breaker bar.  Ended up being a 1" diameter
> pipe.  I then pounded the socket onto a random nut.  Took me a few
> strikes of my fingers to realize they would do better if I put the
> extension into the socket and *then* applied the hammer.  Duh.
> 
> Once the socket was reasonably well seated on the nut I was able
> to break it loose.  When it was off the stud, I had to knock it
> out of the socket by striking a small rod that fit through the
> drive side of the socket.  One of the larger sockets in my old set
> made a nice holder for doing this.
> 
> After getting one off, I was considerably encouraged and went at
> the others, one by one.  With a couple it didn't seem clear I'd
> gotten the socket driven far enough onto the nut to succeed in
> turning it, but somehow they all gave in.
> 
> Turns out the nuts were steel with chrome caps.  Yuck.  The tire
> place recommended I get solid chrome lug nuts, which I've done;
> enough for both wheels.  In the next few days I'll get back out to
> the storage facility and replace the nuts on the other wheel.  I
> think it should work to do this without jacking up that side
> of the trailer if I do them one at time.

Exactly why I never let anyone put a gun on our vehicles.  I've actually 
replaced all my nuts with solid on my F-150.  It is crazy that for the 
little they save going with these cheap "pretty" nuts, they are willing 
to let people get stranded when you can't get them off.  It happens all 
the time.


> The tire has probably about 10,000 miles, so it seems it should
> still have some life left--assuming it can be repaired.  Will let
> you know what the shop says.
> 
> 
>>>>    You can try a slightly smaller socket that you have to beat
>>>>    on with a hammer.  Problem with this is it also might get
>>>>    stuck and not take the nut off if you're not careful.
> 
> As you know by now, this is essentially what I did.  It worked
> well.
> 
> 
>>   You can do this!  And...you're learning another very good
>>   lesson about your rig.  You need to get a handle on doing this
>>   in case it happens in the middle of nowhere.
> 
> I *really* appreciate the advice and the encouragement!  I would
> not have succeeded without the help of you guys here.  And bill, I
> plan to get one of those patch kits to keep in the pass through.

I've probably put in a hundred of those damn things.  Being the boss on 
construction projects, I was always all over the place and got many flat 
tires.  I've even put them on skidsteers  to keep things going on the 
job.  Have also put them on motorcycle tires and rode them until needing 
new tires.  Risky, but it worked.  Remember too you'll need a 12 volt 
air compressor.  I had a little cig lighter one I carried around for years.

Anyways, glad you got it going your way!  Well done.

-- 
Darwinism Is Junk Science!!