anitajeff
CA
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On our way home from a Ocotillo trip, I managed to shear off all 8 studs on the Cyclone. I was Hwy 76 west bound just before Hwy 15 maybe going 35 mph. The tire flies off goes up the embankment and then cross 4 lanes of Sunday afternoon traffic, missed everything and everybody. This is our 5th toy hauler and had a motorhome, never, ever seen this.
No studs at all.
side view on the tow trailer, not happy wife in background. Notice 102 inch wide Toyhauler on a 102 inch wide flatbed. Just fit !!!!
So a little history on this wheel drum and studs. I purchased this trailer, did 5 or 6 desert trips with it, no big deal. Then retired and took it to Alaska and back. When I got home I notice two lug bolts where very hard to remove, so I replace the whole drum and studs from the Dexter service center in Escondido. That is the one the broke, the other 3 with Alaska Miles on them are fine. So I take it back to the same place and get the same sales guy. His hand written part number on the drum and he knew it. Got a new one and put it on, sales guys said he would send it back to the factory, but not to hold my breath. Dexter does not seem to care after the sale.
So I guess the point here is now what? I feel a little gun shy about this now, as I did not feel the wheel break, just noticed the smoke. I did find the tire and it seems fine.
My rig on our tow trailer. As we a driving home in the semi-tow rig. I asked the driver how high is the bed of his trailer is, answer 3 feet. My Cyclone is 12'8", so we are now 15'8" traveling down hwy 15 south and then Hwy 78 west. The over pass at Nordahl is 15'3" clearance, yes we stopped and checked, not going to make it. We are stopped in the slow lane just under the bridge. I could not believe it, but he back it up to the off ramp and we made it home.
* This post was
edited 04/10/12 02:23pm by anitajeff *
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donn0128
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You were lucky! How bad was the road. Neighbor just returned from a month down south and he says CA freeways are junk. Blew two tires on his TT around Redding. 45 MPH was top speed it was so rough.
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SeaRayOwner
Folsom, CA
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Wow no kidding I have never seen anything like that either. I hope everyone was alright.
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mapguy
Puget Sound
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Glad no one was hurt or other vehicles hit with the wheel/tire!
Any chance you just had tire/bearing/brake work done?
That is what happens when lug nuts are over torqued.
I have been the victim of a departed trailer wheel/tire. Caved the whole left side of a pickup bed from a very glancing blow....it was an exciting situation in heavy traffic on a very busy section 2 lane highway. US12 east of I5 in Washington.
* This post was
edited 04/10/12 02:28pm by mapguy *
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belairbrian
Alabama
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If I were guessing, i would say sudden sezuire of the drum or bearings.
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anitajeff
CA
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No the wheel drum was not seize, still would spin. Lugs were tighten by me with a torque wrench, same as the other three. I am thinking factory defect, but could never prove it.
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snowdance
Yreka, Ca
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I have seen this before. Twice from someone getting the lug nuts so tight they twisted the studs. You could see they were not clean breaks but had been cracked for some time. And Once from a loose wheel. We found the wheel and could see the wear from where they were loose. Many places just hit them with an air wrench and never check to be sure they are right. Could have happened at the factory.. To tight is as bad as loose..
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darbyjudy
New Port Richey
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I would say it looks like your rig is overloaded. I had a friend who had a toy hauler also and he had lot of tire problems until they put another axle under it. Now he says it is fine , no more problems.
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mapguy
Puget Sound
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Not sounding good.... have seen the lug nut shear thing multiple times in my previous career of fleet management.
Do your aluminum wheels have the steel insert for the lug nut? If not they need multiple retorques to get seated. But loose lug nets usually leaves some stud pieces.
What style of torque wrench? Click, beam or dial...
If click -has it ever been stored with adjuster set on a torque value or have you used it to loosen nuts/bolts or have you ever torqued left-hand fastener? Any one of the three requires recalibration or replacement -depending on the tool quality.
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BigDogF250
Ramona, CA
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Wow! I haven't seen them shear without a reason (drum lock or loose lugs). Normally it's either the rim that gets hollowed out or the entire drum tears off (bearings). Glad you and family are ok.
That's a tough tow for a rig like that, glad you guys figured out the height problem before you needed a new A/C unit!
Had 2 flats this season myself, both coming from OW. Luckily not on the same trip. Almost would take it to Brawley or El Centro to avoid the bridges and get it fixed there.
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