Check the toad lug nuts as well

[Medico]

Just wanted to relate a story friends of ours passed along to us. This was a valuable lesson for them.

While traveling from Ok. to Tx. suddenly a big rig passed them and started flashing his lights and slowing in front of them. John looked in his mirror and saw smoke coming from the toad. Once he pulled over (the big rig also pulled over to help) John discovered a tire missing on the left, rear side. The driver stated the tire flew off about a mile back. John mentioned there were some kids hanging around the toad at their last stop, and they all ran off when he approached. Did not think anything of it.

Their car was towed to a repair shop and they are awaiting their insurance representative for the repairs to begin. They have yet to pass along the total damages, but you can imagine after dragging the toad on the wheel (less the tire) for over a mile.

Moral here is inspect or check the toad lug nuts as well as the rig lug nuts. This could easily have turned out much worse for them.

[Medico]

The entire tire and wheel was gone from the brake rotor. The brake rotor was touching the ground. Indeed, it appears the lug nuts were intentionally loosened. If I hear more from him I will pass it along.

Sorry that was not clear on my original post.

[Magumba]

We lost a wheel on the Cherokee we tow recently. I heard a noise through to speaker on the backup camera. We pulled over, I unhooked the Jeep and drove our around a bit and discovered the noise was coming from the Jeep and not the camper.
I did not look at the lug nuts but should have. I had to drive my wife a very short distance to a doctor appointment, while driving there the wheel feel off. No one was hurt.

[Redridge]

wow! glad no one was hurt, thank you for the message.

[CountryFit]

Originally Posted by Magumba

We lost a wheel on the Cherokee we tow recently. I heard a noise through to speaker on the backup camera. We pulled over, I unhooked the Jeep and drove our around a bit and discovered the noise was coming from the Jeep and not the camper.
I did not look at the lug nuts but should have. I had to drive my wife a very short distance to a doctor appointment, while driving there the wheel feel off. No one was hurt.


Attachment 47882

the fender was ripped off by the tire? lessons are learned.

[Shadowcatche]

Not much you can do for "deliberately loosened" other than file a police report. To do that you need to make sure lug nuts were torqued properly to begin with. When I bring the car in from having tires changed/balanced what ever, I will loosen and torque first to 70 FP then re-torque to 80 FP, same with the trailer (both have the same size stud).

[Medico]

I also have mine retorqued after driving for a couple days after rotating tires. I have heard the aluminum wheels can loosen during the first 25 or 30 miles after being rotated.