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Topic ClosedLost Wheel While Driving - Event Date: 03 Jul 2014
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Patti'sPod View Drop Down
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Joined: 18 Dec 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
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Posts: 12 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Lost Wheel While Driving
    Posted: 04 Jul 2014 at 6:07pm
That's funny!  My thoughts exactly :)
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Seanl View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 Sep 2011
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Posts: 633 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 2014 at 10:06am
This thread does not need another endorsement for checking your Lug nut torqe often but I am going to add it anyway. 5 years ago I lost a wheel on a home made trailer that I had. The wheel came off at 1:30 in the morning. I had a spare but the lugs were all sheared off so I had to park my trailer on the side of the road spend the night in a truck stop. ( I was in Bangore Maine and there was a baseball tournament in town and no hotel rooms). At 8:30 the next morning I was at an RV dealer purchaseing a new hub then off to an autoparts store to get a socket the right size for the crown nut on the hub. Then back to my trailer on I95 to change the hub on my trailer on the side of the road. Ever since then I travel with a torque wrench and check the lug nuts often.  
Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 11:32pm
+1 on what has been said above.  Checking tire pressure and lug nut torque is on my checklist before every trip.  After the wheel has been removed for some reason, I've found it takes at least a half-dozen re-tightenings before they finally set.  This was true with the steel wheels my popup had, too.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Craneman View Drop Down
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Posts: 387 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 3:47pm
I can say stay away from harbor freight  ones. Try local auto parts
       Moe
Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150

Jo and Gary
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Lefty View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Jul 2013
Location: Pittsboro, NC
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Posts: 62 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 3:36pm
Can anyone suggest a good torque wrench? Thanks
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 3:20pm
I check mine before every trip. It IS a maintenance issue. Just like checking the pressure in the tires (50 psi BTW), check it every trip. Takes moments, and the confidence it gives is priceless. Also, more than one aluminum wheel has been loosened/removed/stolen by hooligans and thieves if you happened to interrupt them, they certainly aren't going to tell you..
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Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 1:10pm
It is unfortunate that this happened to you.  Fortunately, no one was injured.

My experience has been to pay particular attention to torquing trailer lug nuts.  It clearly states to do so in my r-pod's owner's manual, and there are factory stickers on the sides of my r-pod stating the same.  I carry a torque wrench with me and check every time before heading out.  Its not often, but every now and then I do find a nut that requires tightening.

I'll be very surprised if Forest River moves from their stance that your incident was a maintenance issue.  If you truly believe this to be a manufacturing defect, I suspect you'll have to take them to court for reparation.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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barbanjoe View Drop Down
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Posts: 126 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 1:06pm
As with the others, the pod has a sticker by the wheels stating to check tire pressure and wheel torque every time. I have lost a tire at 3 seasons old but never the wheel. A lot of people do not realize a RV of any type is not a car and needs regular checks and maintenance even when it sits. Sorry you had a problem , hope it works out for you.
BarbanJoe
010 Rpod 171
02 Jeep 4x4
12 Ram 1500
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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Posts: 1215 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 12:44pm
   I agree with Budward, I too lost a wheel and marwayne lost a wheel you are not alone. What I have been told aluminum wheels especially ones made in China have a history of lug nuts becoming lose. The heating and cooling of the wheel causes them to expand and contract. After we lost a wheel I changed the aluminum wheels for steel wheels, its a experience I did not want to repeat. We changed our r-pod for a Vibe and now we are back to aluminum wheels, but I have learned my lesson and often check the lug nuts for tightness. Sorry that it has happened to you but thankful no other vehicles were involved and you were not injured. A lesson learned and I am sure you will not forget to check your lug nuts often before and during a long trip.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


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Budward View Drop Down
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Posts: 438 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2014 at 12:14pm
Originally posted by Patti'sPod



I finally had to call FR again due to no callback to the mechanic as promised, only to be told
"It's a maintenance problem".  
Hence, they do not want to cover the damage.
I was told I should have torqued down the lug nuts before leaving on my trip. 
Any mechanic will tell you if they were properly torqued by the manufacturer, the tire would not have come off in such a short time, if at all!   too soon for me to be held responsible.  



Sorry you had a bad experience of losing a wheel.
You won't like hearing this but FR is right.
Trailer wheels need to be torqued much more often than car wheels.
Every trailer I've ever owned, and it has been a bunch- state this clearly.
Some say before every trip, most say within the first 50 miles or so and again around 150.
Dexter (the industry leader in trailer axles) says after first mounting a wheel, this would include a new wheel,  to check torque at 10 miles, 25 miles, and at 50 miles!
So if you went 300 miles and never checked torque....
2014 179
Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel
Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle!
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