Wheel Separation - Diesel Forum

nvcowboy · 07-05-2007, 07:47 PM

I had a wheel separation on the street side of my trailer during my vacation. I changed the brakes the night before my trip and forgot to retighten the lug bolts after the first hour of driving. One of the things that ticks me off is that one of the things I did to make the trailer safe for the trip is the thing that damn near put us in the ditch.

I was lucky in that we stayed out of the ditch. THe trailer went to swaying and bucking. I just kept telling myself to keep it strait, get her slowed down, stay calm, etc. THe "Holy $#&!" factor did not really have any effect until the incident was over.

I was able to get some new tires from Wal-Mart in Richfield, UT, and lug bolts from Nappa in Salina, UT. The guy at Nappa came from home and opened his closed store in order for me to purchase what I needed.

It took two jacks, firewood, and the stabilizing jacks on each end to get her jacked up high enough to get the tires back on. I also had to use a hammer and screw driver to get the backing plates pried off the hubs. All of this was in the dark, of course.

The link in my signature goes to my webshots page, which contains an album entitled '76 Jayco. The pic's of the carnage can be found there.

Later
Bill

danjreed · 07-05-2007, 09:15 PM

Whew! That doesn't look like any fun at all. Good thing you're all OK. Did both wheels take off on their own path at the same time?

A wheel off used to be one of my greatest fears. Changing tires all day long got very boring, but just knowning most people's driving capabilities scared me enough that I always made sure the wheels were on securely.
After things like that you tend to pickup strange habits. I always pickup on a hood after I shut it to make sure it is latched. I even catch myself doing that on the tractor on the farm. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

DevoK12RS · 07-06-2007, 01:48 AM

Glad everyone is ok.
[ QUOTE ]
The guy at Nappa came from home and opened his closed store in order for me to purchase what I needed.

[/ QUOTE ]
How, pray tell, did you get the home number of a parts store owner while on the road?

nvcowboy · 07-06-2007, 06:16 AM

"How, pray tell, did you get the home number of a parts store owner while on the road?"

I called a tow truck when there were no lug bolts in RIchfield. Tow driver told me that he could drag the beast up on the flat bed, but it would probably knock the axles out from underneath. Then he said I'll call you back in five. In five he called me back and said call this number, it's to the Nappa in Salina. There was also some interface with the UT HP, who were less than helpful. I called 911, since my wife was still with the trailer, and I knew it was going to be dark. I had left her with my duty weapon and badge, and told her to shoot anyone who was unfriendly. Dispatch tells me that she cannot send anyone out to stand by while I get the parts. While I am in Salinas, the UHP and the county guys are sitting in teh parking lot of the coin-op car wash, and swaping lies. Sure am glad that traveler safety is a priority in UT.

I would absolutely understand if the dispatcher said "I got troopers working accidents and we cannot help you right now." However, it really puts some sand in my gears when my no response was based on a chat at the car wash.

nvcowboy · 07-06-2007, 06:22 AM

"Whew! That doesn't look like any fun at all. Good thing you're all OK. Did both wheels take off on their own path at the same time?"

I just rounded a curve before a downhill slope. Then the tornado on the end of the hitch started. I got 'er slowed down and pulled off to the side of the road . . . and the wif says "why are you stopping?" So I started down the road, and things got a little nasty again, and all of a sudden my wife says "Did we lose a tire?", and my son says "yea, there it goes . . ."

Since you all pressed for the embarassing details you all have them.

jimmy · 07-06-2007, 10:25 AM

I had a wheel come off a horse trailer one time in a curve on an expressway. I felt a little wiggle that I attributed to nasty mare behavior and then I saw a tire roll past me on the left and make several bounces and jump the divider wall. I thought, "hmm that is funny, somebody has lost a wheel." Then all the brain cells lined up and I thought "DAMN! THAT IS MY Tire/wheel JUMPING THAT WALL MAKING ALL THOSE CAR HEADLIGHTS SHINE THIS WAY AND THAT!!!!"

I sure was reluctant to get over and stop and look over the wall. Luckily no one had hit the tire that had gone to the other side of the opposite lanes and fallen on shoulder.

arisley · 07-06-2007, 11:05 AM

Been there done that, washed the stained shorts.

nvcowboy · 07-06-2007, 04:26 PM

I got four brand new five lug hubs and new wheels waiting to go on the beast. Came with new bearings, caps, rear seals, lug nuts, and one tire. I am probably going to have to replace an axle, as I have one bent spindle (not due to the separation). Now I either wait for my trailer mechanic, riding partner, and drinking buddy to get back from vacation, or I grow an extra set, and put it all back together myself (I'll wait for buddy if I decide to do the axle now). I really enjoy working on the electrical system or other parts of the trailer, but the really greasy jobs are well . . . greasy. Its a result of my Dad being afraid I would end up in the auto business like he was, so he begrudgingly taught me how to change my own oil, and that was about it.

I am trying to save enough money to build a combination workshop, tack room, and beer drinking parlor on the side of my house. The body work is going to have to wait on the trailer. The beast is still great as a mobile hunting lodge.

Later
Bill

LongRider · 07-07-2007, 08:59 AM

[ QUOTE ]
then I saw a tire roll past me on the left and make several bounces and jump the divider wall. I thought, "hmm that is funny, somebody has lost a wheel."

[/ QUOTE ]

Just a few days ago, I was coming out a side-street, up hill, toward the main highway.

A big 11R-24.5 tire, BUDD wheel and all, jumped the bank beside a house, came across the backyard, over the hill, and straight towards my truck.

That tire sometimes would go twenty feet in the air.

When it lost momentum and fell over, me, and some guy behind me, layed it on my truck and I hauled it out to the highway, where I found where it belonged; there was a tri-axle dump-truck, loaded with rock, missing the wheels on the left-rear tandem.

The other tire had went down the front of a new house, taking out about half-a-dozen white porch columns as it went, and knocking down most of the soffit and guttering.