From Lug Bolts to Lug nuts???

[Coach1310]

Good day all. I am looking to change something on my boat trailer. I currently have a trailer that uses lug bolts to attach the tires to it instead of a tralier with the bolts already on it which uses lug nuts to attach the wheels. Is this a hard thing to change? Cost? I check the bolts each time I take a long trip, but for the normal day trip I don't. Well last year when coming home from a long weekend trip I had a wheel almost come off doing 70 mph on the highway. Thankfully I was able to slow down and get the rig to the shoulder without the wheel falling off. I am pretty skittish about it now, so that is why I am looking to make the change. Thanks for any and all help.

[Valv]

If you want to change your system I believe the only way is to replace each hub.

You could buy some "studs" and use Locktite to seal them onto hub then use regular lugnuts but I dont' see where is the difference.

I think what happened you installed a wheel sometimes with some dirt or ice on the back surface where it mounts againste hub, then tightened the bolts. With time, vibrations, warm weather, etc. the dirt/ice freed itself from in between and created a small gap which resulted in lose bolts which loosened themselves more.

I would just buy some Locktite blue and use it on each bolt, but clean the back of your rims and the front of hub before this.

You have to discover what caused the problem and correct it before going any further.

[efgh]

Yes you can change the lug bolts to studs and wheel nuts. Take both hubs to a machine shop along with the studs you want to use. Have them drill the threads out the approprite size that will allow the splines on the studs to grab and hold them in place. If you are handy you could probley do it your self. Holes drilled to big will let the stud slip, too small, the hub will probley crack when they are driven in. I have done this on wagon hubs and front tractor hubs and never had a problem. If you put blue lock tite on the bolts that are now in use they would stay tight and you could still get the bolts off in chase you needed to changr tires and rims. I sumitted my reply and saw Val,s post ahead of mine.

[Coach1310]

Thanks guys. I will remove them, do some thorough cleaning and put them back on using blue lock tight and see how they perform this summer. Will the lock tight cause me problems if I need to remove them to change a flat etc.??? Thanks again.

[Bearfan1963]

I think both valv and efgh made it clear to use blue loctite as opposed to red. Red is considered permanent and blue removable.

[marine_man]

Yep... Bearfan is right on. Use the blue stuff and you should be able to remove them later.

marine_man

[sparcebag]

 Originally Posted By: Coach1310

Thanks guys. I will remove them, do some thorough cleaning and put them back on using blue lock tight and see how they perform this summer. Will the lock tight cause me problems if I need to remove them to change a flat etc.??? Thanks again.

Coach I've a 1950 willies Jeep here and what they did to ensure lug nuts stayed tight on right side left threaded studs and onleft side right threads.centrifical force keeps nuts from loosening.I just replaced the left threaded studs they were bit hard to find so I ordered them.

I replaced them cause a friend changed a tire and broke them,but if ya know their there your OK ta go.

[Coach1310]

Thanks all. I appreciate all the help.

[Down Deep]

You can prevent loose lug nuts by torquing each nut according to specifications. Any decent tire shop can do this for you. I use Never Seize on my lugs.