lug nuts won't come un done?

EP

Epoweredrc

Advanced Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2017
Messages
82
Location
Waco Georgia
ok, so we went ad picked up our new used 1980 hi lo camper today, btw is there a way to know the model just from.the Vin number cause I have the tag receipt but it doesn't have a model number on it..
anyways I jacked up the right side and removed both wheels fine, I then sat jack stands under it where the manual shows. moved to left side and I can not get any of the lugs on either wheel to break free, we had already sprayed them all and I was using my 4 way wrench, well I tried a socket and rachet with a half of my floor jack and thought I was going to break the rachet.
the neighbor was kind and came over with his aircompressor a small 100 psi one and his impact and tried and no luck.

Ended up leaving those 2 wheels on for now. going try find some other tools to take back and tr again, my buddy says he has a electric impact that will remove them but not sure and last thing I want to do is break them..
the camper is at my other half parents as they were only 15 minutes from.where I picked it up. all the tires look horrible and didn't trust them for the 50+ mile trip home.
I've got tires ordered from online suppose to be here Friday the ones on it were Bs these are d grade. should be better.
 
Sometimes heating the lug with a small propane torch will help.

Heat the nut till it's pretty hot, then using a nice long breaker bar (not the 4-way), give it a good hit. Or use your friends impact wrench. Sudden high torque is more effective than just sitting/pulling on the bar.

Warning - be prepared to replace all the wheel studs. Just go buy some now. If the lugs are this frozen there's a good possibility of the studs breaking. Even if you get them loose, clearly they've rusted quite a bit and heating them doesn't help their strength. Just easy to replace them rather than worry about them breaking or seizing down the line.

Here's some advice that some may disagree with - I use never-seize on lugnuts, especially on trailers since they tend to sit a lot and don't get the maintenance love that our daily drivers do. I also use never-seize between the rim and the hub/drum. They tend to rust and stick there too.
 
KnottyRig said:
Sometimes heating the lug with a small propane torch will help.

Heat the nut till it's pretty hot, then using a nice long breaker bar (not the 4-way), give it a good hit. Or use your friends impact wrench. Sudden high torque is more effective than just sitting/pulling on the bar.

Warning - be prepared to replace all the wheel studs. Just go buy some now. If the lugs are this frozen there's a good possibility of the studs breaking. Even if you get them loose, clearly they've rusted quite a bit and heating them doesn't help their strength. Just easy to replace them rather than worry about them breaking or seizing down the line.

Here's some advice that some may disagree with - I use never-seize on lugnuts, especially on trailers since they tend to sit a lot and don't get the maintenance love that our daily drivers do. I also use never-seize between the rim and the hub/drum. They tend to rust and stick there too.
Click to expand...

I just watched a video on YouTube of someone using a torch, they said not to get the center (stud) hot just the nut. but on the trailers the nut and stud is all in one... I did bring home one of the lugs so I be sure find right socket take bk with me. think I'm find my torque wrench and a pipe big enough to go over it. one thing on these hi lo trailers you sure don't have much room to get leveage. with it being so far under the trailer. I did see one guy used a jack stand to support his extention on his wrench so he could get all way out past the body on his moterhome.
 
Bruce from Kansas said:
Before you torch it, Check to see if one side is Right-hand Lug nuts, and the other side is Left-hand. Some axles are like that. The Right ones ususally have an 'R' on them and the Left ones an 'L'.
Click to expand...

Oh my.... If they do imma feel really stupid...
I know the right one I have with me has a R on it. they un bolted normal ( right tight lefty loosy)
 
Bruce from Kansas said:
Before you torch it, Check to see if one side is Right-hand Lug nuts, and the other side is Left-hand. Some axles are like that. The Right ones ususally have an 'R' on them and the Left ones an 'L'.
Click to expand...

Good God! I've never heard of that. What a stupid design!

If that's the case, or even if it's not, try working the socket wrench BOTH ways. This will sometimes break a stuck nut free.

Edit: I just saw your last post - we were typing at the same time. DO NOT feel stupid, I never would have guessed LH thread either.

- Jack
 
Well, I've changed tires only one 2 utility trailers and do not remember them being backwards.

Since talking about the wheels here, does this trailer have to have both wheels per side even if it's just resting ? the reason I asked is I was thinking of leaving the spare on the left side when/if I get the other two that on there off rather then leaving that side on jack stands would that hurt anything?
 
In the 50's/60's many Mopars had left and right lugs. Therory was the rotation of the rims helped keep the lugs tight.
Epower, one tire should hold it, depending on the condition of the tire. I'd put a stand under it for safety--even cinder blocks. If you have a flat, your only on one tire. But I wouldn't tow it with only one!
Tree
 
Treeclimber said:
In the 50's/60's many Mopars had left and right lugs. Therory was the rotation of the rims helped keep the lugs tight.
Epower, one tire should hold it, depending on the condition of the tire. I'd put a stand under it for safety--even cinder blocks. If you have a flat, your only on one tire. But I wouldn't tow it with only one!
Tree
Click to expand...

No, I wouldnt try tow with one, those axles are tiny...
well had her mom text a picture of the left wheel and it does have a L on it. I still feel silly ,stupid not thinking about that but it's just not common but to be fair it was me,my woman,her daddy and younger brother, then a neighbor who were all trying get it off.
 
Again, DON'T feel stupid! I would have probably broken the studs off.

Thank you Bruce, for suggesting what was wrong! *beers*

- Jack
 
I would have used a six foot breaker bar! A left handed thread never would have crossed my mind.!

Rick
 
Well we almost broke something i just hope they will come off the proper way now that we tried so much the wrong way.
tires are suppose to be here friday not sure i will wait till then to go back down and take off the other two or not.
 
Epoweredrc said:
Well we almost broke something i just hope they will come off the proper way now that we tried so much the wrong way.
tires are suppose to be here friday not sure i will wait till then to go back down and take off the other two or not.
Click to expand...

If they're damaged, you SHOULD be able to replace them. Maybe with RH thread studs too. If that's possible, I think I'd do it regardless of the condition of the older ones.

- Jack
 
You can get replacement studs at good auto parts stores. We got a set at NAPA. Be sure to take an undamaged one in so they can measure it for proper size. The shop used a brass bar to drive in the new ones so not to damage the new studs.
 
Bruce from Kansas said:
Guys, you have to understand that on ones like my 2176B and the instant 1980, is that they are Lug Bolts into the Axle/Hub, Not the normal Studs with Lug Nuts!:eek:
Click to expand...

I SEE!, said the blind man! So, you'd have to replace the whole Hub? (Or, find correctly sized bolts with the proper hardness and LH threads).

- Jack
 
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