Torque Wrench

[Drakhorn]

I read a post here about what torque wrenchs were being used several days ago. I saw Sears had their Torque Wrenches on sale for $48.00, in the Sunday flyer from April 23. Seems like a good deal.

[Dano]

Hey Drakhorn, Thats not a bad deal!! I was at sears saturday they wanted 75.00 for the one I wanted. I ended up going to Advance Auto and picked one up for 36.00. I realy wanted the sears one but I just could'nt pay that price. I like the one that has the dial on the handle to set at the lbs. you want and it gives a click when you reached it. I think the one I got will be just fine. After reading that post this morning on the tire almost coming of I cant wait to use it!!!!!!

[Searchers]

Drakhorn, thanks for post. I just bought that same torque wrench on Thursday for $75+ tax. Think I'll call them for a price adjustment.

[Montana_738]

Hello All,

Before you buy the one from sears check out Harbor freight, they a good one for a lot less money. They will also ship the items very reasonable to you. They too ofer a warentee as sears does.

Bill

[SKOOBDO]

My Montana has been only driven by me less than 50 miles, and when I picked it up the torque was fine but just about 15 miles later I checked them again and a few nuts were loose. I advise everyone to check the lug nuts before you ever pull it no matter how far. I'm glad the manufacturer does affix a warning on all units and people really should torque them regularly especially the newer ones. I had a unit that was 10 years old, and the lug nuts were never loose in the last year before I got rid of it...but regardless I always checked before traveling.

[fulltimedreamer]

Thanks for the tip on the Craftsman torque wrench. I picked one up today!

[richfaa]

One of the reasons I got the steel wheels was because of the loose lug nut problem . Once had a aluminum wheel come off a van after the tire had been changed at a tire shop.Had our TT for 10 years and never had a loose lug nut....

[rickety]

ditto Rich. Steel wheels are the only way to go. On the subject of torque wrenches, I have bought only craftsman wrenches for many years, and this particular torque wrench is the best I have ever had. Easy to use,easy to read and love the click!

[Mac]

I've not had an issue with my aluminum wheels yet, not on this trailer or previous ones either, perhaps I'm just lucky.

mac

[Emmel]

No problem with the aluminum wheels, I do torque them regularly with a Craftsman tourque wrench. I have had the steel wheels rust on my other trailers because the paint chipped on them.I really think the preference of wheels is what you like, there are things that can go wrong with both if you don't take care of them.

[fulltimedreamer]

My Mountaineer came with steel wheels and I have not had any problems. Last fall I purchased a set of tires and aluminum wheels from a fellow MOCer who was moving to a higher rated tire and wheel. With all the problems I've read about with aluminum wheels. I'm a little spooked about installing the new wheels. I think I'm going to go ahead and install them and just make sure I keep the lug nuts torqued. The aluminum wheels are more visually appealing IMO and don't rust like the steel wheels.

[Bill DeMeulle]

I bought the one at Harbor Freight also for $12.99, it has the same as Sears tool.

[richfaa]

It is a matter of personal preference ..however you can Re paint the steel wheels were once the not exactly high end aluminum wheels get funny looking..that's it and you can get some good looking wheel covers for those steel wheels were you can hardly tell the difference In fact I walked over to a guy and asked him what kind of aluminum wheels he had because I liked that design and they were wheel covers on closer inspection.Then there are those alwyas loose lug nuts. But they are purrty..

[Montana_4447]

hi. whilst you're on the subject....what poundage are we setting the lug nuts at with this new torque wrench ??? thanks.

[tundra rose]

Drakhorn - Thanks for the tip. I've been waiting for Sears to put them on sale, but had not noticed the ad.

Robobob - They say 110 - 120 ft/lbs final torque.
Here is the link to Montana's instructions:
http://keystonerv.com/media/pdf/Lug_Nut_Torque.pdf

[Wrenchtraveller]

I believe the loose lug problem is mainly after you take your wheels off and then remount them like I did when I balanced my tires on my Montana. I have a good Torque wrench and I checked the nuts every 50 miles or so when I left on my trip 2 weeks ago. The first 4 times, the nuts did take some movement to reach 120 ft pounds. The first tightening was quite alarming with some nuts taking almost a flat to click the torque wrench ( a flat is 1/6 of a turn on a hexagon fastener ) They took less and less and now in over 1000 miles, they are staying tight but I still check them. I have the aluminum wheels and I believe they are now set and will stay tight but the 2 minutes it takes to check them is time well spent. If I had the cheap stamped steel wheels, would I still check them..........you bet.

[geonbar]

I cked around for torque wrenches & then went to E-BAY &/or Amazon; lots of them listed. I bought a CLICKER w DIAL ON BOTTOM OF HANDLE 4 $10 including shipping. works great. good hunting

[geonbar]

i also cked out torque wrenches, went to E-BAY &/OR AMAZON, they have lots listed. bought a clicker w dial on bottom of handle 4 $10 including shipping, works great! good hunting

[Glenn and Lorraine]

As some of you may know I am a garage/yard sale addict. My truck automatically pulls over whenever it sees one. I have made many a great buy at them.
But don't buy a torque wrench at one. I picked up what appeared to be a great buy at a sale where a women was selling her late husbands tools. Only $5.00. GREAT PRICE??? NOT! I did use it to torque my [s]nuts[/s] err lug nuts. Anyway, on Monday, when I had the bearings and brakes checked the mechanic said my lug nuts were way over the 120# required. He actually had to use a breaker bar to loosen the lugs. Guess I'll be going to Sears or Harbor Freight before we set out for the north country.

Anyone want to buy a USED torque wrench?

[VanMan]

I have the Harbor Freight - comes in a nice cheap case but seems to do the job !