As you use your travel trailer, it is important to know the usual size for a typical trailer lug nut or wheel nut. You may feel uncomfortable finding which size will best fit your trailer, but I did some research dealing with lug nuts to help you know which size is perfect for your travel trailer.
The common size for a travel trailer lug nut or wheel nut is 1/2 inch. There are several different lug nut sizes, but you can find a specific lug nut size that can work with your wheels by checking the bolt pattern and the wheel size.
Lug nuts are a crucial part of your travel trailer so it is important to know the typical sizes and what to do if you need to change a tire. Down below is more information on how to determine which lug nut is right for you and how to attach them.
The Usual Size of a Travel Trailer Lug Nut
I know why you’re here: you know how crucial a little lug nut can be to a successful camping trip. You’re right! Without that little guy, you won’t be able to get anywhere.
A lug nut is the rounded piece that goes over a bolt, to keep the wheel attached to an axle. In order to keep your vacation rolling, you will need to ensure you have the right size of lug nut.
Failing to secure the tire to the trailer can cause problems so ensure that you properly attach your lug nut.
For example when you are tightening the nut it is important to know how much to tighten it with a torque wrench. If you tighten too much, it can wear down on the nuts so it is important to find the exact specifications when tightening. See below for instructions.
The usual size for travel trailer lug nuts is 1/2 inch. However some other sizes that work on trailers are the 9/16, 5/8 and the 7/16. This references the thread size
Replacing your lug nut and need to know pricing? Lug nuts typically come at different prices but range anywhere from $1 to $20 but the more expensive ones come with more quantity coming in packs of 10.
Find which Lug Nut is Right for Your Travel Trailer
Before attaching any wheels, make sure you have the right lug nut for your trailer.
First find what kind of fastener seat your lug nut is.
You will want to match the type of fastener seat matches the seat inside your wheel. When I say “fastener seat” I am referring the the three different fastener types, the Conical Seat, the Spherical Seat, and the Flat Washer.
The way you can tell the difference between the three is that the Conical Seat is cone shaped, the Spherical is like a ball, a round shape and the Flat Washer is the mag type.
Once you know what fastener seat you have, you will need to know the thread size of the lug nut that will fit. Thread sizes come in a variety, there are some that are 12mm by 1.25, 14mm by 1.5 and more.
To know what size of fastener, you should find the thread diameter, pitch, and length.
The thread diameter is simply the diameter of the threaded part of the fastener. Measure the diameter using a dial caliper to find the inch measurement. You can also measure it in metric to which you will probably find 10mm or if you do it in inches, it will be about 1/2 inches.
Once you know the thread size, you will be able to determine which lug nut is needed for your trailer.
Your trailer manual also can help you determine other specifics with your tires that can be helpful for determining lug nut sizes.
How to Attach a Lug Nut to a Travel Trailer
Whether you are fixing a tire, tightening the tire, or checking something out, it will be handy to know how to attach a lug nut to your trailer.
Make sure that you have all the supplies you need, including the Lug wrench and lug nuts, a torque wrench, socket wrench set, jack and jack stand, and even a manual. Manuals are always best to follow if your trailer comes with one to know specifics for fixing your trailer.
First, make sure your trailer won’t move, so keep breaks on the other tires while you work on the one. Then take a jack to jack up the the trailer. Once it is jacked up, put the jack on the stand and prepare to install the nuts.
You can know attach the lug nuts or wheel nuts with just your hands. You do not need to use anything special for this part.
Next, grab the socket wrench to tighten the nuts. You can push on the wheel and ensure that the nuts are tightly on. As you tighten the nuts, you can go in a pattern tightening the bolt across from the one previously tightened.
After this you will need to torque the nuts. This is where having the manual will come in handy because it will let you know what torque specifics you need to set it at.
Tighten the lugs until your wrench makes a clicking noise. Again doing this in the order of tightening one lug then going to the lug across to the lug directly across from it.
The torque wrench will tighten the tire more to give it the perfect and proper tightening for the specifications it needs.
Make sure you do not over tighten your tire. It may wear out the bolts or studs so it is important to know what the proper torque tightening is needed. For example if it is 12mm or 7/16 inches or 1/2 inches then it would be set at 85 pounds.
How to Remove a Lug Nut from a Travel Trailer
Now for how to remove a lug nut, which is simply doing what we just did but in the opposite.
Simply use a lug wrench to loosen or break the lug nuts. You will want to turn them counter clock-wise, or left to loosen them (lefty loosey, right?). Make sure to do this before jacking the trailer.
Make sure you jack the tire up so the tire is off the ground. then you will be able to remove the tire. The removal part is easy, right? Make sure to inspect the nuts while you are there removing them. Insure that everything is working and are in good condition.
If you cannot seem to get the lug nuts off, you will need some other tools to help loosen them. For example, using a lubricant or a rust blaster. After you apply, wait a little and then it should get moving for you.
You could also try vibrating or shocking the lug nut. Try hitting the nuts with your wrench, not too hard but enough to make a vibration.
Or another option is to use heat on the nuts. Heat them up, not too much, then let the nuts cool. You can repeat this process over again after the nuts have cooled if it does not work the first time.
There is also another option to use a handheld impact driver. There are also battery powered impact drivers that help with it as well. All you need to do is attach it to the nut, twist, and if using a handheld one, you will need to hit with a hammer.
If there seems to be a problem, then now you know how to find the right lug nuts and replace them!
