What do you torque lugs to

[kmclemore]

As someone who actually was a race car owner, mechanic and driver over a period of 40 years (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)...

Kevin, is that a Siata and an Elva I see?
---Harrison

Close. It is a Turner 950S (I found out after I bought it that it was the very first one ever made) and an Elva Courier Mk IV. I also campaigned a Morris Mini Minor (the name of the early Mini Coopers) as well as a Triumph Spitfire and a Sunbeam Tiger. I've had a lot more British cars than those - and many rarer - but those are the only ones I raced.

[Hamin' X]

Please be aware, that if your left and right turn wires are crossed, or shorted at the plug, using the hazard flashers for a light check will not reveal this; nor will having someone step on the brakes. Do as the pros do and go down one side with that turn signal on, then back around the front, stopping to switch the turns to the other side, then down the other side. I see many trailers going merrily down the road with this problem.

~Rich

I do a walk-around with the running lights and 4-ways on, since the turns are the same function as the brake lights on a trailer, and when I remember I also hit the brakes since the boat is backed up to the garage door as it's normally parked, and I can see them shine on the door in my mirrors. In case the electronics in the car that combine the car's turn and brake functions into one 'bulb' on each side isn't working, that is.

[Catigale]

How do your left and rights get crossed on the road? My plug only goes in one way...TMI...

A complete chek would include confirming turn signal operation under braking, which does require two people and comm-link. I'm satisfied to see tail lights and flashers working simultaneously for quick checks,

LED tail lights absolutely rock..I'll never do incandescents again.

[kmclemore]

Yeah, my light wires can't be mixed up, either.. plug only goes one way. Once you've wired that plug and the trailer properly the first time that should never again be an issue.

In putting the 4-way flashers on I'm mostly checking the light bulbs themselves. True that the turn-signal flasher relay in the car (which may be separate from the 4-way flasher relay in the car) could still be defective and I'd have no signals, but on my car I'd see that because the indicator on the dash will either flash faster or not at all if that's not working.

[Hamin' X]

Wires can become shorted in the plug due to the stress of turning too sharp, or any of several other reasons. Just because it was working properly the last time you checked it, doesn't mean that it's working right now. YMMV & just my 2 cents worth. Guess I'm just used to doing thorough preflight inspections.

~Rich

[bartmac]

NOT ENOUGH....long story but the gist is...new wheels alloy....new second hand nuts....US nuts are not so standard in Oz...well about 1k from home first trip after reconditioning the trailer and well all hull breaks out...grinding noise rock flying etc etc.The left hand wheel has departed the scene...later to be found after 45min looking....the U bolts holding the axle to spring have dug a 2-2.5 inch wide trench thru the tar into the subbase of the road...like ploughing really...luck would have it we were only going 60-70km per hour...the mark in the road is still there after3-4 years.The whole reason for this ramble...well unlike trucks and other larger vehicle the nuts go on the same way on both sides but of course one side undoes in forward travelling.
Also contributing the angle of the nut and the angle of the recess in the wheel...different so now I do them up tight...no torque wrench just a Hitachi 18v rattle gun and 24" breaker bar and check regular.An aside from all this is the requirements of mining sites etc ....all nuts/lugs have to have indicators on them so obviously give visual clues...not a bad idea

[raycarlson]

I don't worry about lights out , here in az our highway patrol officers give excellent customer service and will pull you over to let you know your lights aren't working.They even write you a little ticket so you don't forget to fix them before your next trip.

[kmclemore]

I don't worry about lights out , here in az our highway patrol officers give excellent customer service and will pull you over to let you know your lights aren't working.They even write you a little ticket so you don't forget to fix them before your next trip.

How thoughtful!

Here in America they do that, too, but they also throw you on the ground, strip search you and beat you to a pulp.

It helps immensely in the 'remembering' process.

(I'm just kidding, folks... no nastygrams, please!)

[raycarlson]

Out west, not sure what country we are, the officers understand most every vehicle likely has at least one firearm on board which greatly influences their behavior, unless your inner city L.A.(much like east coast society) you likely would never see the po-po pull a stunt like that.

[kmclemore]

Out west, not sure what country we are, the officers understand most every vehicle likely has at least one firearm on board which greatly influences their behavior, unless your inner city L.A.(much like east coast society) you likely would never see the po-po pull a stunt like that.

I'll repeat.. "(I'm just kidding, folks... )"

[bartmac]

I know I'm going to be shot down in flames but......here I go

Out west, not sure what country we are, the officers understand most every vehicle likely has at least one firearm on board which greatly influences their behavior, unless your inner city L.A.(much like east coast society) you likely would never see the po-po pull a stunt like that.

The world's view of the US and their citizen's stance on firearms exemplified by statements like above "Kidding or not" is not positive and as the world becomes more and more homogenised these attitudes rub off on other societies.The fact that law enforcement officers should in any way be intimidated by citizens is wrong and I have had the long held belief that the punishment for in any way injuring or harming officers should be at least life imprisonment without parole.I personally do not see the need for any guns especially in vehicles...sure hunting of feral animals and other livestock tasks and the usage on shooting ranges is probably OK.But guns should be secured in gun safes not readily at hand and restricted to licenced persons having a legitimate reason for ownership.
The ranting and ravings of some NRA spokespersons would , if I were an US citizen embarrass me immensely and certainly influence world's perceptions of US society.

[dlandersson]

Let me be the devil's advocate.

In the parts of the US I have lived in, the readiness of the local police to behave legally and write up an accurate police report is directly linked to their perception of a person's knowledge of the law. Heck, Chicago got slammed in court last year for the problems' it's "code of silence" causes.

This is not a reflection on the thankless and essential function our police forces do.

[Catigale]

Plenty of other boards to discuss politics, but not this one please.

Lets move on.

[kmclemore]

Agree, Cat. I should know better... happens every time.

[raycarlson]

Lets review, lugnut torque to tail light inspection procedures followed by weak attempts at humor and sarcastic boob comments on to police brutality and constitutional amendments followed up with international politics and narrow personal opinions, I'm going to have to request this thread be locked or at least heavily censored Cat, please do your thing.