The same style of lug nut is found on many vehicles. When I've had this issue I forced a 6pt socket that was just larger than the original size onto the lug nut using a hammer and removed it. I then put it in my shop vise and popped it out of the socket. I knew I was ruining the lug but I have extras.
I now carry multiple size sockets in my trucks with a breaker bar. You never know when someone working on your vehicle slightly warps the cap and if you get a flat your up the creek because the stock lug wrench won't fit.
Both my Toyota and F150 have them. If possible once you have them off switch to solid lug nuts, but some times you can't. I've been told that (as of 2 years ago) there wasn't an aftermarket solid lug nut that matched the taper on stock F150 aluminum wheels. You could use them but since the tapers didn't match that could cause other issues. I went online and got almost new take off lugs that I keep as spare. $50 for 24 is a lot cheaper than dealer price.
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"On a vintage Airstream if it aint absolutely broke DON'T TOUCH IT!!"
I have a 2017 Airstream ... is there any way to tell if the lug nuts are solid or the curious capped version?
They appear solid, but ... like to know for sure.
What a crazy design.
I have a 2016 27 FB and it had the capped lugs. First on the to do list was 16" wheels and tires, solid steel lug nuts and metal valve stems. You do not want the issue the OP has on the side of a busy highway with a blowout.
Wow what a hassle glad I listened to my service guy Ricky at Airstream OC and replaced them on my 2016 whatever they charged now seems worth it.
__________________ The Wood Family Mike Lisa & Aidan
2016 International Signature 28
2017 GMC Denali 2500HD Duramax Diesel 4X4 Crew Cab Z71
WBCCI #21506
Just so I understand, the issue is the spinning covers, not the Lugnuts themselves. Right? And the spinning covers are not an issue until you try to remove the wheel. Right?
Yes. Correct. If the lug nuts are properly torqued, no issues. Just a PITA to get them off to change a tire. A 6-point socket helps avoid the issue, but replacing them with better solid metal nuts are a good idea.
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Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
Note the visible seam around the nut just above the tapered part in the first picture. That’s the giveaway, but you have to unscrew the nut to easily see it...which may be a one-way trip.
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Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
Does anyone know why these things even exist? In what world does it make sense to manufacture such a silly design for lug nuts?
It is done for appearance and statisfy the market place. It is less expensive to cap the lug nut than it is to chrome the lug nut. A manufacture wanting a look will get nearly the same look of a chromed lug nut by using one that is capped for less cost.
In the design phase these can be eliminated with wheel covers. However the market place has moved away from steel wheels with covers.
And this practice may be transitional.
Consider travel trailer tires in the market place. Higher end tires that have far more load margin is the norm for a very long time in passenger cars and light trucks. The RV industry has only turned the corner with higher end tires because the consumer demand is willing to pay more money for a better tire.
The market place is always moving as to consumer demand. That demand is always tempered with the willingness of the consumer to pay more. If a manufacturer that competes with others spends an additional $100 per unit there has to be a return for that cost. If there is no return why do it?
The argument could be made that heck what is five to $10 in additional cost mean for chromed lug nuts? For the manufacturer, the question goes back to what does the manufacturer get? Does it lose a unit of sales because of costs? (or do they sell the same number of units for greater cost) Does it gain a sale because of benefit? Does a small percentage of buyers care or a large percentage care? Does it create a better image? Or ??????? Just because you are willing to pay more does not mean most will pay more. Until that changes. Which many things change in the ever changing market place.
All those questions have to be looked at (or not) to decide to move forward. Better does not always translate to more sales. There are hundreds of thousands of examples of a "better product" going to market and selling fewer units. Or worse.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
Ok the dealer charged $168 before the 10% discount for all 24 acorn lug nuts if anyone was wondering
__________________ The Wood Family Mike Lisa & Aidan
2016 International Signature 28
2017 GMC Denali 2500HD Duramax Diesel 4X4 Crew Cab Z71
WBCCI #21506
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,156
$168 for lug nuts?
The guys at Discount Tire got so fed up with removing the wheels when I bought new tires that they replaced the lug nuts for free. The cost was actually only about $30 but, it pays to let them to do the work instead of messing with wheels yourself and hauling them down to get tires replaced. They will listen to you on how to properly jack the trailer too!
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This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison
Well, dealers have to make a profit too. I think I paid $90 on Amazon for 24 McGards and could have saved another 15 had I seen the set of 20 they have for $60 [emoji3] and added a set for $15.
No worries - if you have what you want - you’re all good!
Ok the dealer charged $168 before the 10% discount for all 24 acorn lug nuts if anyone was wondering
In general a seller will list or sell based on what the market is willing to pay. while the same item may be listed for different amounts, many times the market is willing to pay different amounts. Until the profit goes away. Once there is no profit, the thing is no longer available. (There always exceptions and in general …)
A food item at a 7/11 has a much differen price than that same food item in a national grocery store. Or look at the listed price of a Bambi versus the longest trailer made by Airstream. On a length, weight or any other basis that Bambi is way more expensive than the same condition largest Airstream model. The market is willing to pay more money for that Bambi or Base Camp. Call it the cute factor or ???? and that sized trailer is more desireable than a 30+ foot trailer.
With the addition of the internet, most things and some services can be sold on a world wide basis. Opening makets to much greater buying audience and more specific price comparison.
>>>>>>>>>Action
__________________
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4 DR Breezeway 410 4V, C-6, 2.80 - Streamless.
1966 Lincoln 4 door Convertible 462 4V 1971 Ford LTD Convertible 429 4V Phoenix ~ Yeah it's hot however it's a dry heat!
Best to check your lug nuts . If they spin and won’t come off you most likely have the dreaded covers on them. Then you end up with this pile of junk!
Just spent a couple of hours removing balky two-piece nuts. The thin metal “lug shields” came off in various ways: sometimes with luck, sometimes pounding the socket on for good “purchase,” and sometimes having to resort to a flat blade screwdriver and hammer.
And as one of my pics show, I found that after our last trip some of the end caps of the two-piece nuts were missing.
Purchased Dorman brand lug nuts. Hope they work. Will apply the torque wrench again on our next trip.
Just spent a couple of hours removing balky two-piece nuts. The thin metal “lug shields” came off in various ways: sometimes with luck, sometimes pounding the socket on for good “purchase,” and sometimes having to resort to a flat blade screwdriver and hammer.
And as one of my pics show, I found that after our last trip some of the end caps of the two-piece nuts were missing.
Purchased Dorman brand lug nuts. Hope they work. Will apply the torque wrench again on our next trip.
Good luck. Don’t forget to torque them after the first 50, and 100 miles after having remounted them.
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