So you go out to change the tires on your boat trailer and you realize the lug nuts are frozen on and rusty. What can you do to remove them without damaging the threads or replacing the wheel hub?
I did some research and have battled this myself before so here are what I found are the best strategies for quickly and safely removing the lug nuts on your boat trailer.
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Here are some strategies for removing rusted lug nut from a boat trailer:
- Make some homemade penetrating oil (50/50 ATF & Acetone) or buy some for an auto parts store (PB Blaster works well).
- Soak the rusty lug nuts in penetrating oil and go inside and take a break for at least 30 minutes. For really bad rusty lug nuts continually soak them repeatedly every half an hour for an hour or two.
- Use a MAP gas torch to heat the lug nuts individually. Get them as hot as possible.
- Carefully slip the socket on and try loosening and tightening slightly.
- Reapply penetrating oil if they still will not break loose and repeat steps 1-3 until they break loose.
- Switching from loosening to tightening can help break the rust loose and get them all the way off.
- Using an impact driver either cordless or air will definitely help. However, for really frozen lug nuts make sure to apply the penetrating oil first. The guns can be so powerful that they will break the lug nuts immediately, so be careful.
- Worst case scenario– break all the lug nuts (shear them off with force) and replace the wheel hub completely.
5 Things Not To Do To Get The Lug Nuts Loose:
- Do NOT just put on a breaker bar and start jumping on it. If they are rusted enough you will likely shear the lug nuts off. You probably could have easily removed them had you applied penetrating oil and been patient.
- Do NOT assume your day is completely ruined and you will never get them off. Just be patient and seriously make your own penetrating oil (it works better than store-bought brands). You can read my guide on how to make penetrating oil here.
- Do NOT torque your lug nuts less tight because they were hard to remove. You should be using a torque wrench at all times on lug nuts, and torque them to the factory specifications for your trailer.
- Do NOT just guess on the correct torque for the lug nuts on your boat trailer. I HIGHLY recommend buying a torque wrench, and a high-quality 1/2″ torque wrench at that. Here is my favorite brand for torque wrenches
, many people think they make the Snap-On wrenches, but at like 1/4 the price. If you just want the cheapest torque wrench that should work OKAY for boat trailer grab the Tekton 1/2″ torque wrench. I can’t say I think you’re making a wise decision buying a cheap torque wrench, but it is MUCH BETTER than not having own. - Do NOT put anti-seize all over the lug nuts. It just isn’t a safe practice, a tiny tiny amount on the lug nut threads should be okay, but I can’t recommend you do it. If you are going to use anti-seize on the boat trailer just make sure it is a really tiny amount. A little dab is all. The best anti-seize is here.
, many people think they make the Snap-On wrenches, but at like 1/4 the price. If you just want the cheapest torque wrench that should work OKAY for boat trailer grab the 
. I can’t say I think you’re making a wise decision buying a cheap torque wrench, but it is MUCH BETTER than not having own.
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Conclusions:
1. Boat trailers will likely need more maintenance than normal cars. Entering and exiting water means the lug nuts will be way more prone to rust. Remove them often and retorque them to ensure they are moving freely.
2. Penetrating oil, heat, and an impact gun will be the ticket to breaking even the most stubborn boat trailer lug nuts loose. Be PATIENT.
, and an impact gun will be the ticket to breaking even the most stubborn boat trailer lug nuts loose. Be PATIENT.3. The worst case scenario is you have to replace the wheel hub. Which really isn’t that bad, so don’t sweat it too much if you break a lug nut.
. Which really isn’t that bad, so don’t sweat it too much if you break a lug nut.4. Owning a 1/2″ Cordless Impact Gun like the newest Milwaukee one
will save you a ton of time. Just remember these guns are POWERFUL and you really need to learn your trigger control. It will easily remove rusted lug nuts, just be careful it will also easily shear them off completely if you go full throttle the first time.
5. Always rinse your boat trailer after every use! A pressure washer will make short work of the rinsing process and also be sure to blast the lug nuts and wheel rims every time! It is also best to cover your boat trailer when not using it and store it out of the elements if possible. To read more about boat trailer maintenance check this article out.
If you want to see my favorite tools, or what I think are the coolest automotive repair tools, click here. I spent HOURS researching and asking professional mechanics to find out.
