Trailer Wheel Bolt Tightening: Trailer Safety & Torque Guide

When it comes to towing, your trailer’s wheels take a serious beating — and keeping them tight and secure is absolutely essential. Getting wheel bolt torque wrong can lead to one of two outcomes:

• Too loose: the wheel could work itself off mid-journey.

• Too tight: you risk stripping threads or shearing the bolts completely.

Neither is ideal when you’re towing at 60 mph.

Let’s look at how to tighten trailer wheel bolts the right way — safely, accurately, and by the book.

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Why Wheel Bolt Torque Matters

Every trailer manufacturer specifies a recommended torque figure for wheel nuts and bolts. This figure ensures the fasteners are tight enough to hold the wheel under load, but not so tight that they stretch or fail.

Torque equals clamping force. Get it wrong, and that perfectly good wheel might become your next roadside souvenir.

The Correct Tightening Sequence

When refitting your trailer’s road wheels, always use the cross pattern sequence — never tighten in a circular pattern.

That means:1 → 2 → 3 → 4 (North → South → East → West)

Tighten the bolts gradually and evenly, working across the hub to ensure the wheel seats properly against the drum or hub face.

Avoid tightening in a clockwise or anticlockwise order — that can cause uneven pressure and wheel misalignment.

Recommended Torque Figures for Wheel Bolts

Below are the most common torque figures for popular trailer manufacturers. (Always check your specific model’s manual for confirmation.)

Manufacturer	Bolt Size	Torque (lb.ft)	Torque (Nm)
AL-KO	M10	40	54
	M12	65	88
	M14	108	146
Indespension	M12	55	74
	M14	60	81
Ifor Williams	M12	65	88
Avonride	M12	65	88

Recommended Torque Figures for Wheel Nuts

Manufacturer	Thread Size	Torque (lb.ft)	Torque (Nm)
Peak Trailers	M12 x 1.5	75	102
	M16 x 1.5	145	197
	3/8" UNF	45	61
	1/2" UNF	80	109
Indespension	3/8" UNF	42	57
	7/16" UNF	50	67
	1/2" UNF	56	76
	5/8" UNF	85	115
Avonride	1/2" UNF	65	88
	5/8" UNF	79	108

Rechecking Is Essential

Even if you’ve torqued everything perfectly, wheel bolts can settle during your first few miles. That’s why you must:

• Recheck torque after the first 25 miles (40 km)

• Recheck before each journey

This simple habit prevents loose wheels and costly damage.

Brent’s Take

At Brent, we’ve seen what happens when wheel bolts aren’t torqued properly — and it’s never pretty. Correct tightening is quick, easy, and can save you a lot of trouble.

If you’re unsure, use a torque wrench, stick to the manufacturer’s specs, and always cross-tighten evenly.

And if your trailer’s wheels, bolts, or tyres are due for an upgrade, you’ll find fully checked, road-ready trailers on Brent — built, tested, and ready to roll.

Tight wheels. Safe towing. That’s the Brent way.

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-Mr Brent