Changing tires in the wild - lessons learned

[Jamie Peghiny]

On 11/24/2025 at 10:37 PM, Geronimo John said:

This issue has been a long running one.  Some time ago I copie Frank's post:

OE2 LUG NUTS:  Frank 😄  For anyone getting replacement lug nuts, make sure you get the proper type for aluminum wheels.  The correct ones are the “bulge acorn” type which have a larger conical seating surface for use on aluminum wheels.  Aluminum wheels are softer than steel wheels and require the larger seating surface.  The ones installed by Oliver are the correct bulge acorn type so get the same style.   “Acorn” type have a smaller conical face and are for steel rims.  JPR:  COMPARE SPECIFICATIONS!  24 required.

I believe it was MaxBurner that turned me on th these chrome plated lug nuts from Summit Racing.  My regular sockets work well with them and no interference with the wheel rims on our 2019.

 

 

 

 

Hi, I’ve received an offer from an eBay seller for what I think are the same lug nuts referenced in these posts. I’m including a screenshot for verification. Are these the correct ones?  They have the same model number 41187 but not the HTB designation. I think they are based on this thread. 
Thanks, Jamie 

[Geronimo John]

Sadly I do not trust most of the items made in China that are sold on E-bay.  Especially for life safety items such as lug nuts.

GJ

Edited December 11 by Geronimo John

[jd1923]

If they are truly Gorilla brand or McGard (another good brand I've used) then they're good. What @Geronimo John is referring to is that there are a lot of China made knock-offs on eBay (Amazon too for that matter). Instead buy from Summit Racing or eTrailer or another reliable and authorized reseller.

This eBay seller has Feedback number at 9850 and 99.8% rating, likely their parts are good, but who knows.

@Jamie Peghiny I believe the lug nuts you found is the correct size and shape but cannot be certain w/o a forum signature with your hull#, etc. 

 

[Jamie Peghiny]

@jd1923 I’ve now added my year and hull info on my forum signature. I’m new here and didn’t realize how to actually accomplish this but I figured it out. Hope this helps. Thanks for pointing this out.

I vet my eBay sellers carefully for a few reasons - many sellers are simply drop shipping from Amazon and have no inventory in stock. Personally, I prefer not to buy from Amazon.  On eBay, I look for actual businesses that have high feedback numbers, high feedback ratings and inventory that is consistent with their business model.  I also look at their location to make sure the item is located in the US. I’ve waited weeks for items for arrive from overseas.  In this particular instance, Leet Auto has a high number of feedbacks (9850), a high feedback rating (98.8%), 193 items in stock and they’re mostly Gorilla lug nuts.  This narrow business model and inventory could be a red flag.  They might be drop shipping, hard to tell without asking the seller that question, which I have done  

I do see a very high level of expertise on this forum and I will go with your recommendation to go with Summit Racing or eTrailer.

I agree with @Geronimo John about safety equipment from China and it’s very difficult to find anything made in the USA.

Generally, I have had very good luck buying from reputable businesses on eBay.  One recent exception was a Propane/CO monitor that I purchased from RecPro.  They passed all of my screening criteria but still sent me an outdated sensor which I returned and promptly received credit.  

I will check out this item and others on Summit Racing and eTrailer  

Thank you for your help, I appreciate it  

Jamie 

 

 

[jd1923]

Nice to meet you Jamie and Sandi! (virtually of course) It would be great to visit Maine in our Oliver! Your home state is the only state in the 48 CONUS states I have not yet traveled!

@Jamie Peghiny I'm with you on everything you wrote, except we are Amazon junkies for speed of delivery and ease of returns. However, I've been on eBay since August 2002, long before Amazon was started! Checkout jdokos1 on ebay where my feedback hit a perfect #1000 and 100%. I started back in 2002 selling old car parts from classic cars I parted.

Recently on eBay I purchased Norcold exterior fridge vents a new pair at $35 each, about 1/2 the cost from the regular parts dealers. Last summer, I purchased a new Barker VIP3000 jack for the front of the Oliver. It was a one-off NIB item. Seller accepted Offer at $200 which was an amazing deal. eBay is now easier on returns where they supply a return ship label, often at no cost to the buyer (likely to better compete with Amazon).

However, don't buy Timken bearings on eBay or Amazon. They will be knock-offs. I purchased a complete Toyota rebuild kit to replace the timing belt on a T100 truck. When it came there were 10+ parts all in Toyota package. When I looked at the casting of the water pump and the issues with other parts I realized these parts were faked! Wow, did they look real at first. eBay helped with an immediate refund and soon that seller was banned.

I would buy lug nuts from this highly rated Seller if they reply with a good answer. I always "Contact Seller" first and only buy from Sellers that reply promptly. eBay and Amazon both have items you cannot easily find anywhere else. I have restored a half dozen classic cars and 3 motorcycles purchasing NOS parts on eBay!

Welcome to The Forum and best wishes to you traveling in your new Oliver. Come see us in the SW this winter or next. There are always a lot of us at Quartzsite AZ (Jan-Feb). There should be a Forum post started on that soon! We'll coast down the mountain to meet other Oliver Owners this winter in the great valley of the SW, the warmest part of the USA! 😎

[Mike and Carol]

Jamie and Sandi, welcome to the forum!  Lots of experience and expertise here.  We loved our travels in Maine.

1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

Nice to meet you Jamie and Sandi! (virtually of course) It would be great to visit Maine in our Oliver! Your home state is the only state in the 48 CONUS states I have not yet traveled! 

John, add Maine to your travel list!  We had a great visit there and plan on returning…..  Mike

[Jamie Peghiny]

So, it’s a good thing I didn’t order those lug nuts because I specified the incorrect part number. (41188 instead of 41187). Neither Summit or eTrailer has these in stock though Amazon does. 
Maybe I should wait until spring so I can inspect what’s already on my Ollie and see if replacement is really needed. 
It’s too cold out there to mess around with it right now. 
Jamie 

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

John, add Maine to your travel list!  We had a great visit there and plan on returning…..  Mike

If only there was a Transporter to get there quickly! Only 2800 miles one-way Prescott AZ to New Harbor ME! One day we should head that way...

[Tony and Rhonda]

@Jamie Peghiny I've been following this thread and I just read you added your Ollie's year and hull number to your signature and wonder it you have a typo? Your sig. shows and 2012 LE2 hull #802. We're a 2017 LE2 with hull #251. Something doesn't add up.

Lots of knowledge here so I only bring this up so you get accurate help.

Tony

[Jamie Peghiny]

Oops, 2021. Will change 

Thanks, Jamie 

[Tideline77]

If you are considering getting a battery operated impact to carry on your travels ?

These tools are expensive 🤔

but there are usually promotions and sales that you can wait for that offer steep discounts  and even then they are expensive 

 

After considering one for a long time this thread kicked me over the fence and i snagged a Milwaukee 1/2” drive  M18 model #2962-20 during a recent sale 

$189 with a 5 amp battery and a charger

#2962-20 😳 $489.00 is the regular price

 

Next I need to snag a heavy duty plug kit…….and TPMS for the Oliver

 

You can search for sales on Search this page 

 

[taylor.coyote]

it was our turn to change a tire in the wild. good news, we carry all the tools (impact wrench, bottle jack, impact socket set, gloves, torque wrench, on board air compressor and maybe the most important tool were my knee pads). All good, all lug nuts off, jack the wheel up for clearance and X!!!@!!, the aluminum wheels are bonded to the steel hubs, electrolysis in action). I kick, got a strap through the wheels and yak and they don't budge. I need a heavy hand sledge and a block of wood to bang the wheels loose from the inside of the wheel. The sledge is the only tool I don't carry. The good news we were not off the grid in the back country for the first time all week. Many of you may know AmBoy road that runs between Route 66 and the 29 Palms / Joshua Tree. Still remote but it didn't take gps cordanates to find us.  We had to call a tow service just for a heavy hand sledge. Took about 2 minutes to knock the wheel loose...  back on the road and my wife will be getting a hand sledge for Christmas. You may want to check your tool inventory for a hand sledge if you have aluminum wheels. 

 

Edited yesterday at 02:25 AM by taylor.coyote
typo

[Rivernerd]

15 hours ago, taylor.coyote said:

it was our turn to change a tire in the wild.

Was the aluminum wheel bonded to the steel hub on your Oliver, even though the photo shows a tire change on your truck?

[jd1923]

20 hours ago, taylor.coyote said:

to knock the wheel loose...

I think I would have lowered the jack on the wheel, lugs on just a couple threads. Then place a wheel chock on the inside rim, creating a downhill angle. Gravity/weight of the trailer should do it and lowering carefully it should do less harm than many heavy sledge hammer hits!

Given your wheel seized so HARD, I’d bet all 4 wheels are in dire need of bearing and perhaps brake service! For sure this wheel had not been removed in some time.

Edited 14 hours ago by jd1923
Assuming it was an Oliver wheel. If it was the truck, rotate tires more often!

[taylor.coyote]

Sorry to mislead. Our flat was a truck tire.

JD, I rotated every 5,000 miles and have serviced the brake and bearings . The wheels have seized before. I think it may have to do with my home being within 5 miles of the ocean on the north coast of California. 

I like your idea to drop the jack level to break the bond between the wheel and the hub. 

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, taylor.coyote said:

JD, I rotated every 5,000 miles and have serviced the brake and bearings…

Yeah, your humidity and ocean salt must be extreme! Perhaps an anti-seize compound would help.