Coincidence, Prank or Hater???? You decide.

Stretch660

Labor Day weekend started out to be a great time. Packed up the family and the toys and took off to the family campground. Well if you can call a 48 foot trailer with all the conveniences of home camping. Well we did sit around a fire at night, so I guess you can call it camping.




(pictures taken when we returned)

It was the maiden voyage for the cart. We (Adults - no alcohol involved) drove it all day and into the night. Parked it that night and went to bed. Next morning, we load up to go out for some more fun. After we loaded the cart up and took off, we noticed the right rear was rubbing. I look over the side (I was on back) and noticed the tire was low and the cap was missing. I thought to myself that someone had tampered with the cart. My inlaws assured me that this wasn't the kind of place that people mess with other peoples stuff. They leave their fourwheelers out all night with the keys in them and have never had any problems. So I topped off the tire and just thought to myself maybe we just lost it. Well, the rubbing tire made everyone think maybe the cart was overloaded and we halfed the number of people going out for the morning trip. Maybe a mile into the drive "WHAM" the cart jolts to the side and there is a horrible scraping sound. My first thought was that my frame mod (notch that I made for clearance for the sheave) had let loose and we broke the frame. As my wife brings the cart to a stop we notice the left rear tire heading for the ditch. I was dumbfounded that the 4 lug nuts had fallen off. So I immediately jumped out of the cart and began to walk back up the road. I found one, 50 more feet another... I went back to the cart and got some help to get the 2 lugs back on and limped it back to the campsite. Got on the fourwheeler and went back to trace our footsteps and found the other 2 lugs. They all fell off within 100 - 600 yards of each other. Here is the result: Body damage, crushed center cap, and damage to the hub (still need to investigate that further).





Am I crazy to think that someone tampered with it and loosened the lugs?? When I put the two lugs back on I checked all the rest and they were solid. I got tons of compliments on the cart all day and it was by far the nicest one there (not being conceited) remember this was rural Ohio. Now I have a couple of hundred in repairs to the body and a repaint job on that corner. Also lucky that no one was hurt, I had my 3 and 4 year olds with us and they could have easily fallen out. It could have been much worse.

Sorry for dragging on.. just had to get my thoughts out.

Chris

BGW

__________________
This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members.
Register your free account today and become a member on Buggies Gone Wild Golf Cart Forum

gaston

So sorry to hear that Chris, you put a lot of work and time to rebuild that cart, is sad when things like this happen, and usually we look for scapegoats, best for your health is to let it go...
It could happen that you forget to tight them if 4 nuts were totally loose, they could be loosen on the rattling when driving... It had happen to us (not me yet but my crew), can't blame them, we are humans.

There's always room for haters, but I don't think this could be a prank... and if it was, that's totally short minded... what is done is done, we will keep following your thread for the re-rebuild, you know what they say, sometimes good comes from bad.

Best,

sundownshifter

I lost two lug nuts and two others were loose on one wheel on my wife's cart after a 150 mile drive, I chocked it up as me not tightening the wheel and the vibration on the trailer loosening them.and a coil over shock center rod unscrewed on my cart on another trip while on the trailer.

gornoman

TEENAGERS! Shoot 'em ALL!

J/K! Sorry your buggy got cracked. The only cart problems at our campground are from townies slipping into the campground, stealing carts, and running them into trees in the woods. Cart is usually trashed. No one ever sees or hears anything...

Race Chaser

Wow. Your situation could have been alot worse! I'm glad everyone is OK.

Not the same result, but I had a similar situation.

While I was sitting at my campsite this past weekend, I notice a lugnut on the left front was loose and ready to come off the stud (it had backed all the way out to the end of the stud). It was just dumb luck that I spotted it as I was having my morning coffee just checking out the scenery. I hate to think what might have happened if that wheel had come off! I tightened the loose lug and check all the others. I found a couple that were "kind-of" loose.

Now that the cart is home, I need to put a torque wrench on all the lugnuts.

Flintrock

Sorry to hear Chris. One or the other, coicidence. Both at the same time, hater. Too serious an offense to be called a prank...... Or maybe I'm gettin' cynical in my old age?

Stretch660

In my heart or hearts, I would like to think they just worked their way loose. Just wanted to get it out there for peace of mind next time I visit with the family, but rest assured I'll be checking them every morning during the preflight routine.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Chris

azboo

It made me stop and think we need to check my cart more often. We take that thing on some rugged trails and it could get ugly if something came loose. Good reminder for all of us.

essness

Sorry to hear about this Chris. I understand how you feel and how you really want to belive that it was something other than a malicious act.

Good luck with it Chris

mikesmotortoys

Whatever happened, it still stinks. Just don't let it ruin your fun!