Gday Mick,
Its been a while now since all this happened. Just my
views on what happened:
Firstly, you were using 50mm spacers at the time (something you might want to include in the text), and the combination of 50mm spacers and a zero offset wheel is not good - the centreline of the wheel is
well outside the axle face stressing the studs.
Secondly, we all should check the tightness of wheel nuts on a trip - but with your spacers you have two sets of wheelnuts - the set on the outside is easy, but the set attaching the spacer to the hub can only be tightened by removing the wheel - that's something very few people would do.
Thirdly those aftermarket
wheels are absolute duds. The only
wheels worth buying for a 5 stud Landcruiser are the factory
wheels - they are stacks stronger, sit tight on the centre of the hub.
I'm sure you carry a lot of extra weight on the rear axle - worth running it over a weighbridge and seeing how it compares tothe factory spec which is written on the tyre placard.
I also note that the nuts you were using are open aftermarket nuts. All Landcruisers come with domed nuts to prevent dirt and
water getting into the threads.
My suggestion as before is to do away with all the aftermarket stuff - ditch the spacers, go back to having Toyota factory 16x8 steel
wheels (off a 105 series) and use the standard wheel nuts that were designed for these
wheels. BTW, I have since sold the set that I offered you about a year ago. My preference is the 105series mags.
All the best with whatever trips you're planning this year.
Cheers
Phil