TT Wheel Bearing Temps

[Roy W.]

I agree with Norty1. I also use a laser thermometer on my tires. It isn't unusual in 80 degree weather to find trailer tire temps to be around 110 degrees and hub temp to be around 98 degrees. When I first started measuring tire temps I consistently found the rear axle tires to run as much as 10 degrees warmer than the front axle. I dropped my WD hitch down one link on the chains and as a result the tires on both axles are within a few degrees of each other. (On my Chev 2500 it didn't even squat more) It's also interesting to note, that if driving longer distances on say an interstate highway, that the tires on the "sunny side" may run 10 degees warmer than on the shady side. The laser thermometer was the best $52 I've spent at Advance Auto. As a side note, I pack my trailer wheel bearings with Valvoline 100% synthetic wheel bearing grease (Advance Auto) and I think it makes a difference.

[David472]

Okay, thanks everyone for the feedback on temperature. I'm starting to wonder now, when I changed my hitch set-up from the trailer being nose down one inch, to now being level to the road, did I increase the chances for trailer sway due to wind under the trailer nose? I made this change to have equal load on the two trailer axles. Am I wrong about that?

[David472]

Just completed a 600 mile round trip on the interstate in Michigan. With the trailer towing level (as had been adjusted a few weeks ago), the bearing temperatures are now running equal and at a nice cool temp by feel. Cross winds and running next to transport trucks, were no-sweat, no hint of sway or instability. That's enough to satisfy me.

[Seann45]

Glad you got it all worked out.. but I have a question for you from a post you made on page 1... you said you checked the easy lube axle and the grease looked clean... you can not see the grease in the axle.. you saw the spill... I give mine one or two pumps just before each trip... you never ever want to over fill them as they then put the grease past the seals into the brake housings.

[David472]

Sean45,
You are correct, the grease I was looking at was the spill. At that point in time, I had put on about 400 miles, plus the delivery from factory to dealer would have been about 500 miles. My main concern at that point was to see if the bearings had received any grease at all from the Dexter factory. To me, the fact there was grease spill present gave me that reassurance. Given that we typically would put on a maximum of 1,000 miles in a given camping season, I see no reason to grease the bearings any more than once per season.

[clutch]

We tow about 3 thousand miles a year and we get the bearings packed every other year. A properly packed bearing should be good for at least 10k miles.