Be honest , do you maintain your bearings every year

[homer1959]

Im not , the last time was 3 years ago , I used at that time Lucas Xtra polyurea wheel bearing grease.

Last week I decided to inspect clean and repack the bearings . I can tell you one thing, If I forget the problem I found on one brake set, the bearing and the grease could have been left there another 2 years minimum if not more . Everything looks like new in there , just a bit of dirt in the grease against the back seal, just dark a bit .

This time the polyurea grease was nowhere to be found . So I used a synthetic grease red # 2 GC-LB. My level of confidence in that grease is not as high as it was the superior performance that a good polyurea can give ...

So you guys .... every years , really ?

[Marcm157]

I do mine every spring as part of my "de-winterization" process. I truly don't do it as much for the repacking aspect but more so for the visual inspection of brakes, bearings, spindles etc. Of course while I have everything apart I do repack bearings and replace the seals.

I feel much better doing that visual inspection and the extra labor and cost of some fresh grease is well worth it to me.

[Midnightmoon]

Yes, my bearings are done every year. But keep in mind, ours is in tow a lot of miles annually.

[homer1959]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

Yes, my bearings are done every year. But keep in mind, ours is in tow a lot of miles annually.

I can understand but ... in your conclusion if we forget the peace of mine... is it really necessary ? Have you by doing so prevent a catastrophic failure in preparation :-)

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by homer1959

I can understand but ... in your conclusion if we forget the peace of mine... is it really necessary ? Have you by doing so prevent a catastrophic failure in preparation :-)

I have to be honest and say no. I've never had a time when I had them apart that anything looked suspect on this particular trailer.

[homer1959]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I have to be honest and say no. I've never had a time when I had them apart that anything looked suspect on this particular trailer.

Its a good thing :-) thanks

[RogerR]

I am skipping this year, because I can't go anywhere since I tore up my shoulder and had surgery. No lifting such as hitching and unhitching, loading car, etc. till after late fall.

But next year. Yep, will lube bearings, inspect and clean brakes, sanitize, inspect tires including spare and roll out!

[Happy wife / happy life]

Yep! Single axel and the trailer is parked at home on a cement pad. No reason not to. Oh yea, I’m also retired.

[TaftCoach]

About every other year.

[Crabman]

I had a tandem axle boat trailer from 1986 to 2021, dunked in salt water several times a year. It had bearing buddies when I bought it and nearly every use I would shoot some grease in the zerks. In all those years I NEVER pulled and repacked the bearings and never had an issue, bearings still good and tight when I retired the trailer due to the frame rusting out. But keep in mind this trailer had NO brakes so no grease pollution worries on the back seal.

[Kim Gass]

Yea
a bearibg failure in Labrador where it is 300 miles between towns would be a trip wrecker
We put a lot of miles on on unpaved roads and where there are No repair or tow facilities

[RDTC]

A lot of variables. Every year is the safe frequency.

Things to consider. How well were they packed previously. The weight of your trailer. Number of miles towed every year. Storage conditions. Moisture issues. Driving conditions, lots of grades or flat tow. Brake usage, hub temperature.

[SmokerBill]

Originally Posted by RDTC

A lot of variables. Every year is the safe frequency.

Things to consider. How well were they packed previously. The weight of your trailer. Number of miles towed every year. Storage conditions. Moisture issues. Driving conditions, lots of grades or flat tow. Brake usage, hub temperature.

And the axle rating compared to the weight of the trailer. Newer trailers have the minimum weight rated axles installed - enough to theoretically support trailer weight minus tongue weight. Pushing the limits....

[SmokerBill]

And no, not every year for me. Every two or three years disassemble, clean, inspect and hand pack with new grease. Never pump grease into the EZ-screw zerks. Feel the hubs for heat at every fuel stop.

[Rustic Eagle]

Every two years w/double lip seals.

Bob

[spoon059]

Not every single year, no. But I do bring my infrared temp gun on trips and will check hub temps several times a year. That gives me confidence that my bearings are greased and performing correctly.

[LuckyDuck]

I have my trusted RV mechanic do mine every year. They also hit the wet bolts and check the brakes and a few other things. It’s worth the cost for the peace of mind as we tow about 3,000 miles a summer and over a lot of mountains.

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

Every spring we we take our trailer to South Kent Alinement, Frame, and Brake. They do an excellent job of inspecting, repacking, or replacing bearings and check out the brakes as well. Gives us peace of mind for the 8,000 mile average per year towing ahead.

[Dave A]

We're not full timers, lets call us half timers! I may be paranoid but I get the wheel bearings packed and the brakes checked every year. Better safe than sorry

[Leon]

I have never had any problems with wheel bearings .On time years ago I had an brake calliper defect on my Air Stream and when I took the hub off the bearings were still good. Every year I just jack up the wheel check for play looseness and spin the wheel and if the bearings are worn you here or feel it.After just pump some grease in the spindle grease fitting not too much and good to go.All my trailers I own are like that ..can’t remember every changing bearings.Some light duty trailers have no grease fitting those ones are crap bearings don’t last long .I wouldnt buy one like that