Posted 2010-10-15 10:38 AM (#125797) Subject: Trailer wheel bearings question
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
How often should trailer wheel bearings be packed? I have one small bumper pull trailer that is pulled probably around 1000 miles per year. And a 3 horse gooseneck that is only pulled a few thousand miles per year.
Both trailers had the bearings packed 2 years ago.
I'm taking the small trailer in for other repair and I'm wondering if the bearings should be packed?
Posted 2010-10-15 11:35 AM (#125801 - in reply to #125799) Subject: RE: Trailer wheel bearings question
Veteran
Posts: 201 Location: Lincoln, NE
If it were me I would have bearings repacked on both after 2 years. Do the small trailer now because you are taking it in. The gooseneck might wait til spring if it doesn't get much use in the winter but no longer. It's like changing the oil in your truck. Needs to be done on a regular basis.
Like Flyinghfarm says good for peace of mind and not too expensive.
Posted 2010-10-15 3:27 PM (#125807 - in reply to #125797) Subject: RE: Trailer wheel bearings question
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
I re-packed the bearings every year with Synthetic Grease. And it's not so much because the bearings need it (they most likely do) but because it gives me a chance to inspect the brakes and bearings.
Posted 2010-10-15 6:12 PM (#125811 - in reply to #125807) Subject: RE: Trailer wheel bearings question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 406 Location: Minneapolis, MN
Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2010-10-15 3:27 PM
I re-packed the bearings every year with Synthetic Grease. And it's not so much because the bearings need it (they most likely do) but because it gives me a chance to inspect the brakes and bearings.
The truth from Paul. The bearing grease isn't wearing out, but the shoes/magnets/springs could be. So for little added cost, the bearings get re-packed and new grease seals installed.
Posted 2010-10-15 8:27 PM (#125817 - in reply to #125797) Subject: RE: Trailer wheel bearings question
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
Agreed there on replacing bearings that might have a flat spot, but since my trailers sit more than they go, I get them checked every year.
One of the race horse trainers I boarded with borrowed a trailer and during transit to KY, the bearings seized up and the axle came off the trailer. Again, another reason I have mine checked. I knew the owner of the trailer and I had seen it sitting in a field behind his house. I guess he didn't know about checking bearings on trailers
Posted 2010-10-16 11:27 AM (#125828 - in reply to #125797) Subject: RE: Trailer wheel bearings question
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
One of the neat new features that Ford has put on it's 2011 SuperDuty trucks, is the ability to track multiple trailers. In the command center you can enter up to 16 trailer descriptions. When you hook up the trailer, Go to the command center and select that trailer description. It will remember the brake settings and track the mileage for that trailer.
Now with this feature, I can look at mileage to determine maintenance instead of the calendar. Instead of saying once a year, I will do bearings, I can say, every 16,000 miles, I will repack them. It's a neat feature and I bet you see it added to other trucks in the future.
Trailer wheel bearings question
