Trailer wheel bearings (updated Question!)

[bearhunter99]

Need a little advice on trailer wheel bearings.  I have an enclosed trailer that has sat for a few years.  I bought it when we moved and haven't used it much since.  I jacked up the trailer and all the wheels are tight.

My question is if the bearing grease gets old?  I am planning a trip to Montana in a week and want to have the wheel bearings repacked if it could be an issue.

Thanks

[Special T]

Need a little advice on trailer wheel bearings.  I have an enclosed trailer that has sat for a few years.  I bought it when we moved and haven't used it much since.  I jacked up the trailer and all the wheels are tight.

My question is if the bearing grease gets old?  I am planning a trip to Montana in a week and want to have the wheel bearings repacked if it could be an issue.

Thanks

Since you have a long haul inwould repack them.  Cheap insurance imo

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[KNOPHISH]

How old is the trailer? Assume it doesn’t have bearing buddys? Pretty easy to repack for piece of mind then add the buddy’s to reload anytime.

[Stein]

I would slap new bearings on there with new grease.  It isn't much of a cost and then you can keep the old ones for an emergency spare if they look workable.

Even if they aren't making noise or have slop in them, you don't know if water got in there and started to rust them out and repacking will help, but they might still give you trouble.

[Sandberm]

ehhhhhhh, I'd go for it, but I'm kind of lazy anymore. 

If they dont wiggle, wheel spins fine with no rough sound Id think they would be fine.

[MountainWalk]

New set of bearings.  Pretty ez fix.

[Woodchuck]

Need a little advice on trailer wheel bearings.  I have an enclosed trailer that has sat for a few years.  I bought it when we moved and haven't used it much since.  I jacked up the trailer and all the wheels are tight.

My question is if the bearing grease gets old?  I am planning a trip to Montana in a week and want to have the wheel bearings repacked if it could be an issue.

Thanks

It's not that the grease goes bad, but it will settle. If it has settled over time, you may some surface rust on the rollers on top which will turn a boring drive in to a memorable occasion. At this point I would replace them all just to be safe.
In the future, I would suggest taking your trailer for a stroll every couple of months just to keep things moving. 

[gaddy]

Change them out and be done. Borrowed a trailer from my b-inlaw that had sat for for a few years to haul my sons stuff back from college. He hadn't used it much before he parked it. Picked it up in moses and hauled it back to Tri-Cities with the intent of re placing bearings. Ran out of time so I jacked it up, spun the wheels and checked for slop. Seemed ok and I was just going to UW and back, should be ok ? Checked hub heat at a rest area before going over the pass, not bad but I found some slop and wiggle when I shook the tire. Crap!! Hope I make it. Ended up fixing the problem at a friend of my sons parents, in the tight streets of seattle. No way it would have made it home loaded. Cost me half a day rounding stuff up and borrowing tools.
A reminder to check hub heat. Has saved my bacon a time or two.

[dutchmanaz]

assuming it doesn't have brakes, it has to be the bearings.

[Ridgeratt]

🤔

[bearhunter99]

Thanks for the advice.  Looks like I will be looking up some videos for a new project this weekend!

[HntnFsh]

You can buy loaded hubs at Napa etc. that are ready to go for not much more than bearings and seals if its easier for you.

[Ghost Hunter]

How do you know

🤔

   Yup, how do you know when the bearing is bad?  When the tire blows from the heat of the fire.    

[browney5er]

🤔

Good thing there was no grease on those bearings or that trailer would be on fire.

[Ridgeratt]

With 12 lugnuts that's a pretty good axle. 👍

Hey there's a fire behind us.  Quick drive faster maybe we can outrun it 🤔

[bearhunter99]

Thanks for all the info so far.  So I pulled the wheels and caps and the one side of the trailer was packed with grease and looked new.  The other side was also packed with grease but there is definitely a darker tint to the grease.  All four axles have grease zerks on them. 

On the side that has dirtier grease should I just pump some new grease in?  Does the grease push through to the front on these, so you could pump grease through until clean grease comes out the front?

[Flaming Antler Outdoors]

always check your bearings if used or not every couple years.  Carry a loaded and ready complete hub assembly as it's cheap, I use six robbles for my trailer stuff.  If bearings look good keep as spares too. 

[Special T]

If it were me i would pull inspect and repack. Do the axles have eletric brakes? Is so do not overfil with the zert fitting it will puke the grease into the trailer breaks....

Ill let you figure out how I know.

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[bearhunter99]

If it were me i would pull inspect and repack. Do the axles have eletric brakes? Is so do not overfil with the zert fitting it will puke the grease into the trailer breaks....

Ill let you figure out how I know.

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It does have electric brakes which was why I was curious as to where the grease comes out....

[Woodchuck]

The dirtier grease has just that, dirt. Dirt leaves tiny scratches in bearing surfaces, which with miles turns in to big scratches. Especially with a trailer that has been parked for an extended period, I would replace all the bearings and eliminate all doubt. The advice about saving old ones as spares is a good plan.

[dutchmanaz]

Are you SURE your brakes aren't locked up/stuck in the "on" position? Regardless, replacing the bearings and keep checking them will save you a lot of heartache down the road.

[Sandberm]

Such over complication.

If the wheels dont wiggle side to side, pump 4-6 pumps of grease in each hub, pound the caps back on and call it good.

You'll be fine

[wadu1]

If you are heading to Montana, your OP said in a week. I think I would have taken the advise from the first OP reply's. Replace, re-pack you are running out of time. For me all four would have been a 3 or 4 hour chore if the seals and bearings looked good.  It's not fun sitting on the side of the road with bearings frozen to the spindle, once was enough for me. 

[Moose Master]

How is the spare tire and the jack for the trailer???   Repack bearings

[Sandberm]

Id still just go for it.

Look at it this way, if you do get stranded in Montana, you can post your troubles here and I'm sure a few Eastern washington Huntwa members will come to your rescue. That Machias guy seems pretty nice.

[bearhunter99]

Pulled everything last night.  The dirtier grease was because someone pumped too much grease in and the grease was coming out the back of the rear seal.  Bearings and brakes were all in great shape although there was some grease in the back but luckily it did not get on the inside of the drum or on the brake pads.  Everything is repacked and tight. 

As for waiting until the last minute, life happens.  I have a full time job and a lot of other crap going on and its tough enough just getting tomorrow off and finishing everything else on my check list at home and work and pulling hubs and repacking is not high on my list of things I want to do after dark in the wind......

I appreciate the advice everyone.

[Birdguy]

Great job getting it done! Totally live the busy life and get it. Now have a safe trip, enjoy the scenery and weather!

[link]

You can buy loaded hubs at Napa etc. that are ready to go for not much more than bearings and seals if its easier for you.

I second this. I keep an extra hub assembly for my trailers. Easy to replace...even on the side of the road.

[Special T]

You can buy loaded hubs at Napa etc. that are ready to go for not much more than bearings and seals if its easier for you.

I second this. I keep an extra hub assembly for my trailers. Easy to replace...even on the side of the road.

I will note that the most "trick accessory" i have seen is a full loaded hub with the spare attached to it. I normally keep an extra set of bearing and seals and other tailer parts in my kit, but that would be next level prepardness. 2c

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