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 🤔