Trailer Bearings Life Span

[rsimms]

I'd like to hear some opinions on the "typical" life span of trailer bearings... in miles, years, whatever. I live in fear of spinning a wheel off a hub enroute to pick up a client. I've done that before and it's not fun. Of course I maintain them well, keep 'em greased, and check them to see if they're heating up on or following a road trip. But I'm still paranoid about it.

I'm certainly not against a pre-emptive strike .... i.e. putting new bearings in before one goes bad, preventative maintenance. But I'm curious what others think is a "reasonable" life span for a standard set of trailer wheel bearings? emoScratch

 

[Guest]

Richard I can add a few things to keep the wheel bearings in excellent shape. Keep them greased regiously, if you have bearing buddies or red eyes, it is better. Water is your enemy, water gets in a hub when the trailer is in the water, water rusts steel, a rusty bearing will create heat and wear, then you have bearing failure. The new oil bath bearings and hubs should be a big help, there is no way water can enter the hub if the seals are in good shape. Water can't get in and oil can't leak out.<y advice is to keep the bearings or and hubs greased every time you use the boat, if you ever see any milky grease, repack the bearings. Grease is cheaper than steel.

 

[Jerry]

I nearly lost my wheel about 12 years ago coming back from Center Hill. This has changed the way I take care of my wheel bearings. Now I travel to Center Hill and Old Hickory (and to Tims Ford) about 6 or 8 times a year. Also, I fish Chickamauga or Nickajack about once every week or two. For this type of usage I shoot grease into the bearings and flush them out a little every couple of months. Further, I change the seals, inspect the bearings and repack them about once a year. I think this is overkill for my usage, but takes little time or money. And I don't have any visable wear on the bearings, though they too get changed every two or three years.

 

[Buoy-Master]

Theres so many varables within that but I'll wing it...LOL</p>

UFP Grease, which we still use on a few lines, has a 5 year Garranty. That is UNLIMITED MILES. If you  grease them properly you should never have a problem. BUT!</p>

There are a few things to remember here. If you trailer pretty much over the summer and park it for 3-4 months, you can delevope flat spots on the bearings. Not a good thing. For those of you that do park it for winter, I recommend that you get a couple of blocks or something, raise your axle and get the tires off the ground (good for tires too) Maybe when walking by it for time to time, give the wheels a spin.</p>

Now I know that I'm not gonna go 5 years without doing something. I'd say for the guy that trailers year round should change the seals and bearings every 2 years. Just make sure you keep grease in them. When filling the hub via grease fitting, do not over fill becuase it can and will blow the real seal out. Try to get a set of Bearing Buddys or other off market brands so you have a indicater of some kind.  </p>

One more thing...a good way to check hubs....Put your hands on the top of the tires, rock the trailer and feel for slack. If its too much it will pop and you'll feel the hub slipping just a bit. If it does, Rebuild it!</p>

 

[rsimms]

Thanks BBass.... mine never stays parked long. Flat spots on bearings shouldn't be a problem. I'm right at 2 years... mechanic who had it off the ground yesterday to put new tires on said bearings sound good and no "wiggle" so I'll hold out. But will likely go for new bearings next Fall or Winter, whether I need 'em not.

I have always made a habit of routinely reaching down and touching hubs after a lengthy ride and have been able to notice when one, or both, are "runnin' hot!"

BBass - 1/15/2008 5:42 PM



Theres so many varables within that but I'll wing it...LOL</p>

UFP Grease, which we still use on a few lines, has a 5 year Garranty. That is UNLIMITED MILES. If you grease them properly you should never have a problem. BUT!</p>

There are a few things to remember here. If you trailer pretty much over the summer and park it for 3-4 months, you can delevope flat spots on the bearings. Not a good thing. For those of you that do park it for winter, I recommend that you get a couple of blocks or something, raise your axle and get the tires off the ground (good for tires too) Maybe when walking by it for time to time, give the wheels a spin.</p>

Now I know that I'm not gonna go 5 years without doing something. I'd say for the guy that trailers year round should change the seals and bearings every 2 years. Just make sure you keep grease in them. When filling the hub via grease fitting, do not over fill becuase it can and will blow the real seal out. Try to get a set of Bearing Buddys or other off market brands so you have a indicater of some kind. </p>

One more thing...a good way to check hubs....Put your hands on the top of the tires, rock the trailer and feel for slack. If its too much it will pop and you'll feel the hub slipping just a bit. If it does, Rebuild it!</p>

 

[DHaun]

So how does one go about changing seals and bearings every 2 years? Any websites or instructions on how to do this -or- recommendations on who can service trailer bearings?

 

[Guest]

David, anyone can do it with just a little bit of mechanical know-how, I guess most motor manuals have a section on front end bearings on all cars, this is the same type as boat trailer bearings follow these instructions as if you were working on a car or truck.They all have a back seal, rear bearing and race, a front bearing and race and a lock/adjustment nut with keeper cotter pin and a bearing cap/cup. The bearing cup is/can be replaced with bearing buddies. All bearings and seals can be purchased at Trucks and Trailers on access road, just take the old ones with you to get a perfect match.

 

[rsimms]

DHaun - 1/15/2008 6:53 PM
So how does one go about changing seals and bearings every 2 years? Any websites or instructions on how to do this -or- recommendations on who can service trailer bearings?

I've done new bearings a couple of times myself on an older (smaller) trailer... it's a royal pain, especially when you're just trying to make do with basic tools. And there's no way I could explain how. Extracting and putting in the new seals and races was the hard part for me... those suckers fit TIGHT! For me, it's definitely worth paying someone who is experienced and has the tools. I use a mechanic shop near my home, May Brothers Exxon on Lee Hwy. They got out of the gas business but still do all sorts of mechanic and body work. Only work weekdays however. They are good folks and charge me a fair price. They beat Goodyear by nearly 50% on new tires for my trailer. I'd say most basic mechanic places could do it.

 

[rsimms]

Doc1 - 1/15/2008 7:08 PM
just a little bit of mechanical know-how

That's a VERY important phrase there... every time I pick up a screw driver, I still have to recite in my head, "Lefty loosey, righty tighty." emoBigsmile

 

[Buoy-Master]

Easy stuff to do David. </p>

Check this vid out... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k2T79nHXgw&feature=related</p>

Thats a brake unit but its all the same for idler hubs like yours.</p>

As for a place to do it...any automotive garage or marine dealership can do this. </p>

 

[DHaun]

Thanks Guys. I keep the grease checked in mine but its a new trailer a couple years old. I wonder how many boat owners actually change bearings out every two years....I'll probably be taking mine to the shop for that work when the time is right.

One more question. If you are out on a road trip and you look back and see bearings going up in smoke what's the best course of action? Once you stop who would you call? Towing Company? Would you have them take the boat/trailer to a local gas station/auto shop for repairs? I think I recall someone here has had this experience already...

You can probably tell by my question I currently don't plan on changing mine out exactly every two years emoBigsmile

 

[SNUFFY]

Just for comparison..the Custom Line Trailer under my `20 Bullet has UFP Products thru out from the Surge Brake Actuator to the cotter pins in the hubs. It`s a `94 model that I bought in `96 and I`m one that goes by the "if it ain`t Broke don`t fix it " motto on a lot of things . Having said that I am also one to learn from experience...and bearings are something you don`t want to have problems with... especially a long way from home.
I practice your method of feeling the hubs Richard at least once a trip when going more than the ramps 10 minutes from the house. I `ve been club fishing at least 13 dates a year since I bought it , pulling everywhere from Cherokee to the Chic ,plus practice and lots of fun fishing too. So I put a lot of miles on in a year. I have never found a warmer hub than normal in the touch test, and the shake test gave no indication of excessive wear.
I didn`t do any thing more than pull the Bearing Buddy off every couple of years and look for water, repack the Buddy and reinstall. About 3 years ago I got a little nervous about pulling a 100 miles one way on 10 year old tires ,even though they didn`t show anything bad and still had plenty of tread. I took them to Bald Pauls Tire & Furniture here in Beautiful downtown Loudon to have new tires installed..... He looked at me kinda funny and asked me what was wrong the ones on it ? So I took them back home. The boat has always been garaged so dry rot wasn`t a problem either.
Last Summer I finally had one tire start going down on the way home from Norris and decided it was time for a total overhaul, bearings, tires and all. Turned out the tire was cracked between the tread about half way to the middle of the tire.
I started rounding up bearings and seals and was doing great till I found out they had a unique extra wide diameter rear seal not available any where around here. Not NAPA, Advance auto Marine dealers. No where !
I did some quick reseach on the net and got the Numbers for the UFP Distibutor in Memphis and the factory in Indiana I believe.. I was having a hard tme getting thru and I wanted to get them shipped before the weekend because of a TX the next weekend. I remembered BBass worked at Tn Trailers so I gave him a call ... he was out so I left him e-mail with numbers for the seal and stuff and went back to trying the factory. Finally got thru and got them ordered and about 10 minutes later Billy called and said he had them sitting on his desk. He is the Trailer King ! and a great effort to help a fellow CFFer was greatly appreciated.
Anyway with a long flat ended punch and a little patience and a few tools it wasn`t long before I was on the road with new tires and bearings and feeling good.
Now if they`ll last 13 years like the originals I`ll be a a happy fisherman. The UFP product line is really good stuff and a well thought out system.


The one thing about the oil bath stuff that worries me is the loss of a seal while traveling and a complete loss of the oil. How long would it run without oil before the bearing seized up. 5 miles??....50 miles ???
I know the grease hub , even if one of the Bearing Buddies came off completely, would take a long long time to cause a problem.
What do you think there Trailer KIng ??

 

[jon the fisherman]

DHaun - 1/15/2008 9:20 PM
I think I recall someone here has had this experience already...

Yeah...it was me...lucky I have a tandom axle and was able to limp home. I carry a spare hub now, and as long as the spindle is not too messed up, it will get you to a garage.

I bought my boat and they told me trailer was rebuilt, but when the wheel bearing went, the spindles on all four wheels were screwed up...just another life experience learned...It was only four months after I bought it

 

[hl&s]

If a marine dealer is not convenient, most independent (Non-Dealer) auto shops will replace bearings on a boat trailer. Bearing replacements are common type repairs and any experienced mechanic has the tools and know-how to do the job. Depending on the severity of the failure, towing may be the only way to get it to a repair shop. Continuing to drive will only do more damage and may delay the repair longer due to increased parts needs and availability.

I wouldn't replace "cone type" bearings until they showed signs of wear. Scored, pitted, rusted, or "blueing" , all of which are visible, would require replacement. Properly lubricated, adjusted, and maintained bearings can last as long as the trailer. Failure is most often caused by water intrusion, overtightening, and lack of cleaning and repacking. Even with bearing buddies, the hub and bearings should be disassembled, cleaned, and repacked once a year. There's no other way to know for sure if a problem is developing. The seal should be replaced at this time as it is the weakest part of the assembly. Servicing the bearings only takes a few minutes and a couple dollars worth of grease.

 

[EricM]

Now y'all are scaring me! My trailer turns 23 this year and has the original bearings, and I've run it a minimum of 150 miles a week all year long for the past three years - less before that, maybe 1000 miles per year. It has bearing buddies and I grease them about once a year but check them every couple of months to make sure they're properly greased.

 

[Buoy-Master]

If at anytime you guys need this stuff, hook up with our local dealers and have them call me at Tennessee Trailers. I have a shelf full of just about everything. I dont carry races but can get them. </p>

Snuffy, that is an odd ball seal. I have them though...

</p>

 

[EricM]

Thanks Billy!

 

[hl&s]

EricM - 1/16/2008 12:37 AM

Now y'all are scaring me! My trailer turns 23 this year and has the original bearings, and I've run it a minimum of 150 miles a week all year long for the past three years - less before that, maybe 1000 miles per year. It has bearing buddies and I grease them about once a year but check them every couple of months to make sure they're properly greased.

There's exceptions to every rule !! I know of an engine that went 31,670 miles without an oil change, but I wouldn't do it to mine. I've seen trailer bearings with the rear seal completely gone and the owner keep right on using them. Just a little extra grease before you hit the road, short trips only.

Preventive maintenance does allow you the convenience of picking the time, place, and person to do the job and keeps the worry to a minimum.

 

[rsimms]

DHaun - 1/15/2008 9:20 PM
One more question. If you are out on a road trip and you look back and see bearings going up in smoke what's the best course of action? Once you stop who would you call? Towing Company? Would you have them take the boat/trailer to a local gas station/auto shop for repairs? I think I recall someone here has had this experience already...

I had a bracket on a leaf spring break one time, trailer sat down on the axle and wheel. You have to fix on side of the road.... or specify a rollback wrecker, not a tow truck. They have a winch to pull it up on a flatbed trailer to haul wherever you wish. As mentioned previously, mine went to May Bros. Exxon on Lee Hwy. where they welded leaf spring bracket back in place.

P.S. It is a very strange and sad sight to see your boat & trailer sitting high atop a rollback wrecker. emoBawl

 

[G-3]

Richard did May Brothers have the tires in stock? I'm going to have to put tires on in the next week or two.