Utility Trailer Bearing Maintenance

I have a 5x8 utility trailer I bought new a few years ago now. I use it fairly infrequently for odd jobs. It's probably got less than a 1k miles on it. Most of the advice online says it's best to repack the bearings every year. Given the low use and that it's stored out of the elements, I'm thinking that could be excessive. Any additional advice on how often to repack the bearings and such? Thanks.

 

I push my luck. I have a 2000 jetski trailer with Bearing Buddies (it lets you pump in grease anytime). It started leaking on one wheel in Texas on a round trip from Los Angeles to North Carolina in 2004. I just added more grease every stop and replaced the bearings in North Carolina. No trouble since then including my move in 2006 to Indiana. I bought a 4x8 utility trailer without Bearing Buddies for the move in 2006. No trouble with it but I think about regreasing it. I have 6 or 7 thousand miles on the utility trailer and at least 8000 on the jetski trailer. It might be a good idea to slap the wheel lightly to see if they are getting hot after stopping occasionally. I bought a temperature gun from Harbor Freight a couple of years ago to get an easy accurate wheel temperature.

 

In the mid 70s I built a utility trailer out of an old boat trailer as I wanted the tilt feature. I had no clue how old the trailer was or how it had been treated bearing wise.

I pulled the bearings and they were good, but the hub seals were weak, so those I replaced. And hand packed the bearings.

About 10 yrs later I repeated the process and added Buddy Bearings and ran it another 20 years

Then 20 yrs ago I gave the trailer away and he's still rolling it. So original bearings well over 50 yo, Buddy Bearings over 40

Buddy bearings work. And you can visually know when you need to add grease

 

My camper sees about 5-7k miles a year, but it has those wonderful ez-lube axles. I flush grease annually (and even a good grease tends to come out a little "watery" I've noticed). Every other year I pull hubs and inspect bearings and brakes. Every 5 years I replace bearings and races, whether they need it or not.

Not looking forward to this March, bearings and roof sealant are all due for replacement, on top of the normal camper maintenance stuff. And my truck will be rolling 60k miles at around the same time. I see much garage time in my immediate future.



Even that is excessive, but with the great and remote areas of this country I pull mine across, I really don't want a case of roadside hot-wheel.

 

Thank for sharing. Mine has bearing buddies as well. I read mixed feedback on how effective those are are getting grease to the bearings. Most people say they're really only helpful at keeping water out by filling the cavity with grease. I'm thinking I'll pop one off and see how everything looks.

 

it is so easy to do with ez lube hubs, why not haul out the grease gun for a couple of minutes a year.

 

Jack it up and feel if there is any motion in the 12-6 or 3-9 position if there is then you need to tighten the castle nuts to remove the play in the bearing to bearing cups.

 

I can't speak from experience, but I've read that approach isn't as effective as disassembly and repacking the bearings. I imagine it's good for occasionally maintenance.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT0RKDGgDm8

 

There's a technique to it, if your trailer has them. My trailer sits on stands, and I give the wheel a moderate spin with one hand while injecting grease with the other. It ensures equal distribution through the bearings while also not putting too much pressure on the rear seal. Keep pumping until you no longer see old grease falling out.

My first year of using the EZ zerc I was so convinced that I did it wrong I unpacked the bearings and replaced the seals. Turns out, I did it right, and the replacement of new grease over old is pretty uniform throughout.

 

Thanks I’ll look into the zerks a little more.

 

Since you’ve had the trailer for a few years and you don’t know if the prior owner did anything with the hubs and bearings I’d pull the bearing and inspect them. Clean the bearings and hubs and install new seals, replace bearings if necessary , repack the bearings and put it all back together. Now you know all is good and you are good to go for 3 to 5 years. Before every trip inspect the inside and outside of the wheels for any grease. If it’s throwing grease then you need to pull and inspect them. If you use good seals and do the job right I don’t expect you’ll find any grease on the wheels.
After your first trip , jack each side of the trailer up and check how much play if any in the wheels. If all good, you should have no problems for years.
Since the trailer gets so little use and it’s light use I personally don’t think it’s worth it to buy and install ez lube hubs. But that’s your decision. EZ lube, EZ zirc, Bearing Buddies etc. are all great products but in your particular case I just don’t see the need.

 

Since all my trailers Have brakes and they never work every spring they get done every year.

Our work equipment trailers the bearings get greased when the new ones are installed after the old ones failed.