Wheel bearing repacking
How often do you repack the RV wheel bearings? I'm getting many different opinions on this question.
Forum Discussion
Somewhere between 3 days and 30 years. 😉
Assuming it's done properly, it should be good for 20-30k miles but unlike a semi, most people only tow a couple thousand miles per year (if that), so they often revert to a time basis (annual, biannual, etc...) as it's easier to track but which is likely overkill as the grease doesn't go bad or pick up contaminants.
Result, you get recommendations that are all over the place. If you want something more definitive, look up the axle brand and they should have a recommendation online.
you would be surprized how dark and oxidized the grease is when I take the old stuff out at the biging on the season. I never used to repack them very often at all, but after having an incident with my brand new 5th wheel, never packed properly or enough at the factory, I just put new grease in every year now, takes me a hour or two and 30 bucks. I also now use a IR thermomitor intermittiantly to check running temps to hopefully catch a issue before it happens, so far no issues since I started doing that. I would recomend anyone buying a brand new trailer either service the berrings or get the dealership to do it as a condition of sale before it comes off the lot. as I found out the issue I had is actualy quite comon..
Big difference between bad/contaminated/worn out grease and never having been properly greased in the first place.
I agree with at least pulling and checking when you get a new trailer as you have no idea if the last guy did it right and I've heard stories of new trailers coming with no grease. And pulling the tires is most of the work, so once you have the tires off, may as well repack them.
I also have a habit of feeling the hubs for excess heat when we stop but even freshly repacked, I'm doing it.
No harm in doing it more often but really not needed.
oh I know I am probably a little overkill with once a year.. but when you get a berring that is glowing red 1/2 way home on your first trip you tend to watch them a little harder. that was a fun trip home, little short drives with cool down stops for 200 miles.
My first three trailers (old chalet, a tent trailer then a 28 foot trailer) I never checked them at all in 20 years they occupied, although I didn't have internet forums back then so there was nothing to make me paranoid 🤣
if I had to pick a minimum I think I would do it every 3 years.. if the rv industry would switch over to cartrage bearings like most vehicles have you would never have to worry about it again.
I did exactly that, had the dealer check and provide any maintenance needed as a condition of sale.
