re-packing greasing the bearings / axle

Arcamper wrote:
I just don't understand why the interval on automotive bearings is so much higher. My 1994 Chevy pickup front bearings (2 wheel drive) where repacked in 1999 with 100 k miles and were fine. I did them again in 2013 at 200 k miles and they were fine. Now have 205 k miles on the original bearings with just grease and new seals ever being changed. I know the truck is not as heavy but the bearings are smaller also. If many of the big trailers on the road had to repack every 5 k miles that would be every 2 weeks for many and yes I know most run oil hubs. I can get this for boat trailers but how does an rv trailer need service every year?

Frankly, because people are ignorant about a lot of these things.

They don't know that bearings in a hub are a sealed system. The grease can't go anywhere if the seal is intact.

Oh sure, grease can gas off under high heat and over a long period of time, but that time is not 1, 2 or even 3 years; at least for the grease I use.

Case in point: I have a 93 diesel pickup with 180K on the clock and the front hub caps have never been off. The only time the bearing have be packed was at Detroit.

Now, sometimes bearings need to be checked more often. Like boat trailers. Where water intrusion can be a problem.

IMHO bearing packing and checking has to be one of the biggest cash cows in the RV world.

But I guess it helps the economy so it's all good. :)