Wheel bearing maintenance interval
I’ve seen posts that say to repack every 12 months or 12,000 miles...since I only tow a little over 1,000 miles per year, do really have repack every 12 months? Does the wheel bearing grease degrade...
Forum Discussion
How often I repack the bearing depends on how many miles I use the trailer.
When I towed trailers for a living I repacked or had them repacked every 25k-30k miles. In this type of work we may put 75k-100k miles a year. Plus trailers in commercial service unlike a same GVW RV trailer have a annual inspection requirement. Frame inspected for cracks....suspension parts checked for worn or broken parts....hubs pulled and brakes and bearing inspected. At that time a determination can be made if repacking required.
Repack bearings on my rv trailers ??
On new or used rv and non rv trailers the first thing I do before putting them on the road is pull the hubs. Dexter was bad about not putting enough grease in the new hubs or even no grease at all other than what the bearing mfg had on them to stop rust issues. At that time I did a repack to my satisfaction.
Used trailers ?
My current rv trailer was 3 months used and was supposed to have had the brakes/bearing serviced by the selling dealer. On the way home with it the brakes squealed and chattered. I knew what that meant so first chance I pulled a hub. Sure enough the grease seal was blown out by a grease gun and the insides covered in grease. Two other hubs were the same. Cleaned it all up and installed a new set of brake shoes all around and repacked bearing by hand.
I repack my rv trailers about every 5 years @ 5k-7k miles a year average. I also pull the hubs each spring and check for any brake issues that way I don't need to use a grease gun for my trailers bearings.
RV folks don't pull trailers many miles per year so brakes/bearings/tires are talked about in terms of years of service with miles of service never mentioned. Some pull so few miles they have never had a flat tire or wore them out or had a bearing go out while on the road.
When I towed trailers for a living I repacked or had them repacked every 25k-30k miles. In this type of work we may put 75k-100k miles a year. Plus trailers in commercial service unlike a same GVW RV trailer have a annual inspection requirement. Frame inspected for cracks....suspension parts checked for worn or broken parts....hubs pulled and brakes and bearing inspected. At that time a determination can be made if repacking required.
Repack bearings on my rv trailers ??
On new or used rv and non rv trailers the first thing I do before putting them on the road is pull the hubs. Dexter was bad about not putting enough grease in the new hubs or even no grease at all other than what the bearing mfg had on them to stop rust issues. At that time I did a repack to my satisfaction.
Used trailers ?
My current rv trailer was 3 months used and was supposed to have had the brakes/bearing serviced by the selling dealer. On the way home with it the brakes squealed and chattered. I knew what that meant so first chance I pulled a hub. Sure enough the grease seal was blown out by a grease gun and the insides covered in grease. Two other hubs were the same. Cleaned it all up and installed a new set of brake shoes all around and repacked bearing by hand.
I repack my rv trailers about every 5 years @ 5k-7k miles a year average. I also pull the hubs each spring and check for any brake issues that way I don't need to use a grease gun for my trailers bearings.
RV folks don't pull trailers many miles per year so brakes/bearings/tires are talked about in terms of years of service with miles of service never mentioned. Some pull so few miles they have never had a flat tire or wore them out or had a bearing go out while on the road.
