After how many miles should wheel bearings be repacked? What does that actually entail?I am renting a trailer from a private owner who is in the business of renting various trailers he owns. I want to test how well my Jeep Grand Cherokee tows a crtain size/weight trailer (well below my max GVWR) before I buy a trailer. I will take it 2,200 miles round trip over 11 days. This is my first time renting and dealing with private owners, and they all seem to have varying degrees of fear, rules, and requirements.This owner says "I am ok with it going on that long of a haul, but we do charge for a wheel bearing re-packing for any trip over 500 miles, which is $55".A couple of other trailers I am considering made no mention at all of this, knowing the same distance.I'm NOT against paying the extra $55 fee, and just want to know if it's a BS fee or legit. This helps me form an opinion of who I'm doing business with as there are a lot of other strict rules. When I buy a trailer and hit the road for months on end, will I need to repack the bearings every 500 miles?

I think he is trying to get in your wallet. Bearing packs are usually good for the season and many more miles than that unless he has a bearing issue he is trying to have you pay for.Curly

I had a travel trailer for 20 years and repacked the bearings once or twice. I towed it around 5,000 miles per year.

In the RV rental industry that is common as a way to compentase for extra wear and tear due to millage. It should not need repacking every 500 miles (and I would believe that it would me more of a liability than an advantage). He is getting some money based on the fact that you will be taking the trailer 2200 miles. The fun part would be if you pay and half way into the trip you loose a bearing due to lack of grease...I would ask if the bearings will be packed before or after the trip. If after, no, I would not pay. If it was before, I would be OK, but I would check that was actually done before I leave.

pauldub wrote:I had a travel trailer for 20 years and repacked the bearings once or twice. I towed it around 5,000 miles per year.Yep. Me too.

Wheel Bearing Repacking question | Good Sam Community

Curly2001
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2019
I think he is trying to get in your wallet. Bearing packs are usually good for the season and many more miles than that unless he has a bearing issue he is trying to have you pay for.
Curly
pauldub
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
I had a travel trailer for 20 years and repacked the bearings once or twice. I towed it around 5,000 miles per year.
map40
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
In the RV rental industry that is common as a way to compentase for extra wear and tear due to millage. It should not need repacking every 500 miles (and I would believe that it would me more of a liability than an advantage). He is getting some money based on the fact that you will be taking the trailer 2200 miles. The fun part would be if you pay and half way into the trip you loose a bearing due to lack of grease...
I would ask if the bearings will be packed before or after the trip. If after, no, I would not pay. If it was before, I would be OK, but I would check that was actually done before I leave.
bravelion
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
Thanks y'all.
Ozlander
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
pauldub wrote:
I had a travel trailer for 20 years and repacked the bearings once or twice. I towed it around 5,000 miles per year.

Yep. Me too.
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 05, 2019
pauldub wrote:
I had a travel trailer for 20 years and repacked the bearings once or twice. I towed it around 5,000 miles per year.
Once for me, 11 years ago.
azdryheat
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
My triple axle is 5 years old and I repacked once, mostly to inspect what was done at the factory. I haven't repacked car or truck bearings in over thirty years. When I had boat trailers, due to the water immersion, I repacked every year.
time2roll
Nomad
Aug 05, 2019
On a 2200 mile trip I would not baulk at the $55 as long as in exchange he would pay for emergency repairs while on the road.

2200 miles is a bit short for repacking bearings and at the same time $55 is probably short on paying for the service. The replacement seals alone can cost $55. You are just paying a mileage fee for a long trip. The fee contributes to the additional maintenance. Similar to renting many other vehicles.

Truth is anything can happen on the road. The bearings could easily go 10+ years and 50,000+ miles or you could have an issue during the first day of travel.
BB_TX
Nomad
Aug 05, 2019
He may take your money, but I doubt he repacks that often. Probably after several thousand miles.
azrving
Explorer
Aug 05, 2019
BB_TX wrote:
He may take your money, but I doubt he repacks that often. Probably after several thousand miles.

I agree with this. He's probably getting $55 over and over again and no one knows if or when he really services the bearings. That's his issue as long as $55 covers your tail all is good.

I pull about 7k a year and service the bearings yearly. The fridge can quit or the toilet can plug up and it's easy to carry on but the wheel bearings put you on the side of the road. Wheel bearings are the single most important thing on a towable. You can blow tires and find replacements all over. Not so easy when the axle shaft is smoked and the drum and tire are passing you.