What's the fascination with trailer bearings?
So I've seen many, many posts over the years about checking hubs with IR guns for excessive heat. I've even seen posts where people check their hubs every stop. :E My question is why? I have never ...
Forum Discussion
First: as someone who has DESIGNED many things requiring bearings I can tell you that the common types of bearings used in automotive are off-the shelf, out of the catalog bearings from companies like Timken or SKF. There are now MFG's all over the world making quality bearings.
I think most of the anxiety about trailer bearings comes from Boat trailers where the wheels are submersed in either salt or fresh water, driven 20 miles and stored for various periods of time. This means that bearings gave out regularly creating a "History" of half truths and Myth about all trailer bearings being prone to failure.
The "Thrust" that is created and put on the bearing when turning corners in a trailer should not be a big factor in bearing failure if at all. In truth the bearings take much larger shock loads driving over rough pavement and freeway/bridge expansion joints.
The manufacturers of the AXLES are the ones who usually put a time on checking and maintaining the bearings. They do not know whether the axles will be used on Boats, TT's or what. So they have devised a Worst Case Scenario maintenance program to cover everything.
If you talked to the bearing guys they would see no reason to service the wheel bearings on a travel trailer every year.
And yes the bearings on your trailer are the same type as on your TV.
And NO just because they are on a trailer does NOT mean they are individually carrying more weight than the ones on your Truck. The ones on your truck are sized to carry the truck, payload AND your trailer.
I do check my wheels at every gas stop for additional heat.(with my hand) But bearings are only one, and the least likely of the culprits...a dragging brake shoe is much more likely or an under-inflated tire.
Like so many things on this site there are way too many uninformed opinions based on anecdotal evidence than there is real expertise. Common sense says to check and repack your bearings on some regular schedule depending on the "duty cycle" and severity of use. But the real truth is There is no one RIGHT answer. And anyone who tells you there is is simply blowing opinionated smoke out their nether regions.
I think most of the anxiety about trailer bearings comes from Boat trailers where the wheels are submersed in either salt or fresh water, driven 20 miles and stored for various periods of time. This means that bearings gave out regularly creating a "History" of half truths and Myth about all trailer bearings being prone to failure.
The "Thrust" that is created and put on the bearing when turning corners in a trailer should not be a big factor in bearing failure if at all. In truth the bearings take much larger shock loads driving over rough pavement and freeway/bridge expansion joints.
The manufacturers of the AXLES are the ones who usually put a time on checking and maintaining the bearings. They do not know whether the axles will be used on Boats, TT's or what. So they have devised a Worst Case Scenario maintenance program to cover everything.
If you talked to the bearing guys they would see no reason to service the wheel bearings on a travel trailer every year.
And yes the bearings on your trailer are the same type as on your TV.
And NO just because they are on a trailer does NOT mean they are individually carrying more weight than the ones on your Truck. The ones on your truck are sized to carry the truck, payload AND your trailer.
I do check my wheels at every gas stop for additional heat.(with my hand) But bearings are only one, and the least likely of the culprits...a dragging brake shoe is much more likely or an under-inflated tire.
Like so many things on this site there are way too many uninformed opinions based on anecdotal evidence than there is real expertise. Common sense says to check and repack your bearings on some regular schedule depending on the "duty cycle" and severity of use. But the real truth is There is no one RIGHT answer. And anyone who tells you there is is simply blowing opinionated smoke out their nether regions.
