What's the fascination with trailer bearings?

cmcdar wrote:

Huntindog wrote:

itguy08 wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

Specifically for those of you that pack your bearings every year, why don't you pack your bearings on your TV every year? (For those that don't have cartridge type bearings)

Take a look at the links I posted. Both Dexter Axle and Lippert (probably account for 90%+ of RV axles) have a service schedule of 12mo/12k for the wheel bearings.

I don't know of any automaker that has any bearing interval in their service manual. Most have went to sealed bearings anyway and you replace that whole assembly when it starts howling.

I have read both manuals extensively... They giv a "blanket" recommendation. Many of their axles end up in other than RVs. Agricultural trailers, boat trailers etc. But the recommendation is the same for all of them. Surely you would agree that a boat trailer that is submerged in fresh and or salt weather needs more frequent service than an RV??
It is apparent that they set the service interval low, so that all users will service the bearings frequently... If they had different recommendations for different types of service, then there would be confusion on the part of the user.
It really makes no sense that a TT bearing needs service much more often than an identical car bearing....
As for thae grease going bad from sitting.... What about the grease in the can in the garage? Or do you buy brand new grease for each repacking?

Years ago, grease wasn't nearly as good as it is today, so it could deteriorate over time... Not so much today.

OK, So the manufacturer is wrong.... how often do YOU recommend?

It's not about the manufacturer being wrong. It's that the MFG of the Axles is using a WORST CASE scenario to base maintenance schedules on BECAUSE there is no way for them to know what kind of trailer any given axle will end up in. Those service schedules are for extreme duty. TT's just are by no definition extreme duty cycle platforms.