What's the fascination with trailer bearings?

cmcdar wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:

cmcdar wrote:
Dodger, I guess I am totally missing what you are trying to say.

Check bearings, don't check bearings - neither is the right thing to do?

What is the message you are imparting?

I think if you read my first post it might be clearer: but I will summarize; as I said previously, NO one has a definitive answer. The recommended service intervals are based on a worst case scenario of extreme duty because the Axle MFG does not know what the axles will be used for. And my conclusion from my first post: It's common sense to have a maint. schedule of some interval. But no one can give you the right or wrong answer about what that interval is.

THAT is NOT an answer.

There are millions of Americans out there on the road driving/towing/etc. that have no mechanical (common sense) at all.

To say something should be done but no one knows when is BS. If it SHOULD be done then some time frame should be suggested.

There are millions of 'new' camper/RV owners out there that are trying to be responsible. Who care about the safety of their families and others on the road. THEY need to have some guidelines of which to follow.

You take issue with the manufacturers recommendations YET will not suggest a 'more appropriate' time frame (your opinion).

Again, how often is often enough?

Just like the manufacturer I have no idea how the axle is being used on any ones trailer. Is it driven mostly on dirt roads? Does it log 100k miles per year? is it heavily loaded? or does it go 100 miles twice a year and then stored? Therefore any truly thinking person could not under any circumstances give any kind of MEANINGFUL answer to that question. This is precisely why the MFG uses a worst case scenario maint. schedule.

Also I take NO issue with the MFG recommendation, the company is doing what is in it's best interest. But I do understand how they arrive at it.

And unlike some on this forum I do not think it's my job to tell the RV owners of the world what they should or should not do with their bearings. I do however think it valuable to get a more balanced view and that is what I try to give.

I am sorry I am not living up to your expectations of being hard-line, dogmatic absolutist about this issue.

As for me and my bearings? When I bought my trailer I had the dealer pull all the wheels so I could inspect the bearings myself. They were all in great shape and fully and properly greased. I have not worried about them since and will probably not inspect them again for about 20k miles. So you see I do inspect mine, but I do it based on MY USAGE of the trailer and my life long experience with Vehicles.