Wheel Bearings Packed? Yearly Maintenance

The fellow that repaired our blown out bearing this summer said, and I quote, "buddy bearings are my best friend, because they never get to the inside races". He patched us back up on the roadside. I drove into town and immediately paid a shop to do the other side, noting what it looked like when he pulled it out. Sure enough the outside had all the fresh grease I put in before the trip...the inside was dry as a bone! I figure that roadside guy has seen more bearings than most of us will see in a lifetime.

My buddy bearing are history, and I will hand pack every other year.