Wheel Bearings Packed? Yearly Maintenance

Never did the POP-UP in the 5 years I owned it. Was 2 years old when I bought it.

Current trailer I did at 2 years and OEM was a bit light on grease with one running hot that I replaced. Now it has been 7 more years and I think it is probably due for service again. Dang how time flies.

fireman41 wrote:
Kinda off topic,but it still has to do with bearings.
Does any one make an oil bath hub? I would seriously think about upgrading to those.

Not that I've found.

Kinda off topic,but it still has to do with bearings.
Does any one make an oil bath hub? I would seriously think about upgrading to those.

CKNSLS wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

...better than standing on the side of a hwy in the middle of a trip staring at a smoking wheel bearing!

True....but there have been plenty of stories of bearing failure AFTER A SERVICE.

Spring Break, 2012...I had just had the dealer repack the bearings on our 2008 Rockwood 8272S a couple of weeks before our trip from San Antonio to Alamogordo NM. I was doing the "every other year" schedule as recommended by the dealer. Between Balmorhea and Van Horn on IH-10 (very close to the last place on earth), I noticed that something wasn't right, even though we were fighting heavy winds and going uphill. One of the bearings had burned out and the wheel froze, ripping the tire to shreds. We limped along slowly on the shoulder on three tires to Van Horn, where a truck and trailer shop replaced the assembly and had us on our way within a couple hours the next day.

I never went back to that dealer for maintenance again, but did find a great RV mechanic in San Antonio...Texas RV Supply. We now take our trailer to them once a year for bearings and other assorted mods and maintenance. Maybe it's overkill, but I'm willing to pay for a little peace of mind after that experience.

Here is what I did. Maybe right or maybe wrong.

Brought home trailer wife finally spotted couple months ago. A used (2013) model with some of the new plastic still on things, not used much. Sales guy said old owner told him they used it 4 times? Who knows for sure, but it look new.

While not a believer pulling the hubs yearly as I check the temps and don't pull hub unless they start to get warm or about every 4 years.

To see how axles were and new to us I pulled the hubs to see what bearings TT had and to see the spec's. I then picked up one set of spares for the road and made sure the oil seal was the supposedly heavy duty spring type and grease not getting into brake pads. Also downloaded the axle owners manual to have on file. And adjusted brakes, and torqued lugs to right spec. So from tires to axle's I now know what shape they are in, have manuals and spare bearing.

"And do you take it in for a yearly maintenance inspection?" NO, but when we got our first trailer (mid 1990's) I took it in one time. That was enough for me to see that "yearly inspection" means different things to different people. It was supposed to be "complete inspection" They were not in rv long enough to do a complete inspection IMO. They might of turned on everything and seen that everything worked and made a check mark on their piece of paper. Somewhat of a joke IMO.

So now I do everything that I can myself on all my vehicles.

I was at a major tire dealer in my area and they had a price list of going thru axles. $44.00 each wheel. Sounded really good but that's just the labor for each axle. And I'm sure they would find other things to charge for. And if I didn't know how to fix I would be one of those sitting along side the road waiting for help.

I really, honestly don't like doing my own maintenance of vehicles. However over the years it has paid off. Taking a car in to get my oil changed and couple days later saw drops of oil. Turned out the oil change place cross threaded the oil pan bolt and that was the final straw. So now I do as much as I can. I wish I could find a place that did a good job and of course price would also not be the "come on" price. But haven't found a place like that yet. I would even pay some teenager to get their hands greasy as I watched and told them how to do it.

As far as other yearly maint goes...Keeping the rv water tight is highest on list and I check for that twice a year. And then work on down my list after making sure rv is water tight.

I really keep on maint, maybe to much.

Now here is something I can't figure out. My in-laws don't do much or any maint and over the years our RV's still seem to give out the same time! They perform "maint" when something doesn't work anymore.

phillyg wrote:
I believe every two years unless you're really high mileage.

We're low mileage users, and this is my plan.

jfkmk wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

Tvov wrote:
I am also surprised at some people saying regreasing the bearings by removing them is an "easy" job... Jacking up a trailer, removing wheels, removing hubs, removing bearings, cleaning everything, greasing the bearings, reinstalling bearings, reinstalling hubs, putting wheels back on, lowering the trailer - not that easy in my mind. And that is for only ONE wheel! lol! I guess compared to some other vehicle work it is an easy job

better than standing on the side of a hwy in the middle of a trip staring at a smoking wheel bearing!

True....but there have been plenty of stories of bearing failure AFTER A SERVICE.

Not if the service is done correctly. Personally, I do my own work because I enjoy it and I want to make sure the camping season is trouble free. Better workmanship than a beginner barely above minimum wage mechanic.

True...however some of us really don't enjoy jacking up a travel trailer and the associated work involved with repacking wheel bearings. And the work-contrary to what others have stated is not that easy. I am guessing most RVers pay someone else.

CKNSLS wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

Tvov wrote:
I am also surprised at some people saying regreasing the bearings by removing them is an "easy" job... Jacking up a trailer, removing wheels, removing hubs, removing bearings, cleaning everything, greasing the bearings, reinstalling bearings, reinstalling hubs, putting wheels back on, lowering the trailer - not that easy in my mind. And that is for only ONE wheel! lol! I guess compared to some other vehicle work it is an easy job

better than standing on the side of a hwy in the middle of a trip staring at a smoking wheel bearing!

True....but there have been plenty of stories of bearing failure AFTER A SERVICE.

Not if the service is done correctly. Personally, I do my own work because I enjoy it and I want to make sure the camping season is trouble free. Better workmanship than a beginner barely above minimum wage mechanic.

dodge guy wrote:

Tvov wrote:
I am also surprised at some people saying regreasing the bearings by removing them is an "easy" job... Jacking up a trailer, removing wheels, removing hubs, removing bearings, cleaning everything, greasing the bearings, reinstalling bearings, reinstalling hubs, putting wheels back on, lowering the trailer - not that easy in my mind. And that is for only ONE wheel! lol! I guess compared to some other vehicle work it is an easy job

better than standing on the side of a hwy in the middle of a trip staring at a smoking wheel bearing!

True....but there have been plenty of stories of bearing failure AFTER A SERVICE.

Tvov wrote:
I am also surprised at some people saying regreasing the bearings by removing them is an "easy" job... Jacking up a trailer, removing wheels, removing hubs, removing bearings, cleaning everything, greasing the bearings, reinstalling bearings, reinstalling hubs, putting wheels back on, lowering the trailer - not that easy in my mind. And that is for only ONE wheel! lol! I guess compared to some other vehicle work it is an easy job

better than standing on the side of a hwy in the middle of a trip staring at a smoking wheel bearing!