How often should wheel bearings be repacked?

[BC4277]

Being new to this TT experience, how often should the wheel bearings be repacked? I have a Freedom Express 192RBS with dual axles.
The service tech said they should be repacked every 2,000 miles or every two years. I can see every two years, but every 2,000 miles seems excessive.
Thanks for your input.

[Lynnmor]

BoatingWilly wrote:
How about Bearing Buddies? I have been using them on boat trailers

Those will contaminate your brakes even faster than the worthless EZ-Lube grease fittings.

[BoatingWilly]

How about Bearing Buddies? I have been using them on boat trailers

[Lynnmor]

PnrFab wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
I think that you will find that the quality of the cheap, imported bearings has dropped substantially in recent years. To compare your old trailer or Chevy to what is being produced today might lead to problems. It is not so much about the frequency of greasing or the type of grease, it is about inspecting the cheap bearings for signs of failure. I learned my lesson and replaced the junk with made in USA Timken bearings.

Where do you purchase your USA Timken bearings?

Summit Racing

[PnrFab]

Lynnmor wrote:
I think that you will find that the quality of the cheap, imported bearings has dropped substantially in recent years. To compare your old trailer or Chevy to what is being produced today might lead to problems. It is not so much about the frequency of greasing or the type of grease, it is about inspecting the cheap bearings for signs of failure. I learned my lesson and replaced the junk with made in USA Timken bearings.

Where do you purchase your USA Timken bearings?

[CavemanCharlie]

delwhjr wrote:
Mileage, Non-use vs Use, Environment, and Warranty are all factors to consider when deciding the frequency of any maintenance. I agree that every year seems too often and I usually do an every other year routine. If you have any kind of warranty then regardless of how you feel you have to follow their requirements.
I also use a infrared thermometer to check heat from the wheels and hubs during trips. If the temperature starts to climb too much I start to look for answers.
Heat is the killer and the first indicator of problems.

X2 I have a infrared thermometric too. You can pick one up cheap these days and throw it in a door pocket of your pickup.

I point it at the tread of the tires too. If one is a lot higher then the rest of them then there is a problem that need to be checked out ASAP.

[Lynnmor]

Passin Thru wrote:
Same as NMDriver. Lived in NM and just walk around at ea stop and put the back of my hand next to it.

I think that it is best to find problems at places and times other than roadside during a trip.

[Passin_Thru]

Same as NMDriver. Lived in NM and just walk around at ea stop and put the back of my hand next to it.

[Cecilt]

Just took mine to my local shop on Monday for a repack. 3 1/2 years old about 25k miles. They repacked them and said the bearings were all in good shape. They adjusted the brakes and replaced the seals. Will do every 2-3 years.

[Cecilt]

Just took mine to my local shop on Monday for a repack. 3 1/2 years old about 25k miles. They repacked them and said the bearings were all in good shape. They adjusted the brakes and replaced the seals. Will do every 2-3 years.

[Lynnmor]

I think that you will find that the quality of the cheap, imported bearings has dropped substantially in recent years. To compare your old trailer or Chevy to what is being produced today might lead to problems. It is not so much about the frequency of greasing or the type of grease, it is about inspecting the cheap bearings for signs of failure. I learned my lesson and replaced the junk with made in USA Timken bearings.

[spoon059]

Unless you are putting insane miles per year, I subscribe to the policy of packing them every 2 years. I'm sure that even 2 years is wasteful, but its fairly cheap and easy to do myself. My buddy recently bought an RV, so we might just bring his trailer to my house and do both in one day. The biggest annoyance is getting grease everywhere... 6 wheels isn't any harder than 4...

[bobndot]

SoundGuy wrote:
2000 miles?!! Baloney.

Dealers would like you to bring your trailer in for bearing repacking every year, perhaps every 8K to 10K miles, but I'd do those on my own 192RBS every 2 to 3 years, only sooner if I were planning a long cross country trip, otherwise this is plenty often enough IMO.

x2

[time2roll]

I just did mine the second time in 12 years. Did them at 2 years and since I knew they were done right they should last the life of the shoes. Now at an 10 years I decided to install disk so installed newly packed bearings. Old stuff looked fine and the Mobile 1 grease was still red. This after 30,000 to 40,000 miles.

I do think the first repack is important do to poor OEM QC.

[jake2250]

I guess I am the Odd Ball out!! My trailer is coming up on 11 years old, I have repacked the bearings Twice. Inspected the brakes and replaced the grease seals.
I have the EZ Lube feature and I use it with out any issues.
I believe in Lucas Heavy Duty red-tacky wheel bearing grease. First time I repacked was when I bought it used. It was four years old and I had no idea how many miles on it so I inspected and re lubed.
Since then I pull the end caps and inspect the grease, I look for discoloration and breakdown. Before every season I add more grease with the grease gun until I see grease being pushed forward. I DO NOT force it out until new grease appears.
Everything has been okie dokie! On long hauls I will take my IR gun and check temps,, no issues,. The last two years the trailer has sat allot more than usual. Crabbing restrictions and family matters have kept us home..

But,, this year I will pull the wheels and do a complete service!
So for me,, every four years works!
Now understand that I understand that is not etched in stone. If we will be going extra long distances I will freshen grease.