How often to get wheel bearings packed? - Fiberglass RV
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Old 09-25-2015, 07:00 PM   #1
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Name: Julie
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How often to get wheel bearings packed?

Hi there, we bought our 73 Hunter in June 2014 and traveled with it for 5 months. This summer we only used it a few times. The previous owner packed the wheel bearings before we bought it. How often are you supposed to repack them?

Thanks!
Julie & Dan


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Old 09-25-2015, 07:42 PM   #2
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Hi Julie, most folks use a once a year time frame. Tires and bearings are the biggest maintenance items to keep an eye on.
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Old 09-25-2015, 08:33 PM   #3
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Some will scold me for doing so infrequently, but I repack my Scamp's wheel bearings every 4 or 5 years.

I monitor the bearing temperatures several times per trip with a calibrated back of my hand placed near the dust cover.

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Old 09-25-2015, 10:54 PM   #4
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Some will scold me for doing so infrequently, but I repack my Scamp's wheel bearings every 4 or 5 years.

I monitor the bearing temperatures several times per trip with a calibrated back of my hand placed near the dust cover.

--Dan Meyer
I have used the same system, except the interval to pack the bearings has been twice as long as you.
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Old 09-26-2015, 03:24 AM   #5
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The manual Dexter provides with their axles says every 12000 miles or once a year. Raz
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Old 09-26-2015, 07:06 AM   #6
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I have my bearings repacked every Fall . I've found everyone seems to wait to Spring and then there is a big rush . We put on between 5 &10K miles per year.
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Old 09-26-2015, 08:02 AM   #7
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I have always done mine about every 20,000 kms or 3 years, which ever comes sooner, and have never had the slightest sign of wear on the bearings or races on any trailer I have owned. I just clean and repack.

People do need to do whatever they feel most comfortable with though. It only takes about 30 minutes per wheel to do. Before I start, I usually have a set of seals on hand in case one gets damaged in the process.
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Old 09-26-2015, 08:52 AM   #8
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Let me ask a dumb a question, how often do you repack the wheel bearings in your car?

I can tell you I have never repacked a car wheel bearing. So why can I drive 180K in a car without ever doing it but a trailer needs to be done once a year or every 12000 miles?

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Old 09-26-2015, 09:45 AM   #9
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Jeremy....excellent question...I have often wondered about that myself.

Now we wait for an expert to chime in with the answer.

Waiting........
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Old 09-26-2015, 09:52 AM   #10
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I've only repacked them once. Since then I just pump new grease in them once a year.
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Old 09-26-2015, 09:53 AM   #11
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Most cars with front wheel drive do not need bearing maintenance and the rear axle may have never lube bearings which are available for trailers, some Airstreams have them. SUV's and other 4 wheel drive may have a solid axle which do not have bearings. It all depends on vehicle specific. With an older unit, you may have to perform some maintenance, newer models have less.
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Old 09-26-2015, 10:05 AM   #12
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Dexter's recommendation of once a year or 12000 miles is based on the fact that lot of the axles they sell are used on boat trailers and repeatedly submerged in water so with a boat trailer, yearly is a good idea. With a travel trailer 12000 miles sounds good to me but if you only go on a few short trips a year it's probably overkill.
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Old 09-26-2015, 10:21 AM   #13
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Dan Mwyer, I do the same as you. The back of the hand is more sensitive than the palm side. Just get close enough without touching. If one hub is really hotter than the other, then you will be able to tell.
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Old 09-26-2015, 10:52 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darwin Maring View Post
Dan Mwyer, I do the same as you. The back of the hand is more sensitive than the palm side. Just get close enough without touching. If one hub is really hotter than the other, then you will be able to tell.
That works for the tires, also.

However, the sun side is warmer.
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Old 09-26-2015, 11:03 AM   #15
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I save myself a lot of anxious moments by getting the wheel bearings and brakes inspected and/or repacked once a year. I'm not constantly checking my hubs, because I don't need to.
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Old 09-26-2015, 11:17 AM   #16
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I trust that you check the temps of the hub on the first outing after you've repacked or had the bearings repacked? If not, to me you're running more dangerously than us that dont believe you have to repack perfectly good bearings every year when we've only put 1-2000 miles on our trailers!!

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I save myself a lot of anxious moments by getting the wheel bearings and brakes inspected and/or repacked once a year. I'm not constantly checking my hubs, because I don't need to.
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Old 09-26-2015, 11:21 AM   #17
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Dan Mwyer, I do the same as you. The back of the hand is more sensitive than the palm side. Just get close enough without touching. If one hub is really hotter than the other, then you will be able to tell.
Me too. Plus, if you do happen to "sizzle" the back of your hand, you can still use that hand to do other things while it heals!
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Old 09-26-2015, 11:24 AM   #18
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Jeremy....I have asked the SAME question for YEARS!! I've argued with Dexter. They say if you do this, they wont have anyone calling them. Geeee.

My Scamp bought new 2010....never repacked....never pulled the wheels...never shot grease in the "EZ Lubes". My trailer weighs 1740 lbs. I have my Scamp on jacks and spin the wheels regularly and they're VERY smooth. I check the wheels for play when they're on jacks. The axle hubs run "cool" when I pull. I have a documented 9500 miles on my Scamp. And yes, I feel perfectly comfortable for my style of pulling running these bearings as I do. I was raised in a machine shop.

Quote:
Originally Posted by rainjer View Post
Let me ask a dumb a question, how often do you repack the wheel bearings in your car?

I can tell you I have never repacked a car wheel bearing. So why can I drive 180K in a car without ever doing it but a trailer needs to be done once a year or every 12000 miles?

Jeremy
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Old 09-26-2015, 11:28 AM   #19
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I said repack and/or inspected. My mechanic saw no need to repack bearings after only a year, so he just did a visual and adjusted brakes.
And, no I don't feel the hub after repack.
Maybe I'll see you at the side of the road somewhere.
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Old 09-26-2015, 01:02 PM   #20
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Yep and that's the scare tactic Dexter WANTS everyone to have. I could see dipping a trailer (boat) in the water every week....but that's what they developed the "EZ Lubes" for- or at least that's what the Dexter Axle company told me.

FWIW, if you're going to see me on the side of the road, you're going to have to come ALOT further south than BC!!

Quote:
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I said repack and/or inspected. My mechanic saw no need to repack bearings after only a year, so he just did a visual and adjusted brakes.
And, no I don't feel the hub after repack.
Maybe I'll see you at the side of the road somewhere.
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