Trailer wheel bearings

[Luke512]

Anyone ever had bearings go out on their trailer tires? I did last summer and was stuck on the side of the road for 5 hours... It was miserable. I noticed my tire was wobbling from side to side, and drove it as far as I could but didn't make it home, it was finally wobbling so bad I thought the wheel was going to fall off, and it was grinding like metal on metal sound. So I stopped and was stranded on the side of the road for 5 hours, putting a new set of bearings on and packing them with grease. But I got it fixed, and then a few days later went to a marine shop where the checked both wheel bearings and made sure they were ok. My question is, ever since then I've been paranoid about them going out again, because that sucked being stranded on the side of the road and wound up costing quite a bit. But ever since then, I may be paranoid, but I look at my trailer tires and it looks to me as if they are leaning (top of the tire in, and bottom of the tire out), like they aren't trailing right. Could just be that I'm paranoid, but the guy at the marine shop said he kinda thought it looked like it also. But he said the bearings were ok cause he checked them and they were ok and he repacked them with grease. I wondered if maybe when I had the bearings go out on that one side, I drove it too far with it wobbling like crazy and possibly bent the axle? The guy at the marine shop said it was possible, but if it did he couldn't tell by looking at the axle, said it looked straight, but could be off but not enough to see it. He said just to drive it and if I started having tread wear on one side of the tire, then I probably had a bent axle. It's driving ok, and no tread wear yet (I've taken several trips since the bearings were replaced), but I am just paranoid, and it looks like the tires aren't sitting upright/even up and down... It looks like they're sitting/running like this / \. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Luke512]

Just don't want to have the same issues this spring when I start fishing again. And by the way, I grease them every couple trips.

[F16ENGMGR]

Man get off the "What If Stuff".....I hope you cleaned the areas good and also replaced the grease seals. Bearing buddies are also a plus. Spare parts & and a small hydraulic jack used to accompany me on my trips. A piece of plywood to go under the jack so it won't sink is recommended too. You'll be ok.

[MagikSmallie]

Man get off the "What If Stuff".....I hope you cleaned the areas good and also replaced the grease seals. Bearing buddies are also a plus. Spare parts & and a small hydraulic jack used to accompany me on my trips. A piece of plywood to go under the jack so it won't sink is recommended too. You'll be ok.

I've switched to these and so far so good:

http://tiedowneng.com/avortex.html

[Luke512]

F16, I did replace bearings and seals... And it does have bearing buddies on it and a dust cap.
MagikSmallie, those look nice, may have to try them, how much are they?

[first2fish]

I had that happen 2 years ago and it s@#@# ! I had to spend 4 hours in the cold fall rain fixing mine..........after that this is what i did...........i went to the {bennett co} 2818 s. 4th street. And bought extra seals,bearings-inner/outter then took a old milk crate and put them in it with grease,hammer,large pliers,rags etc. I had some damage to my axle but had no choice but to put it back together to get home. I did buy new hub assys for it but i still think that side leans just a little. I check that side every year for wear and if needed i replace brgs and regrease. But if something does happen i have that milk crate with all my extra parts to get me back on the road unless my axle or hub has too much damage to replace brgs/seals. Hope this info helps,jc

[first2fish]

Oh,by the way i kept my hub off the good side and also put it in the milkcrate.

[adriancretired]

you may have over greased the bearings and pushed the rear seal out allowing watewr to get in. i have a18.5 bass tracker with a 90 on it ,with the grease fittings on the trailer ,but i never grease them except when i take the bearings out and check them ,every other year. when i take a trip to the lake ,or river , ialways feel the outer cap on the wheel bearings to see how hot they are. when its cold , tey are cool ,but in the summer they warm up abit. same when i get back to the house. i bought an extra hub with bearings and seal for about 50.00 at the boat dealer incase i have a problem on the road. i,m also a paranoid person, and feeling the hubs keeps u alert to an impending problem .i dont have trailer brakes so they might run warmer with them.