Trailor Maintence

[Grumpy]

Just wondering how often other people change the bearings and races (not just inspect and re-grease)on your boat trailor. Do you change the races everytime you change the bearings? Other than just length of time, like every year, every two years, etc. (or a wobbly wheel) what do you look for as an indication that the bearings and/or races need to be changed (before and after you have taken them off the trailor_.

I am not going to give my info right now, but will later. Wondering if I am doing it too frequently!! I know, better safe than sorry, but it can be expensive and ITS A VERY MESSY JOB.

Thankks for helping me to compare notes/ideas.

Grumpy

[Hlleonard]

Well..........i'm not sure that i am typical but i had a boat trailor for about 25 years and i dont believe i ever changed the bearings on it.....i would pump some grease in it a few times a year but thats about the only bearing maintainence i ever did on it.

[Cobra190]

I have had two trailers since 1985. Both trailers have had bearing buddies on them and I have never changed a set of bearings yet, nor have I ever had an axle/bearing get hot on me. I always use a good water resistant grease and do a complete pump thru of the grease each spring to push as much old grease out and new grease in as I can, and always make sure the bearing buddies are full before each trip and add grease when needed. Seems to work for me.

[lizardking]

I dont have buddy bearing so I grease and change the seals every 2 years
Ive only changed the bearings when I waited to long Whoops!

[Grumpy]

OK Guys, maybe I should have asked AFTER HOW MANY MILES OF TRAILOR TRAVEL do you change bearings and races. I will have to try to find it, but I believe that the bearing makers recommend changing after 3000 miles of us. If you guys have not changed them it that many years, you can't possibly be putting as many MILES on your trailor as I am. Or, if you are, I would like to know what brand you are using.

Grumpy

[dc chopper]

My dad is a retired big truck/dozer mechanic, and in all fairness, one of the best ( and that comes from several people around KY and IND.) and he judges mine by the miles I put on it, but He keeps it greased very well ( My boat stays in his garage since my divorce) and yes, change races everytime you do bearings. He said bearings last a long time wheb properly greased but why take chances on an easy and cheap job, change them every 2-3 k on a boat trailer. Timex bearings and races, CP seals(if still being made)

[Grumpy]

OK so I may have been wrong about how often bearings and races need to be changed. I checked Google and found a VERY WIDE RANGE of recommendations as to how often it should be done. One typical suggestion for REPACKING:

Wheel bearings on trailers with regular sized tires should be repacked every 10,000 miles on trailers used regularly, especially if they are heavily loaded. You can get by with repacking every two years on trailers that are lightly loaded and do not see many road miles. On trailers with tiny wheels like boat trailers they should repacked as often as every 2,000 miles. The smaller the wheel, the faster the bearings spin, and the greater the need for good lubrication.

I didn't find many articles that actually stated how often bearings and races should be REPLACED but the few that I did find seem to recommend it about every 20,000 miles. I based my other post about 3000 miles on what I THOUGHT I HAD read and heard from people like DC Chopper's Dad. All of the articlas say that races and bearings should both be replaced at the same time just to be safe.

I figure that I trailer about 5 to 6 thousand miles a year and I have been replacing my races & bearings every four to five years. I REPACK THIM EVERY YEAR.

I bought my first boat & trailer used from a friend. I was new to boating and never gave a thought to the wheel bearings until I had a wheel bearing go out half way between E-town and Nolin. After that happens to you one time, you (I) get skittish and you make sure it doesn't happen again even if it means changing bearings more frequently than you really need to.

Any other ideas or thoughts would be appreciated

Grumpy

[crazyfishinnut]

I have bearing buddies.... they are worth every penny. I do every winter tear down my axles and repack, clean and inspect them. but to be able to sqirt some grease in 2 or 3 times a years makes me feeel safer. As for you races if your bearing goes out then you will need to replace both but if it is still good then there is no reason too.

[Dakota Kid]

I do it every year. But I also have a set of bearings and races in my tool box incase I need to change it on site.

[dc chopper]

I do it every year. But I also have a set of bearings and races in my tool box incase I need to change it on site.

Me too. Matter of fact, I keep alot of stuff in the boat repair wise I don't think I'll ever need but you never know whats going to happen or to who.

[Dakota Kid]

Amen. If a person doesn't, they will wish they had kept spare parts and tools for the trailor and boat. It only takes one time. Not fun being the only one on the lake in the winter time.

[Grumpy]

Amen to that Amen. Ever since I had my first trailer problem I have carried spare bearings, ntts, grease, etc and tolols with me. Just like carring a rainsuit when it sunny, IT IS A LOT BETTER TO HAVE IT AND NOT NEED IT THAN TO NEED IT AN NOT HAVE IT!!

Grumpy