Boat trailer bearings

[Skunkmaster-k]

I'm having to change the bearings on my trailer about every six weeks . This seems like a lot . How often should they have to be replaced , and do you have any tips on bearing maintenance ? 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I'm having to change the bearings on my trailer about every six weeks . This seems like a lot . How often should they have to be replaced , and do you have any tips on bearing maintenance ? 

No tips - but wheel bearing should last years.

[Skunkmaster-k]

15 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

No tips - but wheel bearing should last years.

I would be tickled with one year.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I would be tickled with one year.

I had my old runabout for 9 years - other than re-packing the grease twice - I did nothing with the wheel-bearings...and I have no idea how long the bearings had been on the trailer before I bought the boat .

[Deleted account]

Why are you having to replace them that often? You either have major water intrusion or a worn surface on something or both at a minimum. I'd be willing to bet you have more than just a bearing problem. Are you towing long distances on the highway? Properly installed and maintained bearings will last for several seasons.

[WRB]

Bearing Buddy type grease caps eliminate most boat trailer wheel bearing issues.

Tom

[Skunkmaster-k]

3 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

Why are you having to replace them that often? You either have major water intrusion or a worn surface on something or both at a minimum. I'd be willing to bet you have more than just a bearing problem. Are you towing long distances on the highway? Properly installed and maintained bearings will last for several seasons.

It’s about thirty miles to the lake from my house, and I go twice a week , usually. You are right about the water intrusion. I can’t seem to keep it out. Every trip when I get home I pull the dust cap off and pour out a dribble. 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Bearing Buddy type great caps eliminate most boat trailer wheel bearing issues.

Tom

Probably why I didn't have any issues with mine - came equipped with Bearing Buddies.

Just now, Skunkmaster-k said:

You are right about the water intrusion. I can’t seem to keep it out. Every trip when I get home I pull the dust cap off and pour out a dribble. 

Yes - Bearing Buddies are great - get them...probably solve most if not all of your issues.

[Skunkmaster-k]

I will order some today. Thanks for the advice. 

[dickenscpa]

Check the grease cap on the back side (or inside) of the hub as well. If that is blown out, torn or just bad Bearing Buddies won't help any.

 

I would replace the bearings and races on the inner and outer part of each hub (2 races and 2 bearings per hub), add bearing buddies and a new inner grease/dust cap on the back side of the hub.

 

IMHO, even with BBs trailers and water just don't mix well. Of course with a boat you just don't have much of a choice.

[A-Jay]

I use the Bearing Buddies with success.

Here's a 'Tip' regarding boat trailer wheel bearings . . . . 

 

 A problem unique to boat trailers is water intrusion.

Water dilutes grease, but it causes even more problems for the carbon steel components in a typical wheel bearing.

Here’s what happens.

As you tow your boat, heat builds up in the bearings and hub.

When you back the trailer into the water, which can be 100 degrees colder than your hub and bearings, that rapid cooling causes a quick vacuum effect that can actually draw water—and fine sand—into your hub assemblies. Now the moisture is in place to dilute your grease and begin corroding metal parts—especially if you’re boating in salt water.

 That’s one of the dangers, because now what you’ve done is actually sucked water in, and now you’re going to drive back … and mix that water with the grease, adding that Bearing Buddies are highly effective but still need to be opened up and checked periodically. 

 

 My standard procedure after a long drive, (which is just about every trip) is to wait a while before backing the trailer into the water. Once you get to the ramp, let the bearings cool down a bit. I use the time to load the boat and be sure you haven’t forgotten anything.   By just letting the trailer sit for a bit until the hubs cool off, I have less chance of sucking water past the seals; if at all. 

 It doesn’t take very long, 15, or 20 minutes.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[S Hovanec]

My trailer is 16 years old.  I've replaced the bearings once.  I don't use bearing buddies.  There is a Safe-T-Lube axle on the trailer.  The grease fitting is in the end if the spindle and there are ports in the axle to inject grease into the hub.

[jeffo21]

have you ever replaced the bearing races or the hub seal? bearings should not have to be replaced that quickly. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

2 hours ago, jeffo21 said:

have you ever replaced the bearing races or the hub seal? bearings should not have to be replaced that quickly. 

Yes , I change the races out every time I change the bearings , but the seal looks good . I’m going to change them out anyway when I get my bearing buddies. The dust cap is where the water is puddled and the grease is discolored around the castle nut, so I think it’s coming around my dust cap. 

[jeffo21]

theres something wrong somewhere cause you shouldnt be replacing bearings that often

[TnRiver46]

Bearings usually last at least one decade maybe 3. Replacing the entire hub with bearings already in it is light years easier and only like $20 more 

[Log Catcher]

My first boat I had a lot of bearing problems. Finally found out the axle surface was worn way down. Replaced the axle and new hubs and bearings and solved the problem.

[slonezp]

Are you sure you have the correct bearings?

[MT204]

A-Jay had a point with the warm bearings/hub in the cold water. That is one of the advantages of the bearing buddies is that they are spring loaded so as grease is added the spring is compressed and when the warm bearing/hub goes in the water and a vacuum (grease contracts) is created the spring keeps pressure on the grease so water can't enter, if the seals are good.

Also use a good high quality synthetic water proof grease.

 

 

[Skunkmaster-k]

58 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Bearings usually last at least one decade maybe 3. Replacing the entire hub with bearings already in it is light years easier and only like $20 more 

I’m going to check this out. Thanks 

[VolFan]

Even if they’re sucking a ton of water in at the ramp they should last longer than six weeks as long as there’s grease in there. Why are you replacing them? Heat? Squeal? Utter failure? I just think the bearings aren’t your problem here.

[Skunkmaster-k]

6 minutes ago, VolFan said:

Even if they’re sucking a ton of water in at the ramp they should last longer than six weeks as long as there’s grease in there. Why are you replacing them? Heat? Squeal? Utter failure? I just think the bearings aren’t your problem here.

I jack the trailer up after every couple of trips to spin the wheels and listen. When they start sounding rough I pull everything apart and clean the rotten grease out of everything, but by that time the bearings are already rust pitted. I ignored them too long last year and found myself changing a bearing at the gas station . 

That was a long way to say failure

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

Are you sure you have the correct bearings?

Yep 

[slonezp]

Are you using marine rated grease and are you packing the bearings correctly? 

[A-Jay]

44 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Are you using marine rated grease and are you packing the bearings correctly? 

?

A-Jay

[Skunkmaster-k]

4 hours ago, slonezp said:

Are you using marine rated grease and are you packing the bearings correctly? 

Yep. I get a palm of grease and scrape the bearings till grease pushes out. It’s the green marine grease from Oreilly’s

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

?

A-Jay

Where do you get your grease?