Pregreased trailer bearings

[FaaWrenchBndr]

So I saw a picture elsewhere or Guy had pre-greased trailer bearings and seal them in bags takes them on trips. I’ve always carried a grease gun and I use bearing buddies and I take tools. I had never really given much thought to the idea of having a sad or multiples pre-greasedearings.
Does anybody do this?

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[HammaMan]

That's just odd -- a spare set makes sense if going well out, but a spare set and a grease gun or tub of grease makes the most sense. Also, carrying spare bearings isn't a substitute for general maintenance.

 

[Bunker]

Never seen that before. I have nev-r-lub, so fingers crossed.
I do, however, have duplicates of many many parts.

 

[{tpc}]

I’ve never brought extra or pre greased bearings but if you’re prone to having trouble or had it in the past, I can’t see why it’s a bad idea. Bearings and grease are cheap.

I figure proper and timely maintenance is the best way.

 

[KTM753]

If you're going to carry spare bearings, carry spare rear seals. You will damage it to get the rear bearing out and replaced.

I carry a milk crate with spare parts including a loaded hub just in case. I travel a lot of Sundays when most places are closed. I want to be home Sunday night, not waiting until Monday.

 

[tbeneteau]

Same as KTM753. One year we had a snowmobile trailer bearing seize, on a Sunday, in the winter, 100 miles from home. Had to leave the trailer on the side of the highway and was lucky enough to find a parts store about 20 miles away that was just about to close. From that point on I bring my cordless impact, deep sockets, a little bottle jack and a new, pregreased, preassembled hub assy ($60) in a milk crate. I figure the tools don't do me any good in the garage!

 

[powerboatr]

So I saw a picture elsewhere or Guy had pre-greased trailer bearings and seal them in bags takes them on trips. I’ve always carried a grease gun and I use bearing buddies and I take tools. I had never really given much thought to the idea of having a sad or multiples pre-greasedearings.
Does anybody do this?

guilty
i have one bag with one set greased and wrapped
plus can of grease and extra cotter pins and one NUT
we used to tow the expedition and others on the hauler trailer all over, so it was like having a spare tire of sorts.. could be the sailor in me as well.. i also have the easy lube bearings and check them often..we lost a hub once and it literally fell off when we stopped . CLUNK
never heard the screams from the bearing...
trailers seems to give up IMO at times when stores are closed
and the long stretch to south texas is like another planet of NO close help unless snakes are considered helpers

 

[My 2ND Ford]

If you do proper maintenance every year this is unnecessary. However, I would just have a complete hub assembly and a jack, pull it off and slip the new one on. Sitting on the side of the road pounding out races and replacing them can't be any fun. If the bearing failed it took the race with it and you need to replace seals as well.

 

[KTM753]

I think high quality bearing supply bearings are the best preventative measure to mitigate roadside failure/issues. I just spent over $100 on 4 bearings and seals for my single axle 6x12 enclosed at our local bearing supply house. Timken/NSK/etc aren't cheap, but buy once, cry once.

I still carry spares like mentioned earlier. I also like to repack bearings to verify condition. This Lisle bearing packing tool is awesome and makes quick work of pressing old grease out and adding new. Highly recommend it:

https://www.lislecorp.com/specialty-tools/handy-packer-bearing-packer

 

[Davexxxx]

A little prevention, is worth many pounds of weight.

Beyond annual, or mileage based inspections and maintenance, I check things out at each fuel stop. Tires for uneven wear, hub temps, suspension bolts etc.

The most something could slip past on a trailer, would be about 200 miles.

 

[Davexxxx]

guilty
i have one bag with one set greased and wrapped
plus can of grease and extra cotter pins and one NUT
we used to tow the expedition and others on the hauler trailer all over, so it was like having a spare tire of sorts.. could be the sailor in me as well.. i also have the easy lube bearings and check them often..we lost a hub once and it literally fell off when we stopped . CLUNK
never heard the screams from the bearing...
trailers seems to give up IMO at times when stores are closed
and the long stretch to south texas is like another planet of NO close help unless snakes are considered helpers

Can you explain why flat towing has become so popular?

I've always figured if we had a motor home and wanted to also have a get around vehicle, I'd put it on a hauler like you.

There is the weight of the trailer but wear and maintenance on them is less and at least you can back it up.

 

[Henfield]

One thing I bought for those trailering times is a socket set that covers every vehicles lug nuts in one neat plastic case. Plus my half inch impact. Why a set? Trailer has 17mm or is it 19.... , Ford has 21, Wheeling truck 27mm

 

[My 2ND Ford]

Can you explain why flat towing has become so popular?

I've always figured if we had a motor home and wanted to also have a get around vehicle, I'd put it on a hauler like you.

There is the weight of the trailer but wear and maintenance on them is less and at least you can back it up.

From my understanding and I do not have an Rv, it's more popular to flat tow than trailer because most Rv campsites don't have the room for 3 vehicles. This is what I have read.

 

[powerboatr]

Can you explain why flat towing has become so popular?

I've always figured if we had a motor home and wanted to also have a get around vehicle, I'd put it on a hauler like you.

There is the weight of the trailer but wear and maintenance on them is less and at least you can back it up.

I choose trailer for a host of reasons
People don't tailgate as much
Virtually no wear on vehicle
Trailer is heavy steel and it tends to damage others that hit it...even when it's parked, it weighs a scooosh over 2k lbs empty
Ability to change vehicles easy
The last few years we went flat tow on the edge as it only takes a few minutes to hook it up
Trailer and loading takes about 20 minutes
Bus has 10 k tow rating
With expedition the towed weight was 8200lb
Occasionally we ran into campgrounds that didn't like trailer amd had you park it in a lot on site
But mostly we just pulled in..left room to park car off trailer and went about it
Plus 4 trailer tires are 1/2 cost of car tires..and no wear and tear on vehicle on trailer

and this past april i sold the edge we used for four down towing and converted the 22 f150
now its gone,
the f250 can be towed four down...but thats 8600 lbs all by itself
so we may just toss the explorer up on the trailer

 

[My 2ND Ford]

A little prevention, is worth many pounds of weight.

Beyond annual, or mileage based inspections and maintenance, I check things out at each fuel stop. Tires for uneven wear, hub temps, suspension bolts etc.

The most something could slip past on a trailer, would be about 200 miles.

I thought I was the only one checking tires and hubs at a fuel/rest stop, plus tie downs.

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