Anyone have Vault hubs on trailer. Likes/ dislike???

They have worked fine for me.

Luv em.

They work fine.
Advantages: Seem to be more waterproof than a normal bearing system. Seem to last longer between service than a traditional bearing system.

Disadvantages: Harder to service, often have to replace the cap when you service, grease and parts are way more expensive than traditional bearing parts, if you break down you have a 0% chance of finding vault parts locally.

I service my own bearings and check them often so I will likely just go back with a traditional bearing system next time I service mine. If you don't do the work yourself and neglect to check bearing like you should, you are probably better off with the vault system. No matter what system you use, keeping enough parts to completely service one hub in your truck or boat is a great idea.

Have them on my trailer.

Had 2 fail within about 5-6 years. I replaced with bearing buddies and filled with grease. Had far more problems with the 2 wheels with those bearing buddies going forward. No other issues with the other 2 vault hubs.

Blew the back seal on the first one, the other I watched the cap come off the hub while traveling down the interstate just outside of Abilene. Tapped in a bearing buddy, pumped it full of grease and kept going to Louisiana.


Following year after ruining a couple different sets of bearings with the bearing buddies, I just bought 4 new hub assemblies with the vault system already installed on them. Going on 3 years no issues yet.


I keep a spare hub, as well as spare bearing buddies just in case.

My 2012 model trailer had 4 vault hubs on it when I bought it from the first owner in 2016 and in 2018 I had one completely fail on me. They're supposed to have a 10 year/10,000 mile "life expectancy/warranty" but if you drive them hard, they will definitely wear out. I would feel comfortable buying a brand new trailer with them but if I was repairing/replacing the hubs on a used trailer I would just go with traditional hubs. I replaced all 4 of mine with traditional hubs.

I saw hybrid oil on one hub one day. I thought the seal failed. So I replace it, with new grease, new o ring, and new cap. I messed up the seal when installing it. While reading directions, it said some “seepage” is “normal”. I now have one hub with regular grease and one vault. I have to order a seal….again. I have a weird hub too, so it ain’t like it’s an easy to find seal. I have 5200 lb hubs on a single axle. 6-lug [censored]. The other, untouched original, had the same “seepage”. I cleaned the wheel and no more signs of a leak. I think when it gets to be 110 degrees and you pull a long ways, the hybrid stuff is gonna leak a little. It gets to be like 30w oil when it’s hot.



A service kit is around $140 per axle. Comes with a tube of oil, two caps, o rings, and a grease fitting. Seals are $7 each. An expensive way to change a seal.

Great hubs. Haven't even had to think of them

I wish y’all would block me from any / all threads re hubs & bearings.

Do tell

They are great!

You may have one fail early from time to time but just like any thing mechanical, that may happen.

Usually you will have a seal fail and if you’re diligent in checking them then you should be able to repair before you have a failure.

They are easy to replace/repair but you will want a new cap/o-ring each time you do. I would much rather have them over oil-bath or bearing buddy.