Was wondering how often I should grease up my bearing buddies on my trailer? I usually travel from Lewisville to Ray Roberts and back when I go, so grease up after 5 trips? 10 trips? What rule of thumb does everyone go by on this?

Once or twice a year should be fine no farther than you are pulling it. Just keep an eye on them for any signs of problems such as grease coming out of the inside or outside seal. If you will feel of the hubs when you get to the lake before launching, and when you get home, you will be able to tell if they are getting warmer than normal. If they are getting hot, you'll need to find out why.

If you will pull the hub every other year and inspecty the bearings and repack or change them.... we probably will never see you on the side of the road.

!!! inspecty !! have not had my coffee yet!

Typing TOOOOOOOOO fast!

Also watch those lug nuts. My wife lost the closed acorn lug nuts on her lincoln after being over tightened by a local tire dealer.

I bought a used ranger and the guy just installed new crome wheels with the closed lug nuts. I watched them because I knew they could be a problem.

I pull the boat 3 miles at 40 mph. On the third trip the studs stripped on the right tire and the wheel came off. I now have white trailer steel wheels with open lug nuts.

WOW This is all good info! I just purchased my first boat and had the same question about greasing the bearings. I guess the same would go for travel trailers. Good To know!!

Actually if you have bearing buddies on your hubs they have a green oring on them. Before you leave just look at your bearing buddies and if the green oring is not showing then grease them until it does you should be just fine. Just make sure you use a good quality grease and follow Boatmans advise the repack (and inspecty ) them on a regular basis.

Make sure you do it at least twice a year, if was so busy this year forget to do them and lost a hub and almost a wheel, pulled up after fishing in my parking lot and my dang tire fell off, the bearings went and then the hub went, i went ahead and put two new ones on to be safe, and make sure you tighten the hub up to where it needs to be, i have to retighten mine this weekend, i put them on and greesed them and the greese came out the back.lol so i know it did not go on enough to seal the back.

Ray

Same for RV's. Inspect mine minimum of every year and more often if I use the trailer a lot. If your bearing buddy's don't have the ring, and have an exposed spring assembly, watch the spring! When you put in grease the spring compresses - at a glance if you see the springs open then you may need to check bearings and add grease. DON'T FORGET the TIRES. Some don't look low but will only have about 15 or 20 lbs. Any distance with a low tire can cause a blowout. I pull a 5th wheel with the boat behind and I carry an extra bearing set for each one. (Had to limp in one time - not fun, learned lesson)

Take if from me , go ahead and greese those bearing at least 3 times a year, i'm am having to pay $365 for a new axle which went out on me last saturday, after two new hubs it still went bad.

ray

This is a great site for info, tips, tricks, even spiritual matters...put it on your "favorites" list and come back often.

JR

I have a 20 year old Ranger on a OKT trailer and have never done anything but keep the bearing buddies full. I have not even pulled a hub and have had no problems. I check them about every 500 miles and add grease if need be.

never hurts to put a little shot of grease in then everytime you pull your boat. i do my motorcycle trailer everytime i use it,but i am making 400 mile trips.
fish on!

I keep a grease gun hanging in my carport, every time I pass by it I am reminded that grease & oil are the cheapest parts you will ever have to buy, hit 'em a lick or 2 every month or 2, it don't hurt a thing to do it!I like the black lithium grease the best, it seems to repel water the best, as long as you don't blow out your wheel seals, you cannot overgrease the bearings in a trailer of any kind! I hate bearing failures on the side of the road caused by "grease worms" eating up the bearings, hub & spindle!

u need to run down to walmart and pick up some bering buddies they are cheap and easy to install and u will no when u need grease with out having to pull the hub cap off good luck