How often do you grease your trailer?

[Dandelion]

My trailer is exactly 2 years old, has about 500 miles on it, and has been on a launching ramp about 10 times. So far I have not serviced the trailer. How long should one go between adding grease?

 

[dgopetactical]

Re: How often do you grease your trailer?

My trailer is exactly 2 years old, has about 500 miles on it, and has been on a launching ramp about 10 times. So far I have not serviced the trailer. How long should one go between adding grease?

I have bearing buddies. I give them a few pumps of grease before every outing.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How often do you grease your trailer?

You only want to add grease to the bearing buddies if it actually needs it. Add grease if the piston is at the bottom of its travel. Adding more grease than it needs will either blow out the rear grease seal or blow out the front of the bearing buddy.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How often do you grease your trailer?

fresh water, you should inspect and repack your bearings at the beginning of the season. salt water, every 6 months. replace anything wearing.

also tire air pressure is the #1 cause of tire failure. check you tires every trip.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: How often do you grease your trailer?

In addition to the annual/semi-annual repackings, every time you get on the road, stop after 5 miles and put the back of your hand on each hub to feel the heat. Every time you stop for gas or a rest do the same thing. If it gets uncomfortable for you to leave your hand on the hub, remain stopped and check the bearing right there. Pull the hub cap and look. You may have to pull the wheel to check the inner bearing. If it is hot, the effort will be worth it.

Check the tie downs, safety chains andd the coupling at the same time. One day you might be glad you did.

 

[Squid Billy]

Re: How often do you grease your trailer?

stop after 5 miles and put the back of your hand on each hub to feel the heat.

Did you mean to say 5 miles, or was it supposed to be 50 miles? Stopping every 5 miles would result on getting to the launch ramp next week!

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: How often do you grease your trailer?

He didn't say stop EVERY 5 miles, just stop after the first 5 miles and check. if I'm trailering any distance, I stop after a short distance, check the tires and hubs. If they are good, then I just go to checking them when I stop for gas, rest area, etc.

Chris

 

[External Combustion]

Re: How often do you grease your trailer?

After the first five miles! By that time if the bearings have rusted significantly the hub will heat up. This will save looking out your rear view mirror and seeing smoke come from your trailer hub. It will also give you a chance to find out that you may not have latched the coupler, that you may have a chain dragging, or very realistically, that the binders need tightening as the load settles in to the trailer.

We all overlook things occasionally. Most of the time we get by due to God looking out for us and others, but why push the point?

I'm an old fart. My pee breaks are getting more frequent, but a few years ago every two hours was a DOT reg and forced me to stop and check. That is not a bad schedule to keep. Tires on a hot day can surprise you. A quick check that can tell you to slow down 5 MPH to keep a blowout from happening is worth the check. Keeping a check on your equipment and load is a good thing.

Happy trailering!