Karavan Trailer Bearings Not Per The Owner's Manual

[Captain Caveman]

As to not hijack any old threads, I am starting a new one to help others.

I have a 2007 single-axle Karavan trailer with no brakes. Per the owner's manual there are three possible bearing scenarios:

1) 1-1/16" hub, 5-1/2" flange, with 1-1/16" bearings and races on the inside and outside
2) 1-3/8" / 1-1/16" hub, 5-bolt UHI, 10" brake drums
3) 1-3/4" / 1-1/4" hub, 6-bolt UHI, 12" brake drums

Seeing that my axle has a sticker that says "non-brake with springs" and I definitely do not have brakes, I assumed that I would have the setup in #1 above. When I popped out the bearings and races, the inner and outer were definitely different sizes. It was a 1-1/16" on the outside and 1-3/8" on the inside even though I don't have brakes. The manufacturer's part number for the Inner Race is L-168110. This was confirmed when I called Karavan. However, the 1-3/8" bearing race is a hair smaller than the 1-3/8" bearing and is too small to fit snug in the hub.

Therefore, if you run into this problem when replacing bearings in a Karavan trailer where the new bearing race appears 1/16" too small, then you need to buy the L-68111 bearing kit. It has the slightly bigger 1-3/8" bearing races.

It took me four days and seven visits to various boat and auto part shops to figure this out! Now you've been saved.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Sorry - meant to post this in the Trailers forum.

 

[roscoe]

Thanks.
Interesting.

Are you sure its the original axle ?

 

[GA_Boater]

Sorry - meant to post this in the Trailers forum.

Moved it. Good info!

 

[Scott Danforth]

UPI hubs have slightly smaller outer races. my local trailer place has both races in stock for this reason.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Are you sure its the original axle ?

Karavan asked me the same question. Unless the dealership swapped axles before selling me the brand new boat/trailer combo....it should be the same axle. From the day I pulled it off the lot until now, it's gone 60,000 some miles on the original bearings. They actually still looked good upon inspection, but last fall I saw the first drop of water come out when pumping in grease. This season I've had to add more grease and most times a few tears of water come out. It was time.

 

[Captain Caveman]

UPI hubs have slightly smaller outer races. my local trailer place has both races in stock for this reason.

That's probably the issue. The small shop down the street had both kits as well, but nobody knew the difference until I started pulling packages apart in the store and comparing the races!

 

[Captain Caveman]

AThe manufacturer's part number for the Inner Race is L-168110. This was confirmed when I called Karavan. However, the 1-3/8" bearing race is a hair smaller than the 1-3/8" bearing and is too small to fit snug in the hub.

I can't edit my original post and noticed this isn't 100% clear. There are two different size races for the 1-3/8" bearing. The L-168110 race is slightly smaller than the L-168111 race.

My trailer had the larger L-168111 race which is in conflict with the documentation provided with the trailer.

 

[Scott Danforth]

larger races are standard (non UPI) hubs. your someone probably dropped replacement hubs on the trailer at one point.