Up to my elbows in Bearing Grease

[mikeymouse1]

Trying to get the old rig slicked up for our trip in two weeks! Hate packing the bearings!!!!!!!!

 

[Firescooby]

Trying to get the old rig slicked up for our trip in two weeks! Hate packing the bearings!!!!!!!!

We're leaving in about 3 weeks. Gotta do mine for the first time soon.

Any tips?

 

[SC DAD of 2]

Firescooby, may I suggest you check out RV.NET and do a seach.

Really a good source for all things RV. Have a great trip.

 

[2goofycampers]

We have Bearing Buddy thingys, all I know is it only takes a few minutes to grease the wheels.

 

[LONE-STAR]

Rubber gloves.

 

[kskone]

bearing buddys are not the same as cleaning and repacking your bearings there is no short cut to do this job than the right way bearing buddys were made for boats that get the bearings wet all the time, by pumping grease in a bearing buddy you put pressure in the bearing and this helps keep the water out of the bearing, Do your self a favor and do the job right 30-40 minutes per wheel will save alot of time stuck on the side of the road with a froze bearing and tying to tell the wife and kids why you wont be getting to disney on time. Also if you do the job make sure you use a high grade grease for bearings with a high drip point (drip point of 500 degreese or higher) and always replace the seals with new ones and cotter keys, good luck K.

 

[DisCamper]

I just pay the guy he comes to my trailer storage area packs the bearings and checks everything. I just hookup and we are on our way.

 

[devores]

I just pay the guy he comes to my trailer storage area packs the bearings and checks everything. I just hookup and we are on our way.

Im with you. I did this job once myself. That was it for me. Not a hard job, just a PIA....(ooops, dont want to start another acronym thread.)

Id rather pay a shop to do it now......

 

[jonimce]

I'm with you. First time TT owners and after a trip to Alaska I was told this should be done. RV dealer has it now and will also winterize. Maybe storage also. We have a lot to learn about this stuff.

 

[mnsprk]

We have Bearing Buddy thingys, all I know is it only takes a few minutes to grease the wheels.

bearing buddys are not the same as cleaning and repacking your bearings there is no short cut to do this job than the right way bearing buddys were made for boats that get the bearings wet all the time, by pumping grease in a bearing buddy you put pressure in the bearing and this helps keep the water out of the bearing,

IIRC 2goofycampers have a Jayco and they use Dexter's "EZ lube" axles which function totally different than "Bearing Buddies. They are designed for proper bearing lubrication without removing the wheels. They do however look somewhat alike.

 

[Old Snipe]

At least you hands are really clean and soft once you get all the grease off!

Best Regards!

 

[clkelley]

I have sealed bearings, WOO HOO!!! No bearing grease for me

 

[Lil' Lisa]

...ooops, dont want to start another acronym thread...

And just to get things back on topic , our camper has legs, not wheels, but I know that our boat trailer has the bearing buddy things too because I have heard the hubs talk about it. He loves 'em.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

...ummm...dumb question alert: I inherited our trailer last fall. The only thing I've packed in it is kids and food. How do I know if the bearings need to be packed or not?

 

[kskone]

No question is dumb! Read your owners manual but on my trailer it's once yearly or 5000 miles what ever is first, so it sounds like you are due, cheap insurance not to get stuck on the side of the road. K

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

No question is dumb! Read your owners manual but on my trailer it's once yearly or 5000 miles what ever is first, so it sounds like you are due, cheap insurance not to get stuck on the side of the road. K

Thanks! Another excuse to go sit in the trailer for a while -- I'll bring a cup of coffee and read my manual out there...

 

[mikeymouse1]

Update: Had to replace one set of bearings and races.Drove to the other end of the world and bought the parts, I got home and they were the wrong size! I was going to put the old ones back in and one of the greasy bearings stuck to my arm and flipped in to the dirt!I felt like the kid in the Christmas Story"OH FFFUUUDDDGGGEEE!I went to take them back and stopped at the filling station for gas I went in prepaid went out and drove off with out my gas! What a day! Anyway got her all put back together and even adjusted the brakes!Two weeks to go

 

[DisCamper]

Update: Had to replace one set of bearings and races.Drove to the other end of the world and bought the parts, I got home and they were the wrong size! I was going to put the old ones back in and one of the greasy bearings stuck to my arm and flipped in to the dirt!I felt like the kid in the Christmas Story"OH FFFUUUDDDGGGEEE!I went to take them back and stopped at the filling station for gas I went in prepaid went out and drove off with out my gas! What a day!

Thats why I pay the guy

 

[TOGA]

Thanks for bringing this topic to my attention. I've never had the bearings packed/re-packed/greased or un-greased and with a 2,000 mile round trip to the Fort coming up in a couple of months, I'm happy to pay $75 for peace of mind. Got new tires for the pop-up too, so hopefully that will ward off any bad luck on the road.

 

[mikeymouse1]

Thanks for bringing this topic to my attention. I've never had the bearings packed/re-packed/greased or un-greased and with a 2,000 mile round trip to the Fort coming up in a couple of months, I'm happy to pay $75 for peace of mind. Got new tires for the pop-up too, so hopefully that will ward off any bad luck on the road.

I would defantly repack the bearings and as for the tires replace every 5 years.
On our last trip to the Fort my dad took his rig out for the first time in 3 or 4 years on old tires. He blew a tire 100 miles into the 250 mile trip. After three hours on the side of the road we headed on. at mile200 we were on the turn pike THE HOME STRETCH and boom tire no.2 rim and all rolled down the side of the camper and off into the sunset! Luckily no one was hurt. Eight hours and a side of the road repair bill dad rolled in to his spot at the Fort with four new tires bearings and a hub. He never told me the price of the bill but told me that he probably could have put us up in the GFRS for what he paid the man. SO GET THEM WHEALS SERVICED AT HOME WHERE ITS CHEAP!!!