HF Bearing question

[Lou Park]

On Harbor Freight's website the each trailer shows a different MPH maximum. The 5x8 that I plan to buy this week shows a max of 55 mph. I called the service center and asked why and what can be changed. They told me that except for the smaller trailers that the 5x8 and 4x8 both have a max of 55 and it's because of the bearings and tires. They also wouldn't coment on what it takes to change this. Has anyone run into a problem with their bearings? Are there any suggestions for a better replacement? I don't want to do 100 mph but doing 55 on any interstate is asking for trouble.
Lou

[Nitetimes]

When you get it pull the hubs and re-pack the bearings. Then don't sweat it. Lot's of them being used and very few stick to a 55 mph max. It's and insurance thing for them. CYOA that's all.

[goldcoop]

Yep, what Rich said

Plus jot down any numbers on the bearings, seals, etc. B4 U repack 'em.

I don't think there is a "standardized" bearing as these trailers come from various countries.

If you plan on high mileage trips you may wanna find a spare set to take with you, could save a real PITA trying to find 'em out & about

Cheers,

Coop

[Dale M.]

You may what to replace the Chinese bearings at some point with quality bearings like TIMKEN or other well know quality brands... Maintance is the key to bearing longevity whether they are cheap Chinese or quality made... Bearings love to be clean and well fed a diet of good grease...

Dale

[Dee Bee]

Ditto on having a spare set of bearings in the TD on every trip. Make sure the spare bearings are packed with all the grease they will need. Have a punch along if you need to replace the worn bearings along the roadside.

Dee Bee

[Trailer411]

Good suggestion Dale,

My trailer company has a large axle supplier that switched a few years back to imported (we all know from where) bearings. They didn't inform us (of course!) and we had a rash of bearing issues for about a year until we figured it out. We now do our own wheel ends and use nothing but TIMKEN.

It cost us a ton of time and money!

About the speed issue, most axle companies D-rate the wheel ends quite a bit. So as long as you are with-in the weight rating, hammer down and you will be fine.

Keep them serviced or packed good though. I have a wheel bearing maintenance page about this, so you can check it out at:
http://www.trailer411.com/trailer-maintenance.html
The pictures here show much larger hubs and drums than the teardroppers use but the directions are the same.

[senior ninja99]

Hi,
I'd be very careful, very about using compressed air to blow dry bearings. It's a fast way to ruin them. I've seen many ruined especially by people who spun them up to hear the sound.
Steve

[bobhenry]

You can blow them clear just don't let them spin freely. That cute little whur you refered to is the bearings ratteling in their cage. As a mechanic I warned one of my fellow mechanics more than once not to spin them. After one exploded on him and ripped his cheek open narrowly missing his eye he finally believed me.

[starwars]

On Harbor Freight's website the each trailer shows a different MPH maximum. The 5x8 that I plan to buy this week shows a max of 55 mph.

I agree its CYA for them. You have to think that if you are just towing their utility trailer "frame" at 70 mph, the thing is so light it could bounce out of control - that might be what they are concerned about. But loaded down with a tear body.......nah. I have a 1175 HF trailer and although I did repack the bearings during assembly ( HF has had metal chips in their bearings from the factory), I have gone 2500 miles with it, all at 70-75mph, no problems. Each time I'd stop I'd feel the hubs and tires and they were fine.

Boat trailers blow bearings because they get backed into lakes and get water in the hubs.

Has anyone on this forum actually blown a tire or bearing yet?

[nuke]

I got a HF 5x8 trailer (the one with all the side rails and ramps that I won't use), and I just got through cleaning and repacking and reassembling the bearings/hubs. I have to say I didn't see any metal shavings or other debris in the grease that I cleaned out of them, so maybe HF is finally getting to be a bit better quality (although I wouldn't count on it ).

Anyway, a couple of questions:

- I forgot to fill up the rear dust cap on one side with grease before assembling it. The bearing itself had ample grease on the back face. Will it be ok, or should I disassemble the thing and re-do it?

- The instructions say to fill up the outer dust caps with grease before putting them on, and then screw a zerk fitting into that. What is the purpose of that grease fitting? Am I supposed to squirt some grease in there every so often? How does that help the back bearing (the one on the other side of the hub)?

(edited for clarity)

[doug hodder]

That grease zerk allows you to add grease without taking the hub off. I use them on the boat trailer marketed under the name "bearing buddies". I don't use them on a tear. Used carefully they are fine I think, don't get carried away with the grease gun, if you blow out the rear seal, you just made a bunch of work for yourself. Bearing Buddies or similar units have a spring in them that will pressure the grease and allow the inner bearing to remain greased. A plain cap doesn't have this option so chances are increased that you can blow out the seal. Doug

[G-force]

I'm not familiar with the tire sizes on the HF trailers, but if you can go to a larger diameter wheel and tire, the bearings will be turning slower. Those tiny trailer tires are really turning a fast RPM at freeway speeds, that coupled with the usual cheap, import quality, they run hot and dont last too long.