Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I have a new 2010 Pace 5 X 8 with a Dexter 3500# axle. As in keeping with the general consensus on the forum, I decided it would be good to repack the wheel bearings just to be on the safe side.

One side was OK, but not very much grease. On the other side the hub was full of fine grit particles. The trailer had less than 5 miles on it so the grit hadn't worked it's way into the Chinese bearings yet. I would have expected better from Dexter. This is the second new trailer I have found what appears to be mill tailings in the hubs. The other one was from Harbor Freight. New trailers as well as used need to have the bearings and hubs cleaned and repacked for peace of mind if nothing else.

I would be having a conversation with Dexter were I you, as well as the trailer manufacturer.
This is a good reminder and once we pick up the new MM I will be re doing the bearings (planed on switching to oil any way).

My HF trailer definately needed cleaning before repacking!

I also purchased an entire hub, with bearings and seals and keep it stowed in the tongue box, I figure if I ever have a problem on the road, it will be easier to just slide a whole new hub on.

I always checked my bearings when I bought a new trailer.
They kinda looked at me funny when I parked my new scamp in the manufactures drive way jacked up the trailer and checked the bearings.
The second scamp I bought they said that they had made sure the bearings were packed because it looked bad for them with me doing it in the drive. I might add both were greased but I didn't want to start out on a 1000 mile trip with bad bearings.

question to steve how do you know trailer was only pulled 5 miles?

question to Shadow Catcher how do you keep the oil in a hub meant for grease?

remark to parnold good soultion but I'll bet not many do.

Steve you gave a very good example why the bearings need checked.

pete

I pulled mine apart as I ordered brakes and they were left off and were sent later. I found that the castellated bearing retaining nut (part of an American made alxe) was defective! The surface that pressed against the washer/bearing wasn't perfectly perpendicular to the axle axis and would have caused problems over time. I replaced it.

I think it's good form to inspect the bearings, clean and repack as required, and reset the bearing preload before starting out. Also, reset the bearing preload after a few thousand miles.

Cheers,

Gus

pete42 wrote:I always checked my bearings when I bought a new trailer.
They kinda looked at me funny when I parked my new scamp in the manufactures drive way jacked up the trailer and checked the bearings.
The second scamp I bought they said that they had made sure the bearings were packed because it looked bad for them with me doing it in the drive. I might add both were greased but I didn't want to start out on a 1000 mile trip with bad bearings.

question to steve how do you know trailer was only pulled 5 miles?

question to Shadow Catcher how do you keep the oil in a hub meant for grease?

remark to parnold good soultion but I'll bet not many do.

Steve you gave a very good example why the bearings need checked.

pete

I bought it at Home Depot about 5 miles from home, it had 2 self tapping screws like the ones attaching the sheet metal to the trailer in one of the tires. There were no road wear marks on the screw heads. I took them out before driving home. So, that was how I determined the trailer had no miles before I got it.

You use a kit that allows you to use oil i.e. http://www.trailerpartsdepot.com/items. ... TpStatus=1 It has a rear seal and allows you to see the oil in your hub. and if it is contaminated with water
or http://www.tiedown.com/pdf/a751.pdf or http://www.durahub.com

Has anyone found that they get better mileage with oil bath hubs or synthetic grease?

They run cooler which implies less friction. I have used synthetic grease exclusively for years.

Thanks for replying to my questions Steve

On one of my pop-ups the dealer pulled it out of their shop and hooked it up for me and when I got home one tire was flat it too had a screw in the tire.
when I took it back they said I must have picked up a screw from the road
we were standing in their shop and the floor had a lot of screws laying all about.
to their credit they did replace the tire
I suggesed they sweep up.

Shadow catcher thanks I had not heard of this like you said less heat less friction.

pete

Actually, I am not sure if they were contaminated or not. My husband the machinist, removed and replaced the bearings first thing before they ever hit the road. Replaced with Timken bearings, was never a chance to ride on the Chinese bearings, whether they were contaminated or not. Just pulled the bearings for first check after two years and they look great.

The Axle I used on my Scotty sat on my shelf for about 3 years.
Of course I repacked the bearings.

But as a rule I always redo the bearings on all my trailers because I don't know how long they sat on the manufacturers shelves.

When the axle is sitting on the bench...Its easy.

Happy trails

Len