Trailer Axle Bearings

[step 2]

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience on trailer axle bearings?  I already have bearing buddies on them and I'm curious about the oil bath set ups now available, Turbo Hub is one of the name brands.  I'm attracted to the ability of actually seeing the oil condition...color/foam/water.  It seems like a big step up from hoping the grease is in place and hasn't been replaced by water.

[mvn]

I had oil bath bearings on my last EZ Loader trailer.  Very nice setup...no problems whatsoever.  Loved the fact that I could keep an eye on what was happening.

My current setup uses Easy Lube hubs (or something like that) where the grease is forced through the inner-most bearings through a channel then flows out to the outboard bearings.  With this arrangement, I can at least  flush grease/water/dirt out rather than just packing more grease in.

Mark

[step 2]

Thanks for your response.  Did you put many miles on the trailer with those hubs?  The closest body of water for me is almost 20 miles so I'll definitely be using them.  Alot of people in my area use their trailers twice a year, even in that case for me I'll be traveling about 150 miles one way.

[mvn]

On average, each trip to a lake averaged 60 to 100 miles one way.....never any issues.

Mark

[step 2]

 FYI...Turbo Lube hubs are not for marine use.  Apparently they can easily pull water in past the seals while submerged (as the air and oil cool down and contract...the low pressure...pulls in water).

[Shaun]

Step 2
              A trailer that I service every year for a friend is an EZ Loader trailer with Oil Bath Hubs. I change the oil yearly with Amsoil Synthetic Oil. He had a lot of trouble on his previous trailer with greaseable hubs as he never knew how much to grease them or if to grease them. He loves the oil bath as he knows what to look for. It has been a win win for both of us.