Trailer Bearings Change Out?

[NJSquatch]

How often should trailer bearings be changed out?

I do about 1,000 miles a year, mainly to Lake George and a couple smaller trips around NJ. I have the quick fill fittings and keep them loaded with fresh marine grade grease.

What brand of bearings should I be looking at? Want to avoid the garbage.

Thanks in advance

[Blackfishhead]

I have four trailers to maintain. One of them is a popup camper that weighs 3200 lbs or so.I inspect/repack every 1000 miles.And replace every 8/10000miles. For the trailers that get submerged they all have bearing buddies on them ( you don't want to over pump them as you will blow out the back grease seal) I do the same . During the inspection if the bearings or races are blue they got hot. Replace them.The last thing you want is a bearing failure on your way to that hot spot on your only day off of the week! A little bit of maintenance goes a long way.

[Capt. Debbie]

MY old trailer had bearing buddies on a lighter 800 pound trailer for almost 20 years before the frame failed. It was used exclusively in salt water and averaged about 800-1000 miles per year.

Those were never repacked or replaced.

But likely a different size boat. Also the touch test I do indicated they never really got hot either.

I am in year 7 of its 1000 lb replacement trailer with the same boat/motor etc. Same maintenance.

Change out can't hurt if done right. But not sure if it's necessary in lighter trailers.

And yes, the bearing buddies are judiciously maintained with spring pressure always on the grease inside.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Great advise above... Biggest mistake people make is pumping grease into the buddy bearings practically every time they use the trailer. This usually results in a blown rear seal...Bearings don't consume grease so adding more grease doesn't do any good. Repack, inspect seals and you should be good to go.