When Should Trailer Wheel Bearings be Replaced

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Question:

My grown up children want to use my well-looked-after 1986 Sun Valley Coleman tent popup trailer - do I need to replace the wheel bearings before they use it or can I just regrease them? Thanks for any advice.

asked by: Martin S

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Expert Reply:

We recommended to repack the wheel bearings on your trailer every 12 months or 12,000 miles. There is not a specific guideline as far as actually replacing the bearings. When repacking them with grease, you will also just want to check for any damage or wear and replace anything if needed. As long as everything looks fine, there is no need to replace the bearings based on time alone.

If you will be packing the bearings by hand, I recommend using a grease like the Prime Guard Wheel Bearing Hi-Temp Red Grease # L11380.

You may also choose to make things a bit easier by using the LubriMatic Deluxe Bearing Packer # L70025, which has a fitting at the top that you can use with a hand operated or power grease gun.

The other thing you may want to look at is the tires on your Sun Valley Coleman, as it is recommended to replace trailer tires every 6 years, regardless of mileage and use. If you find that they need to be replaced, I will be happy to offer you some recommendations if you are able to send me the size of the existing tires.

I have attached a few great articles on trailer wheel bearings and maintenance that you may find helpful.

expert reply by: Chris R

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Answer 1

There can technically be two different wheel bearing kits for 5,200 pound axles. They will use different outer bearings and grease seals, so I highly suggest pulling one of the hubs off to verify which you need. The first kit, #BK3-300, uses a grease…

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Answer 2

I have included 3 videos that will help you. One specifically is on installing electric brakes. The trailer in that video did not start with brakes so it will be a little different. However it will still show you how to remove the hub and adjusting…

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Answer 3

I'd go with a double spring personally, Scott. These are typically going to be used on more heavy duty applications like your enclosed trailer with a pretty heavy door. In order to get a proper replacement though, you'd need measure the width…

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Answer 4

The MTI number on your 8-201 hubs is simply a casting number. It does not indicate any information about the hubs or have anything to do with the actual part number. I'm not surprised to hear you have different outer bearings between the two…

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Answer 5

If you were to go with 16" wheels with a 6 on 5-1/2" bolt pattern, the highest capacity wheel we have available would be something like the Aluminum HWT Series S5 Trailer Wheel - 16" x 6-1/2" Rim - 6 on 5-1/2 - Black Item…

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Answer 6

A faulty trailer plug is a possibility. What you can do is check the plug to see if there is any type of corrosion built up that may be hampering it's functionality. If the corrosion is extensive and you are unable to clean it, you'll need to…

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Answer 7

In some cases trailer lighting will ground through the hitch ball but that's typically only if the actual ground circuit is insufficient. This is not an ideal setup. It needs to ground through the wiring of the trailer harness. You can test this…

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Answer 8

The blue wire on a trailer is typically the output wire to the electric brake assemblies. If this is the case on your trailer then the wire should only have power when you are hooked up to the tow vehicle and are applying the brakes, either by…

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Answer 9

That's a very good question, we tend to be extra cautious and say to use 10 gauge wire because that would be more than enough. When you get into longer trailers that will end up using a lot of wire the heavier gauge wire becomes more necessary.…

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Answer 10

If you already have brake drums you will not have to replace them unless they are damaged or became overheated and have discoloration on the inside armature surface where the magnet rides, grooves in the armature surface, or severe wear where the…

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Answer 11

The modern day size for a 20.5 x 8 x 10 sized tire is 205/65-10. Based on this information, I recommend The Kenda Loadstar Bias Trailer Tire Item #AM1HP56. It is a top-quality bias tire that is great for all terrains and provides a smooth ride. It…

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Answer 12

Hi Tony; the #BK2-100 and #TMK52VR come with the same size bearings and grease seal. The main difference is the Timken name. This is usually associated with a higher quality bearings that are made in the USA which also accounts for the higher cost.

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When Should Trailer Wheel Bearings be Replaced

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