What Bearing Seal Do I Need For An Older Trailer Made In The 1960s

Updated 10/23/2023 | Published 10/20/2023

Products Featured in This Question

LubriMatic Prime Guard High Temperature Wheel Bearing Grease - Red - 16-oz Can

(227)

$21.52

Replacement Trailer Hub Bearing - 1779

(2141)

$19.33

Grease Seal 29031

(757)

$16.23

Question:

I just bought a trailer that was built in the 60s. 1. It has a 2788 and a 1779 bearing. 2. It has a 7 leaf springs and they are over 40 long. 3. The axle is 1 3/4 square. 4. The rims are 5 x 5 1/2. What size bearing seal should I purchase? I couldnt find any markings on it. How much weight do you think this trailer is rated for?

asked by: Michael S

Expert Reply:

Those are great questions. Since the trailer is so old, this will be a tricky one, as most or the parts used back then are now obsolete. I am happy to try to provide as much info as I can.

The # 2788 and # 1779 bearings are typically used on a 5,200 lb axle. Both of there bearing sizes are fairly uncommon these days. We do not even carry hubs that use these bearing sizes. They would generally be used with the seal # 29031, but we would certainly want you to measure the current seal to compare. The # 29031 is a 3" OD and a 1.875" ID.

The fact that the leaf spring is a 7 leaf, that would also indicate an axle rated for 5,200 lbs or more. The number of leaves in a spring does not always directly relate to the weight capacity, and I wager that springs made nowadays will be quite different from a spring from the 1960s.The 40" length is certainly irregular. We do not carry any leaf springs even close to this long.

The size of the square axle is where it gets weird. Generally a 1-3/4" square axle would be a light duty axle, rated for no more than 2,000 lbs. But again since the axle is around 60 years old, the general rules likely do not apply.

The 5 lug hubs are usually for axles rated between 2,000 and 3,500 lbs. So given all of this, it is difficult to say specifically what the trailer is rated for. You are likely dealing with axles rated between 2,000 and 5,200 lbs. My assumption would be closer to the 5,200 lb per axle range, but it is honestly impossible to say for sure since the trailer is so old.