I agree, pack the bearings by hand, check the races, replace.

 

Yes, and put a new seal in Make sure you inspect the bearings for loose filings and color marks on the rollers when you clean them. Bearings can be covered in grease (especially when you remove them) but can still have been subject to overheating while in place.

 

I've had pretty good luck with my bearing buddies. I greased them till they were about 1/2 way out on my tandem open car trailer. That bearing grease tool that looks like 2 oil funnels stacked together works well too because it packs the interior better than you can do it by hand. Initial bearing checks were performed by jacking up the trailer and checking the wheels/bearings for play. Any noticable play resulted in disassembly for closer inspection as I always ran them snug, with good results. Amsoil's Series 2000 Synthetic Racing Grease, NLGI #2, GC/LB (GRG) works better than anything else I've tried over the years in extending bearing life.

Amsoil source & info link: http://www.thelubepage.com/

 

Yep, bearings starting to wear will pick up some play in the wheel. Never readjust a bearing, tear it down if there is any play at all.
Frequently add two or three shots of grease in the axle stubs and give a squirt beside the fitting. You will find that the bearing wear is normally on the outside bearing. Use only the best grade grease. My axles are overloaded (from the factory) but I have no trouble with them using the above maintenance.

Grease them well (pack), assemble, be very critical of the play adjustment, check it again after a couple of hundred miles, readjust as necessary, then never touch them until you pull them down for inspection when play is found. Give them some grease periodically.

 

I think the bearing buddies are OK if used properly. They sell a Teflon(?) inner wheel seal that should prevent grease getiing out of the hub into the brakes.
I have 6000lb dexters,, they came with a red premium grease, which I continue to use. I tow 1300 miles then relaod until the grease comes out.
I should check them in another year or so.
I suspect theer are many successful buddy bearing users, especially those with the HD seals that come rom them.
My $.02

 

I also think the bearing buddies are OK if used properly. I put them on my 2003 5er when it was new and only give them a couple of pumps two or three times a year. OK, so maybe it's time I pull the hubs and check things out. Maybe I'll pull them in the next week or two, if I don't do it soon they will have to wait till fall. (or when I break down)

 

Might make you feel a little more comfortable with the lighter trailers. The 5000 pound Dexter axles and the 7100 axels use the same bearing. The race is different in some but the bearing is the same. The three axles that i use on my six car trailer with three 7100 pound axles with eight lug wheels have the same bearings as a light trailer with five lug wheels that carry one car.

In 1985 I purchased a trailer in housten to move back to Alabama. Two axles, ford wheels, 15 inch tires. It moved us back with three trips loaded with six foot sides on it. Since it has been around, moved countless cars, has a winch mounted on the front, ramps, etc. Sits most of the time but countless trips to the scrap yard, carried gravel, sand, whatever. The bearings have never been pulled and packed.

A year or so ago it made a couple of trips to Missouri. The floor has rotted out and replaced, it is a great rust finish, not much red paint left. The tounge has been bent down, and repaired with stiffiners. Had countless sets of lights on it, most of the time with switched plates. I paid $550 for it. One day I will sell it. Got to get my money back out of it

 

If you look back through these posts you'll see a pattern. Most of the replies of satisfied owners of grease-gun lubed bearings say, "Been fine, seem to be okay, probably should pull wheels/drums and take a look..."

That's the whole point! A guy doesn't have a clue what's going on at his bearings or what the lube and brake condition is. It's physically impossible to know what shape stuff is in. Axles, brakes, bearings, wheel, lug studs etc. last until they don't, then you find out the hard way, and too late.

Much better to KNOW what's going on with these components by disassembling and inspecting and hand lubing bearings. There's several bearing packer tools available to cut down on the mess of lubing them up, available at NAPA and most other parts houses. I can't afford to take chances myself....