Yes, I agree. I have done trailer maintenance for quite a while and I think grease is so much more forgiving than oil bath. The potential for a fire should be deterrent enough for most. I always say Nev-r-lube and oil bath are about the same. They are great until they're not, then you have a big issue.
Using hand packed greased hubs is the best practice for most all trailers in the 3500-8000 pound axle range. The e-z lube hubs are more convenient but tend to have expansion problems when packed full that cause leaks that often blow out the rear hub seal contaminating the brakes especially when filled incorrectly by not turning the hub as you install the grease through the zerk. I know it is a PITA to conventionally pack the hubs, but it allows you to do the best repack, and affords the opportunity to inspect he bearings and races during the service.
On oil hubs, note that refill will take refilling until it is at the point it will spill out. The oil take a few minutes to run through bearings and it will settle and level goes down. You may need to top it up 10 minutes later to be at correct level. I ABSOLUTELY recommend the upgrade caps. Ibrun several trailers with oil bath (I recommend oil bath) and my only failures were clear plastic caps that cracked at thread root and were not overtightened.
I just found your channel last week. I give you 👍👍2 thumbs up on your info and production. Easy to understand, easy to follow on what I have watched so far, Just the Facts from some one that had obviously been doing it a while. Not a bunch of hog wash from some one that thinks they can make a video about brakes & bearings cause they have now done it twice. Great Job I have enjoyed every one I have seen so far. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good video... Very well said... I had MORryde install Independent suspension (8,000 lb) & electric over hydraulic disk brakes on my 17,000 GVWR fifth wheel RV. At the time MORryde gave me the option of oil bath or grease but they strongly recommended grease for many of the reasons you said. Just changing the oil is too convenient when you should be pulling the hub apart to inspect the bearings etc. Just the peace of mind makes it worth it.
With oil no need to pull apart and check bearings, if something is wearing the oil is gonna be silvery. Only have dark kinda burnt smelling oil if u change it once a yr if u use trailer alot. I use mine daily for 12-14k pieces of equipment and never had a bearing issue. In 5yrs I put 160k mi on truck, id say trailer has atleast 100k on it. And that's staying in one state daily
This is a great video and perfect timing. I’m currently dealing with a few issues on my Lippert hybrid axles. I have one wheel that went metal to metal on the brakes and another that is soaked in oil from losing the seal. Trying to find the right replacement drum is proving difficult. I believe the correct drum is a Dexter 8-219-13, could you confirm? They are oil bath hubs 8 on 6.5 with 9/16 studs. Also on the bearings you noted to different ones depending on rating. Everything online notes to use a 14125A outer bearing but the one I pulled out looks to be a 02475. The specs from National appear to be the same with the exception of the cone length. Again if you could confirm proper parts it would be appreciated.
From what I've found in last 5yrs running a 8k with oil, if it gets milky looking, then the inside seal is failing and it's seeping oil inside the drum. It won't be noticeable for awhile because when using it the heat cooks it off, but when it cools from sitting thats when it let's in atmosphere and oil gets milky looking again. Oil is nice, but u should always watch them cause the amount of oil is minimum vs a OTR class 8 trailer. Oil is nice, but that seal is 20-30$ vs 10$ or less for grease. I'd rather have oil at this point vs grease. Been using synthetic oil 75-130 and it stays cleaner and doesn't get that nasty burnt smell 80/90 gets after a yr
I had a question I’m putting new brakes on my trailer but the wires are not colored does it matter how they’re connected because someone told me that it’s all straight wires to the brakes so it don’t matter
It's good that you remind everyone of the importance of preventative maintainence. To that end, why aren't hubodometers more common? I know newer trucks have trailer odometers, but for shared fleets, etc, it seems PM would be easier to keep up with.
Boat trailer oil I'll do every year, utility trailer or camping trailer with synthetic grease maybe every 3 yrs, camping trailer with oil, every 2 yrs depending on how long it sits for in that period, oil will detiorate a bit faster than grease, and trailer axles can't vent condensation when they heat up like a drive axle can, as they don't have breathers. If the oil is dark or cloudy, not clear, change it. MIleage on the synthetic oil & grease is nearly irrelevant, currrent oils can run to 3yrs, 250,000 miles these days, condensation and time is the enemy.
I switched my semi trailers from oil to grease. I haven't had a single seal leak since switching. I hate to inform you, but both oil and grease are petroleum based, meaning both will burn.
