How often or miles should the bearings be greased with or without bearing buddies.

Also, how many miles can you expect from well maintained bearings.

Every time I pass a boat trailer with the wheel on a 45 deg angle on the side of the road, I wonder if I am doing correct servicing.

Any advice?

With bearing buddies, it's feasable to go several years if you keep the greased properly

Without bearing buddies, you should do them every year, either at the end of the season when you winterize or at the first of the season when you start getting the boat ready for the first trip to the lake.

With or without bearing buddies, every spring I pull mine off, clean, inspect, pack bearings and replace the seals every year.  If bearings shown signs of pits I replace the cones and cups.   Without bearing buddies, I would replace everything each spring.

Properly maintained bearings can last many years but on smaller trailers, they just don't cost enough to not just go ahead and replace everything when you pull them down.

I have my trailer serviced each year.

I also installed a spare tire on the trailer.

Now, to remember to take the jack with me!

yearly, minimum.  I suggest BEFORE you put her away, if there is any moisture in there, you don't want it to sit over the winter and possibly pit the axle.

If you do not back into the water and unload by hand, it's not so critical but if she gets dunked often,......stay on them.  Bearing buddies are cheap, I suggest putting a set on next time you service the trailer.  On my saltwater trailer, I replace the lube via the buddy EVERY trip.  Overkill, but grease is cheap.

thanks guys

When you say 'bearing buddy', do you mean these:

http://www.bearingbuddy.com/

or something like this:

http://dexteraxle.com/e_z_lube_system

There is a major difference between a Dexter EZ Lube and a Bearing Buddy. However, even with a Dexter system you should remove, clean, and repack each year. The first time you spin one and weld it to the axle you will know why. Standard equipment in my truck: spare hub for the trailer.

Of course there is a major difference.

I just wonder why everyone thinks that a Bearing Buddy is all that and a bag of chips.

Of course there is a major difference.

I just wonder why everyone thinks that a Bearing Buddy is all that and a bag of chips.

Probably because the Bearing Buddy was invented first and any routine maintenance is better than none.

Like George said remove, clean, inspect, & repack yearly

Cheap add-on that provides a false sense of security?

I pull my wheels, check the spindles, clean and repack my bearings, as well as, make sure the seals don't leak every spring. I use Bearing Buddies as well. They are spring loaded and help maintain grease to the bearings should you get a seal leak. I think they are worth it. I live two hours from the Susquehanna River and I can't tell you how many times I have stopped to help guys whose bearings failed over the years. I like George Welcome carry spare seals, races and bearings, as well as, a air pump you run off of the cigarette lighter and a tire plug kit. Its saved my a** more than once over the years. JMO.

Do not mean to hijack this thread, but how do you get races out that seem frozen?  I have tried driving them out, but they wont budge.  Is there a special tool that works on these?  Never dealt with races this tight before.

I have a 14 ft boat that I have had for 4 years and have not replaced the bearings or even greased them for that matter.  Is replacing the bearings something that a novice could do?  How much are we talking about replacing the bearings?

have not replaced the bearings or even greased them for that matter.  Is replacing the bearings something that a novice could do?  How much are we talking about replacing the bearings?

Same thing with my boat i do have the bearing buddies they have been greased on a regular basis and seem to be in good shape, when i purchased the boat i walked beside the axle of the trailer listening for scratching or scraping and didn't hear anything, it did make the 3.5 hour trip home and there weren't any hot spots either.

I have a 14 ft boat that I have had for 4 years and have not replaced the bearings or even greased them for that matter.  Is replacing the bearings something that a novice could do?  How much are we talking about replacing the bearings?

Bearing maintenance is pretty easy to do. It only requires basic mechanical skills to do. Here is a step by step guide with pictures.

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/bo_maintenance_repair/article/0,2021,DIY_13718_2277898,00.html

If your trailer has 12" tires as apposed to 8" found on most trailers for boats your size you bearings will need a lot less maintaining. the bearings on a trailer with 8" tires are spinning a lot faster than a trailer with 12" tires.  

You will only need to replace the bearings if the ones you have now are bad. rusted or have been overheated from lack of grease. I have never replaced the bearings on any of the trailers I own.  One is over 10 years old. They do get the needed inspections and greasing when needed. The boat trailers I takes care of once a year in the fall. The camper and utility trailer every other fall. They all have bearing buddies. They are not the best as pointed out above but they do keep the grease in the bearings. The most important thing with boat trailers is making sure your rear seals are good to keep water out. You can very easily blow those seals out filling the hub using the bearing buddies pushing in to much grease.