Got 4 new tires on my boat trailer and while they were being put on I checked the hubs and found 3 out of 4 rough as I spinned them. Got them home,jacked them up and pumped grease in them as I spinned them. They seemed ok and weren't as rough as before. I usually carry a extra 1750# 5 hole hub/bearings with me on trips. Will these be ok or do I need to go ahead and replace them. Most trips are within 50 miles. Another Question,do I need to get the oil bath bearings and if so,who sells them? Thanks Crowcommander

Mr. Commander, if your hubs are "rough" whilst you are a spinnin em, I'd just replace the bearings, and check out the hub & spindle just to make sure everything is Kosher down there. Compared to some of the equipment we use nowadays, and outboard maintenance, bearings are dirt cheap insurance.

The extra hub is a good idea, I been carryin an extra one for three decades, never got to use it yet.

I've got somewhere around 150,000 miles on my current trailer and only had 2 bearing failures. Both failures were catastrophic, and the damage was beyond what an extra hub could fix. Putting my baby onto a roll back on the side of the highway at 4:00 a.m. wasn't fun, or cheap.

I usually keep my hubs well maintained, and when I get to the lake, out of habbit, I put my hand on each of them just to check the temp. Room temp. to slightly toasty is ok, hot ain't.

I don't have any experience with oil bath hubs, but if your average trip is only 50 miles, you'll be just fine if you stick with the set up you have. Oil bath's are relatively new on the scene.( for bass boat trailers anyway) Before oil bath hubs, billions of miles have been run with bearing buddys.

I hope it helps,  good luck

If they were rough, they are BAD, period, and need to be replaced. I wouldn't tow it across town, other than to get it home. Usually, after the seals wear, they let water suck in when the warm hub hits the water cold water. This causes the inner bearing to rust and pit and all it's going to do is get worse, very quickly.  A shot of grease just before launching the trailer will insure the bearing buddy's are spring loaded, but who want's to take a chance at getting grease on their hands just before going fishing.

As for where to get them and the seals, depends on the trailer. Sometimes the seals and inner bearings on Stratos trailers can be hard to find anywhere but a dealers. Northern Tools usually carries a pretty good assorment.

Oil bath would require a total conversion and I've heard of people having just as much trouble with them leaking.

You're best bet is to pull them and pack them once a year, replacing the seals when you do. The inner bearing usually tears up the seal getting it out anyway.

NAPA NAPA NAPA!!! I have worked there for 6 years and been a manager for 5 and we are probably the best in bearing, not always price but close, but my advice is check with napa on a whole hub, 5 bolts are common on trailers and we carry them, and get this, a napa number 27 bearing kit(most common) 2 bearings and races,seal and dust cap $35, hub assy with the bearings, seal,dust cap, and races already installed $38, I,m dead serious, check it out DO NOT leave the bearing and races on the trailer. Also take some emery cloth and softly wipe down the spindle odds are there will be a little rust on it. PS: If you have never packed a bearing put a glob of grease in your hand, take the flat side of the bearing and drag the bearing down the grease until it comes out the top of the bearing in between the rollers and the outside wall,after you have done that a  bearing buddy is the best thing in the world for a new hub. If you have any question I can help you as well.

Mr. Commander, if your hubs are "rough" whilst you are a spinnin em, I'd just replace the bearings, and check out the hub & spindle just to make sure everything is Kosher down there. Compared to some of the equipment we use nowadays, and outboard maintenance, bearings are dirt cheap insurance.

The extra hub is a good idea, I been carryin an extra one for three decades, never got to use it yet.

I've got somewhere around 150,000 miles on my current trailer and only had 2 bearing failures. Both failures were catastrophic, and the damage was beyond what an extra hub could fix. Putting my baby onto a roll back on the side of the highway at 4:00 a.m. wasn't fun, or cheap.

I usually keep my hubs well maintained, and when I get to the lake, out of habbit, I put my hand on each of them just to check the temp. Room temp. to slightly toasty is ok, hot ain't.

I don't have any experience with oil bath hubs, but if your average trip is only 50 miles, you'll be just fine if you stick with the set up you have. Oil bath's are relatively new on the scene.( for bass boat trailers anyway) Before oil bath hubs, billions of miles have been run with bearing buddys.

I hope it helps, good luck

With your good maintenance, how come you experienced 2 major failures?

Hello Fishbone, no matter how good you maintain something, if it's mechanical, it can break. 26 years & 150,000 miles of towing on this trailer, only 2 failures? I can live with that. Probably those cheap NAPA bearings I used. Even a well maintained outboard can crap out on you at any time. When she wants to blow, all the maintenance in the world ain't gonna help you. All it does is decrease the odds.

And I did say I "usually" keep my hubs well maintained. Over the decades, I may have missed a greasin or two, and I probably paid for it. But I generally pay lots of attention to them.

thank you for your question, was my explanation sufficient?

Hello Fishbone, no matter how good you maintain something, if it's mechanical, it can break. 26 years & 150,000 miles of towing on this trailer, only 2 failures? I can live with that. Probably those cheap NAPA bearings I used. Even a well maintained outboard can crap out on you at any time. When she wants to blow, all the maintenance in the world ain't gonna help you. All it does is decrease the odds.

And I did say I "usually" keep my hubs well maintained. Over the decades, I may have missed a greasin or two, and I probably paid for it. But I generally pay lots of attention to them.

thank you for your question, was my explanation sufficient?

Danm 26 years and 150,000 mile yeah them cheap napa bearing suck dont they haha ill take it

I started towing my first boat trailer in 1965 and have had at least one, and usually two or three ever since.  Don't have a clue how many miles I've towed trailers, but have made numbers of trips from GA to AZ.  I've never had a bearing failure. 

The first thing I do anytime I get a used boat with a trailer is, pull all hubs and check/replace and pack bearings and replace inner seals and check spindles for seal grove on trailer.  I also replace the water pump and rebuild carbs on motor, provided it's carbs.  As mentioned before, I pack wheel bearings every spring and replace seals.   

Oh, and for what those NAPA bearings costs, I can do a whole axle and still have money in my pocket.   Like I said also, some of the inner seals on 3500 pound axle's can be hard to come up with.  NAPA is the 7/11 of auto parts.  If they carry it, and they carry a lot of parts others don't, and you can get it pretty quick but you will pay dearly for it.