wheel bearings and tire pressure on Eagle bunk

[yak]

I have an Eagle bunk trailer under a Lund 1900. What is the recommended maintenance for most boat trailers in terms of getting wheel bearings repacked. Also--the psi for the tires is 50psi. is there any advantage to inflating at a higher rate? Any general recommendations on tire pressure?

Yak

[Phil T.]

New grease and a critical bearing inspection every fall before storage and again in mid-season of your boating season.
A trick for judging proper tire pressure is to watch the tread in you rear view mirror when leaving a gravel road unto pavement. Note how the tread cleans up. Edges first, the tires are under inflated. Center first mean over inflation. Even cleanup, you're close to the perfect pressure. Any better than this, will mean a temperature measurement across the tread after some miles.
Another shortcut is to mark across the tread with a piece of chalk and drive around a couple blocks. Again watch how the chalk wears away.

[Jack G]

My experience with a boat trailer that is consistently pulled about 5,000 miles per is this:

Inflate tires to manufacturers recommended psi pressure.

For wheel bearings install buddy bearings or something similar, keep enough grease in them to keep the center plate just barely from being seated. Check this item at each fuel stop and just prior to launching. Have the bearings (and brakes, if equipped with them) inspected and repacked before storing for the winter each year.

This has served me well and I have not encountered any problems since starting this practice.

I do suggest carrying a spare hub with races and bearings installed so that should a problem occur you should be able to correct it along side the road and be on your way with minimal delay.

Keep it simple. Good luck!

Jack

[yak]

Thanks to both of you for the replies. Sounds like good advice.

Yak

[dave]

Just the question I wanted to ask.I have the bearing buddies on my trailer but I am not sure when & how much grease to add.The center piece does move,is this supposed to be filled up until the center piece backs all the way out.I thought there was an over flow or something that would tell you.

[Dave in Mpls]

Dave - see link below:

http://www.bearingbuddy.com/why.html

Regards

[MarkG]

Dave,,do not fill untill plate backed all the way out. Per the instructions that came with mine,,load until the plate starts moving out a bit. Just enough that you can press on it,rock it and feel the grease under it move around.