I only put about 2000 miles on my boat trailer this year. I'm wondering if I really need to repack the wheel bearings for next year with such low miles. Anybody have an opinion?

If you trailered 1000 miles away and unloaded the boat and then docked it for a week or so and loaded it up and drove home you're probably OK. But, if you trailered to a lake 25 miles away and did this 40 times I would repack them or at the lest inspect them.

I really dont think it matters how many miles you have.

the issue is how many times you have launched. One launch with a leaking seal and your bearings will be toast, which is really what Jimmy jig is saying but in another way

repack them unless you like being stranded on the highway at the worst possible time since that when you will have trouble

My boat I am selling as Liqua Lube hubs on them, I have not touched the bearings for 4 years, I can see what the fluid is like

You can bet the new boat will have them just as soon as I can swing it.

I think you should ask youself. How mad will I be if one of bearings burns out because something was faulty, and I failed to find it. When I had greased bearings on my trailer, breaking them down, cleaning, inspecting and regreasing was a ritual I did every spring. I figured it was a couple of hours of my time, better spent then sitting on the side of the road wondering what am I going to do next. Now I have Liqui-Lube bearings and they are a snap. Pull the plug, drain the oil, refil, put plug back in. No fuss, no muss, and in an hour I can do all 4 hubs.

Call me old school, but I always do my bearing inspections in the fall, after the last trip of the year. I figure, if there is any water in the grease, better to get it out of there before any real freezing occurs. And, it's 1 less thing to do in the spring.
HRG

YES!! Always, no matter what. If you're going to put that boat away - YES!!

Woods,
If you have conventional bearings, dust caps only, and no bearing buddies or liqui lube hubs- it is a good idea to pack them on an annual basis.

As the other posts have mentioned, mileage is not the issue: The issue is the number of times the hubs have been submerged.

However, if you use bearing buddies, and give them a shot of grease, any time that you see the springs fully extended; you likely need to change grease very infrequently.

If you have liqui lube hubs with the bearings submerged in oil, and an inspection port to check the color and quality of the liquid lube - you never need to change the lubricant, unless you see a color change in the lubricant.

Many folks who use bearing buddies, have gone for 5-10 years with many many many launches and bearing submersions, with no bearing repacks nor any problems.

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If you have to ask the question, the status is bothering you - so repack the hubs.

Note: bearing buddies, that don't get services, and checked to insure that there is sufficient grease in the hub to "slightly" compress the springs, are no better off than an ordinary dust hub bearing and should be repacked annually.

Take care
REW

just to add-

whenever you repack, ALWAYS replace the grease seals with new ones.

Thanks for the advice. I have bearing buddies, but I think I'll repack them anyway. I will need to find out if the guy who does my bearings replaces the grease seals.

I have bearing buddies and have them re-packed every other year. As an earlier poster said, I'd rather do that than have to put up with the headache and frustration of being stranded on the side of the road after a burnout.

Two years ago we were on our way to Canada from N. Ill. I had the boat in Hayward, WI several weeks before and pulled it home ok. I didn't check the bearings before Canada and sure wish I had. I blew a bearing just north of Chetek and had to be towed by a flatbed hauler. They got us going the next morning but it tacked on $350 to my trip for tow & labor & bearings. I check them everytime now and also carry a full set of bearings (2 inner - 2 outer) and extra grease seals. It's hard to not ruin grease seals when checking inner bearing. Before my August Canada trip I pulled the hubs and checked. One seal had leaked and the red grease had a milky color, meaning water. I inspected and repacked both hubs and it only cost me two new grease seals. REPACK is my advice. I found a bearing seal kit online that makes a more water tight fit between the grease seal and hub. I am thinking of ordering a set for next year. Bearing Buddies are fine but if your seal leaks your bearings can still fail. Good luck.

I say pretty much the same as the rest, repack them each year.

Maintenance done, is but a brief moment of your time, bearings going out on the way to or from the lake is a day shot.

I have bearing buddies also, I check them monthly and add a little grease if needed.

Al

Hi. My trailer has the zerk fittings on the end of the axle shaft. Once a year I pump grease in until I have used half the grease in the new tube. I know that the bearing is now full of new grease and there is no water at all in the hub. then i do the other hub. those zerk fitting are very handy. :rockit: