With the recent oil bath thread...I tought it would be interesting to do a poll.

My buddy and I run identical Ezloader bunk trailers, his with greased hubs, mine with oil bath hubs. He says my hubs run cooler.
As to the comments that bearings will rust with oil bath hubs, this is pure nonsense. Hypoid gear oil sticks like s&%t to a blanket.
Transport trailers have used oil bath hubs for years. No, they don't back them into water but they run them at 75 mph on the freeways.
Oil bath hubs have a double edge seal, I have had sealing problems with usage since 2005.

Had had 1 small oil leak in 12 years. Found the leak just before a 2 week fishing vacation and the local Ranger dealer (Angler's Edge in Rockford, Illinois) was all over it. When I told him what the situation was he had me bring it to him and I wasn't much more than back home when he called and told me it was fixed.

I change the oil, or have it changed every other year and monitor the oil levels and color closely. Don't think you'd ever convince me to switch to grease-lubed hubs.

I sure hope they work, after all these years of hemming & hawing around, I finally (this winter) changed my hubs over. jerr

if you have grease hubs, what is the best kit to change them over to oil bath ?

if you have grease hubs, what is the best kit to change them over to oil bath ?

PM Sent

PM Sent

thanks jk

I'd love to get the details of switching to oil bath hubs. If you have opinions on brands, etc please let me know.

Dave

I really like mine as well although since I picked the boat up in Wis. I only tow no more than 30 miles to my favourite lakes. Had the rig since 2008 and no issues with the hubs yet.

Kroe

Have used and installed many of these without a problem.

http://www.liqualube.com/

I had liqualube hubs on my last trailer and they were great. I can only hope the new rig is as good.

What happens when you run a lot of gravel road? I'm sure they will break.

Paul

The caps are very HD but they do offer a chrome cover if needed.

http://www.liqualube.com/liqualube%20website/hubcovers.htm

Have all you guys had trouble with your grease hubs ? I think the grease hubs are economical, they are easy to maintain and service. That's all I've ever used for over 30 years and have never had any trouble with them. I just inspect and pack them every spring. I have bearing buddies on them and keep them full of grease. I go to Canada, Arkansas, , Minnesota , Wisconsin and Iowa to my local lakes yearly. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Good Luck. O R

Grease hubs here. No problems whatsoever!

I can only provide caution on using the oil bath systems. Two weeks ago I watched my tire with hub and caliper fly past me at 4am while heading across state to fish. I just picked up my cousin, less than 15 miles away from the accident. Before I picked him up, I drove 35 miles (20 on highway) from my house and like every single time I stop, check the hubs and straps. My oil bath hubs were cool like every other time I check. My only explanation, my rear seal went, lost fluid and destroyed my outer bearing.

The caution I would provide is to replace that rear seal on a regular basis irregardless (kind of like tires after 5 - 7 years no matter what the tread left). I went over 6 years, doing the normal annual maintenance of replacing the lube. I completely blame the failure on myself for not replacing that rear seal. I actually was all set to do it this spring, but I could not take the outer cap off so was waiting for new caps to be received but had this accident before I received them.

I had this system on my boat for over 8 years. It was all replaced in less than two years when I had brake failure that ate up my hub. This would have been my 4th trip of the season. I had no signs of oil leakage in my garage or where I stored the trailer (which is on pavement in another garage).

I still really like the system because I don't have grease slinging all over my wheel no matter how careful I was. Had the EZ lube on a EZ Loader trailer. Was way less maintenance just to replace the oil every year than re-packing. No matter what system I go with, I will still completely pull everything apart every year to inspect races/bearings and to replace the rear seal.

With grease I might have had more of a warning or possibly not have immediate failure. I could only guess at this point.

I have the Kodiac liquid hubs and the only problem I can see with them is when the seals start to leak you may not notice?

I have had brake hub issues before so I am very aware of the oil and temp of my hubs at every stop!

Keep an eye on them and cary extra oil in case of a leak and you will have many trouble free miles!

Seals are hard to come by on the road so I sugest having a few spare parts for emergency's?

The plus is you can see the condition of your hub oil and seals at a glance and changing the fluid is much easier than with buddy bearings grease set up!

The buddy Bearing set up only lubes the front bearing and gives you a false sense of security? Plus liquid hubs do run cooler!

Just my 2 cents!

Another vote for Liqua Lube, flawless. Best move I ever did on my trailer. Regardless of liquid or grease, why would anyone travel without a set of bearings ready to go in case of a problem? Sure seems like cheap insurance to me.

Another vote for Liqualubes! So much less to worry about for me. I did them 5-6 years ago, and removed them once to replace a rear seal, it was leaking ever so slightly. I think Perchjerker had a nice write/how to on installing these (correct me if I'm wrong, I think it was him) and that's what convinced me. A litte effort to install them initially, but after that, it's all gravy! I must be hungry!

How difficult is it to install liqua libe hubs and have the turn out right with no leaks ?

It is not to difficult, the most difficult task is drilling the hubs for the cap mounting screws. The best way is to drill them with a drill press, then you know they are straight. You also have to tap the holes and care must be taken not to break the tap off in the hole, (one of my lessons).

You will need some locktite to place on the inner seal race to "glue" the speedy sleeve in place and keep it from turning and seal the mating surface from leaks.

I have had them on my shorelander single axle trailer for 3 years and really love them. They reduced the hub temperatures on my axle considerably. I have a ProV 2025 and that is normally sold with a tandem axle trailer but I opted for a heavy single axle. It has a 3700 pound axle under it and before I converted it the hubs used to get very warm, they would be much warmer than the tires, after converting to Liqua Lube they are the same temp as the tires.

I had a little problem at first because Liqua Lube did not make a speedy sleeve for my axle so we shortened the spring on the inner seal to tighten it on the seal race and that would work for about a years pulling and then start to leak. This spring I took the trailer to a machine shop and we mic'ed the seal race and had some speedy sleeves made for the axle. I've had 2 300 mile trips this summer and a bunch of short ones so we will see if I get more than one season out of the seals.

I replaced the rear seals this year, they were 5 years old, and I was losing some of the oil somewhere, I also has Liqualibe send me new seals for the hub covers too. Figured to "re-seal" it, in a way. Not bad for 5 years of cool service, and not as messy, for sure!

where is the best place to buy the Liqualubes ?

I ordered mine directly from them. I couldn't find many other places that were retailers back when I did this. Do a search, something like k-dee trailers was the only other I saw. The lady on the phone was nice, and when she was asking about the diameter for the sleeve, I didn't know, but somehow she did, and everything fit nicely.