Bearing Repack & Oil Change

Springtime is here! It is time to start getting ready for our first camping trip of the season. The trailer cover was removed last week, trailer tires have been inflated and it is time to start towing the trailer again.

While the truck does get driven in the winter, it was notable that a tumbleweed was sitting under the truck as I head out to hitch up the trailer to get spring service.

Especially since the trailer sits for 5-6 months during the winter, I repack the bearings every spring. We travel enough during the summer months that I want to make sure there are no issues. Our friends who have spent entire trips replacing spindles and bearings because they did not keep up on this critical maintenance.

This year I decided to have the trailer tires rotated. The right rear tire has always worn faster than the other tires. After troubleshooting, watching air pressure, checking alignment, and observing wear over the season; I have come to the conclusion that the kitchen and tanks apply more pressure on this tire than the other tires. I hope that rotating the tires will get four or five seasons out of the tires rather than two.

After dropping the trailer off, it was time to turn my attention to the truck. Even though it had less than 1,600 miles over the winter, I like to change the oil and rotate the tires at the beginning of the season. This will generally cover us through the camping season.

With the repack and oil change complete, the trailer is ready for next weekend’s effort to flush the antifreeze, wipe down the interior, break out the linens, and restock the trailer for our first trip.

I am curious, the manufacturer recommends repacking the bearings every year. However, due to the inconvenience and cost, I get the impression that most people ignore this recommendation. I would like to hear what your other people really do. Please leave a comment on your thoughts about regularly repacking the bearings.