Oil filled trailer hubs! - The Hull Truth

poppincork · 01-09-2005, 07:18 PM

Several of the newer aluminum boat trailers that are said to be submergible have oil filled hubs. The hubs are clear so you can see the oil level in the hubs. They also have a filler plug.

They have been used for a couple of years...how are the holding up?

Are they better than the buddy bearings? Are they as good as the sealed grease fittings on the Techsun trailers? Trailer people all lie...It's like asking the butcher if the meat is tender!

Maybe we can get some data on them! Mine are only a year old..to early to tell probably..

iron banks · 01-09-2005, 07:28 PM

10 months on mine without trouble. Some have reported leaks with problems.

fishcop · 01-09-2005, 08:17 PM

I knew two owners with those hubs both of them had problems. I recently spoke with two big trailer manufactures, Loadmaster and Road King. Both of them said they would put them on the trailer if It was something I wanted, but they both did not recommend them. Road King went so far as to say they were junk. After that I ordered the regular grease ones.

ReelWork · 01-09-2005, 08:37 PM

I looked into them but decided to stick with what the bulk of the trailering population uses..

Why?

Well, when you break down it's normally not during the weekday and not during normal hours. On long trips I carry a spare hub, but in the event I break down on that trip down the block I can still head over to Wally World and pick up what I need.

Try doing that with that oil bath system..

Sleeper · 01-09-2005, 08:59 PM

Most trailer dealers no longer recommend them. If you lose a seal thus leak out your oil it won't be long before melt down.

Stay with greased hubs.

74Formula233 · 01-10-2005, 11:57 AM

Sleeper's right...even if your seal leaks on a greased hub, it will last a LONG time if need be before your bearing totally fails, as long as you keep the hub freshly greased. I had a bearing start going on me last year on my old trailer ('73 EZ Loader) and was still 15 miles from home. I limped it home with smoke pouring out like mad. Drove 20-30 in the breakdown lane, while carefully watching the hub, and made it home. The bearing had enough residual grease in it, that it stayed together for me