Oil bath trailer hubs? - The Hull Truth

Thrasher · 03-13-2005, 05:41 PM

I saw these in a magazine and they are produced by Tie Down Eng. I haven't been able to find any information as to whether they are any good or not so I thought I'd see if someone here has any experience with them. Thanks for any info.

Mike

MDT · 03-13-2005, 05:53 PM

Mike,
I suggest that you look through the threads on Oil Bath, Liqua Lub, or Turbo Lub. There are lots of info and opinions on them. I have Liqua Lubs on a tandem axle 30' EZ Loader. I load in saltwater and it is hell on bearings. Since I went to the oil bath, I have had no problems and have not changed a set of bearings (going on 3rd year for a 6 yr old trailer).
MDT

Thrasher · 03-13-2005, 08:39 PM

Thanks

dave t1 · 03-17-2005, 01:08 PM

Stay away from oil bath, POSI-LUBE only way to go. Oil bath is even worse than bearing buddy eaters.

rwidman · 03-17-2005, 01:23 PM

I believe it's a good idea but the implementation has not been perfected yet, at least on those marketed for boat trailers. I have read stories of the oil leaking out through the seals. Another thing that would worry me is the damage that would be done very quickly if the plastic oil filled part fell off or was damaged by a rock or by hitting a post or curb.

If you were to lose containment on greased bearings the grease would remain for quite a while. Oil would run out very quickly leaving nothing lubricating the bearings.

KevinM · 03-17-2005, 02:11 PM

Here in lies the problem, once you have an established leak and you do any high speed trailering your lubrication is gone. At least with grease it takes quit a lot to loose all lubrication. If a seal goes on the liquid lube your oil will be gone in no time at all. You also face thje facts that hubs used in salt water corrode to some extent, which could cause a sealing issue. With grease the nature of it's properties to adhere and not leak out as quick should provide you enough lubrication and bearing protection until you notice it. Of which you should inspect for grease being thrown out on the rear of the wheel on a regular basis. Those that loose bearings with a grease system have waited to long to notice a seal issue or never looked for the tell tale signs under inspection. If you inspect and on occassion pump up the hubs, you will not loose a bearing.

cclancer · 03-17-2005, 02:33 PM

MDT sez..
Since I went to the oil bath, I have had no problems and have not changed a set of bearings (going on 3rd year for a 6 yr old trailer).
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Rwidman sez...
I believe it's a good idea but the implementation has not been perfected yet, at least on those marketed for boat trailers
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Fact is the 53 foot semi-trailers loaded with up to 45,000 pounds are all running oil bath, dirt, sand, rain, calcium chloride, submersion in water, debris on the highway and they can last 100's of thousands of miles. It just will take a while to catch on with the boat trailer buyers.

diverdor · 03-17-2005, 02:42 PM

Quote:

cclancer - 3/17/2005 2:33 PM

MDT sez..
Since I went to the oil bath, I have had no problems and have not changed a set of bearings (going on 3rd year for a 6 yr old trailer).
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Rwidman sez...
I believe it's a good idea but the implementation has not been perfected yet, at least on those marketed for boat trailers
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Fact is the 53 foot semi-trailers loaded with up to 45,000 pounds are all running oil bath, dirt, sand, rain, calcium chloride, submersion in water, debris on the highway and they can last 100's of thousands of miles. It just will take a while to catch on with the boat trailer buyers.

Fact is when we are willing to spend $145 per assembly for the quality of hubs referenced then OB hubs may catch on

.

Afishinado · 03-17-2005, 02:44 PM

cclancer sez...

Fact is the 53 foot semi-trailers loaded with up to 45,000 pounds are all running oil bath, dirt, sand, rain, calcium chloride, submersion in water, debris on the highway and they can last 100's of thousands of miles. It just will take a while to catch on with the boat trailer buyers.

Agreed.... When they mak a stainless bushing for the seal to ride on, and a hub that is held on as well as the ones you are talking about on the big rigs. Until then, it's Super-Lubes for me.

cclancer · 03-17-2005, 02:48 PM

Fact is when we are willing to spend $145 per assembly for the quality of hubs referenced then OB hubs may catch on .
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$145.00 would buy a lot of tubes of grease.

rwidman · 03-17-2005, 03:45 PM

Quote:

$145.00 would buy a lot of tubes of grease.

It's not the cost of the grease, its the reliability and peace of mind Not having to maintain the bearings other than topping off the oil and knowing that they are being lubricated and unlikely to fail would be well worth $145.00 to me.

When they start making quality oil bath bearings for boat trailers I'll be waiting in line to buy them. Until then ... spindle lube.

painless · 03-17-2005, 05:27 PM

I have a triple axle loadmaster trailer that came with the oil bath hubs, the problem is when you trailer a good distance the axle gets hot , then when you submerse in water they get water intrusion, oil gets milky and begin to leak. when i called loadmaster they told me to take off the caps and fill the hubs with grease and put the caps back on. They told me they are no longer putting the oil lube on their trailers. I dont know if that is fact or they just did not want to replace six oil lubes hubs

jimg1 · 03-17-2005, 05:43 PM

I've been using Turbo-Lube's on my Donzi's trailer for 2 years. Love 'em. No problems at all, hubs stay really cool on the hiway. No water intrusion at all. Paid 50 bucks each at Boaters World.

Jim

lazydawg · 03-19-2005, 05:56 PM

We're hauling around, Skidsteers, Loaders, Bulldozers and other equipment around all year (me only in summer) to construction sites through mud, water, snow, salt and all our trailers use oil bath with better reliability than grease that heat up and suck water in during cool down if left in a puddle or mud hole.
I had Oil Bath on a RangerTrail trailer and put over 11k miles with nary an issue.
From a relibility issue they seem to be very good, but like everything else the issue of cost and how much use your trailer IMO should be a determining factor as good ol greased bearing have been around a long time and are pretty reliable it kept up.

sharkfisher · 03-19-2005, 08:09 PM

Iam a tractor trailer mechanic when I started 16 years ago we used all oil bath hubs problem is when seals leak bearings burn up 5 years ago we switched to synthetic grease ,seals still leak but the truck will still make it to destination with no roadcalls big plus in trucking business. I would definately stick with grease. My boat trailer I pull hubs ones a year clean & repack bearings & check brakes never had a problem.

KevinM · 03-21-2005, 08:45 AM

Fact - Large trucks that use these oil bath hubs don't submerse the trailer in saltwater and suffer corrosion like boat trailer hubs! Fact!