Who makes the best trailer hubs?

squirm88 · 06-10-2009, 05:44 PM

I'm thinking of replacing all four hubs on my trailer. They are currently in working condition but since I purchased the trailer used I do not know what if any maintenance was performed on them. So in order to trust my trailer on a long road trip I would like to install some new hub kits.

I started to shop around and I am not sure who makes the best hub kits. Can you guys recommend some reliable hub kits and where to buy them?

Also my trailer is a '97 Continental dual axle bunk trailer. It currently has 5 lug hubs and carries and Contender 25. How do I know what size hub I should go with and that it will work with the wheels I currently have?

DFreedom · 06-11-2009, 09:00 AM

I bought HD galvanized 5-lug hubs w/bearings, seals, etc. from Champion Trailer Parts and so far have been happy with them. You will probably have to take the hubs off and look at the bearings to know exactly what size to order unless the manf. can provide that info.

mrfritz44 · 06-12-2009, 03:39 AM

I'm sure these aren't the absolute best, but the Superlube hubs on my trailer are easy as pie maintain. Every few trips I pump 40 or so times on the grease gun and replace the rubber cap. Once a year I put her on blocks and spin the wheel as I pump a whole tube of new grease into the bearings. You can see the old stuff come out the front of the hub and you know when you've done enough.

harley'sboat · 06-12-2009, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfritz44

I'm sure these aren't the absolute best, but the Superlube hubs on my trailer are easy as pie maintain. Every few trips I pump 40 or so times on the grease gun and replace the rubber cap. Once a year I put her on blocks and spin the wheel as I pump a whole tube of new grease into the bearings. You can see the old stuff come out the front of the hub and you know when you've done enough.

if you are pumping that much grease every "few trips" you may have a damaged seal!

cheesegrits · 06-12-2009, 07:51 AM

On a superlube (or acculube like mine) spindle you have a grease fitting on the end of the spindle. When you pump grease into the fitting it comes out back inside the spindle just outboard of the inner seal through a couple of supply holes. As you pump grease in the new grease pushes the old contaminated grease out the front of the hub where you just wipe it off. I really like this design as in the past I have been known to pump way too much grease into a bearing buddy system and blow the back seal out!

Cracker · 06-12-2009, 08:00 AM

The super lube is a dream as far as keeping new grease in. It does not blow the rear seal like other systems...

mjkten · 06-12-2009, 08:18 AM

Do the super lube spindles care what hubs are mounted? If you don't have the super lube style spindles, you can't do that easy grease maintenance. Am I missing something?

jhsiv · 06-15-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheesegrits

On a superlube (or acculube like mine) spindle you have a grease fitting on the end of the spindle. When you pump grease into the fitting it comes out back inside the spindle just outboard of the inner seal through a couple of supply holes. As you pump grease in the new grease pushes the old contaminated grease out the front of the hub where you just wipe it off. I really like this design as in the past I have been known to pump way too much grease into a bearing buddy system and blow the back seal out!

What he said

Afishinado · 06-16-2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrfritz44

I'm sure these aren't the absolute best, but the Superlube hubs on my trailer are easy as pie maintain. Every few trips I pump 40 or so times on the grease gun and replace the rubber cap. Once a year I put her on blocks and spin the wheel as I pump a whole tube of new grease into the bearings. You can see the old stuff come out the front of the hub and you know when you've done enough.

"You can see the old stuff come out the front of the hub and you know when you've done enough"
Actually, you need to use almost an entire grease cartridge to change ALL the grease in each hub, if you see new grease before that (like at the halfway point) you have a blockage and need to pull it apart. I have been using these now for 8 seasons on two tandem axle trailers that I've pulled NJ-FL every year. I think they are the best thing since sliced bread!

Squirm, FWIW... If I were you and can't or won't inspect them thoroughly, I would have a good trailer shop go over those hubs'n'bearings and spend my money on something I know needs it, or something more funner than new trailer hubs!

rwidman · 06-19-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirm88

I'm thinking of replacing all four hubs on my trailer. They are currently in working condition but since I purchased the trailer used I do not know what if any maintenance was performed on them. So in order to trust my trailer on a long road trip I would like to install some new hub kits.

I started to shop around and I am not sure who makes the best hub kits. Can you guys recommend some reliable hub kits and where to buy them?

Also my trailer is a '97 Continental dual axle bunk trailer. It currently has 5 lug hubs and carries and Contender 25. How do I know what size hub I should go with and that it will work with the wheels I currently have?

If you have a dual axle trailer, you most certainly have brakes on at least one of the axles. hopefully both. The hubs are part of the brakes so you're going to have to find out if you have drum or disc brakes. The "hub" is part of the drum on drum brakes and part of the rotor on disc brakes.

The "hub" is really nothing more than a hole that the bearing sits in so there's no routine maintenance required. If the drumor rotor has been damaged that's another story but it would be rare for all four drums or rotors to suffer damage. Thes parts typically last the life of the trailer.

Bearings and brakes, on the other hand, do require routine maintenance. Either study up on the subject or pay a pro to do it for you. The pro may let you watch and ask questions so you can do it next time or he (she) may not. There are videos on the Internet on the subject but you'll have to search unless someone else comes along with a link.