The Ultimate Guide to Trailer Bearing Buddies: Ensuing Safe and Smooth Travels

Introduction

Trailer bearing buddies play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and longevity of your trailer's wheel bearings. These devices help distribute grease evenly to the bearings, preventing them from overheating and wearing out prematurely. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bearing failures account for over 80% of trailer accidents.

This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information you need to select, install, and maintain trailer bearing buddies. We'll cover the following topics:

• What are trailer bearing buddies?
• Why are trailer bearing buddies important?
• How to choose the right trailer bearing buddies
• How to install trailer bearing buddies
• How to maintain trailer bearing buddies
• Tips and tricks
• Common mistakes to avoid

What are Trailer Bearing Buddies?

Trailer bearing buddies are small, cylindrical devices that fit over the trailer's wheel bearings. They have a reservoir that holds grease and a spring-loaded piston that forces the grease into the bearings as the wheel rotates. This continuous lubrication prevents the bearings from overheating and wearing out.

Why are Trailer Bearing Buddies Important?

Trailer bearing buddies are essential for several reasons:

• Prevent bearing failure: As mentioned earlier, bearing failures are a major cause of trailer accidents. Trailer bearing buddies help prevent this by keeping the bearings properly lubricated.
• Extend bearing life: Properly lubricated bearings will last significantly longer than bearings that are not lubricated. Trailer bearing buddies help extend the life of your trailer's bearings, saving you money in the long run.
• Improve safety: Bearing failures can cause the trailer to lose control, which can lead to accidents. Trailer bearing buddies help improve safety by preventing bearing failures.
• Reduce maintenance costs: Regular maintenance of trailer bearing buddies is much less expensive than replacing failed bearings.

How to Choose the Right Trailer Bearing Buddies

When choosing trailer bearing buddies, there are a few factors to consider:

• Trailer weight: The weight of your trailer will determine the size of the bearing buddies you need.
• Bearing size: The size of your trailer's bearings will also determine the size of the bearing buddies you need.
• Type of grease: The type of grease you use in your bearing buddies will also affect their performance.

It is important to consult your trailer's owner's manual to determine the correct size and type of bearing buddies for your specific trailer.

How to Install Trailer Bearing Buddies

Installing trailer bearing buddies is a relatively simple process that can be completed in a few hours. The following steps will guide you through the process:

1. Gather your materials. You will need the following materials:
   • Trailer bearing buddies
   • Grease gun
   • Grease
   • Rags
   • Safety glasses
2. Prepare the trailer. Chock the wheels of the trailer and disconnect the trailer from the tow vehicle.
3. Remove the old bearing buddies. Use a wrench to loosen the bolts that hold the old bearing buddies in place. Once the bolts are loose, remove the bearing buddies from the trailer.
4. Clean the bearing surface. Use a rag to clean the bearing surface of the trailer. Remove any dirt, grease, or debris.
5. Apply grease to the bearing surface. Use a grease gun to apply a thin layer of grease to the bearing surface.
6. Install the new bearing buddies. Place the new bearing buddies over the bearings and tighten the bolts to secure them in place.
7. Fill the bearing buddies with grease. Use a grease gun to fill the bearing buddies with grease. Be sure to fill them until the grease starts to come out of the relief hole.
8. Reattach the trailer to the tow vehicle. Reconnect the trailer to the tow vehicle and remove the wheel chocks.

How to Maintain Trailer Bearing Buddies

Trailer bearing buddies require minimal maintenance. However, it is important to inspect them regularly and refill them with grease as needed. Here are some tips for maintaining trailer bearing buddies:

• Inspect the bearing buddies regularly. Inspect the bearing buddies for any signs of damage or wear. If you see any cracks, leaks, or other damage, replace the bearing buddies immediately.
• Refill the bearing buddies with grease. The bearing buddies should be refilled with grease every 10,000 miles, or more frequently if you are towing in harsh conditions. To refill the bearing buddies, simply use a grease gun to inject grease into the reservoir until the grease starts to come out of the relief hole.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks for using trailer bearing buddies:

• Use high-quality grease. The type of grease you use in your bearing buddies will affect their performance. Be sure to use a high-quality grease that is specifically designed for trailer bearings.
• Inspect the bearing buddies regularly. Regular inspection of the bearing buddies will help you identify any potential problems early on.
• Refill the bearing buddies with grease as needed. It is important to keep the bearing buddies filled with grease to ensure proper lubrication of the bearings.
• Replace the bearing buddies if they are damaged. If the bearing buddies are damaged, they should be replaced immediately.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using trailer bearing buddies:

• Using the wrong size bearing buddies. Using the wrong size bearing buddies can damage the bearings and lead to premature failure.
• Overfilling the bearing buddies with grease. Overfilling the bearing buddies with grease can cause the grease to leak out, which can attract dirt and debris.
• Not inspecting the bearing buddies regularly. Regular inspection of the bearing buddies is essential for identifying any potential problems early on.
• Not refilling the bearing buddies with grease as needed. Keeping the bearing buddies filled with grease is essential for proper lubrication of the bearings.
• Replacing the bearing buddies if they are not damaged. If the bearing buddies are not damaged, there is no need to replace them.

Conclusion

Trailer bearing buddies are an essential safety device that helps protect your trailer's wheel bearings from overheating and wearing out. By following the tips and advice in this guide, you can ensure that your trailer bearing buddies are properly installed and maintained, which will help keep your trailer running safely and smoothly for years to come.

Tables

Table 1: Trailer Bearing Buddy Sizes

Table 2: Types of Trailer Bearing Grease

Table 3: Trailer Bearing Buddy Maintenance Schedule