Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-01-2010, 07:01 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
cardinal4fun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Eastern Iowa
Posts: 314
Grease Wheel Bearing Questions

I asked the local rv dealer on the cost of greasing the bearings. I was given a price of $240.00 for the 4 wheels that includes everything but new bearings.

Is this a fair price?
5th wheel is an 08 two years since last grease what are the odds of bad bearings?
Is this really something that can be done in the driveway?

Thanks
__________________
3500 Ram 5.9l diesel
08 35 RLT Cardinal
5th Airborne Pin Box
cardinal4fun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2010, 07:54 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
NWJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Enumclaw, WA
Posts: 2,615
Quote:
Originally Posted by cardinal4fun View Post
I asked the local rv dealer on the cost of greasing the bearings. I was given a price of $240.00 for the 4 wheels that includes everything but new bearings.

Is this a fair price?
5th wheel is an 08 two years since last grease what are the odds of bad bearings?
Is this really something that can be done in the driveway?

Thanks
I don't know what is usual but I checked all 4 sets on my boat trailer this last year and greased them myself. Cost me about $25 for new caps and grease and it wasn't all that hard to do. I would think that for $240 they should be giving you new bearings as they aren't all that expensive, or at least washing and waxing your rig for you
__________________
"I can fix it, and if I can't fix it, I can fix it so no one can fix it!"
Ed & Wendy
2009 Georgetown 378TS | 1998 Jeep Wrangler | 1998 Skeeter ZX202C
Nights camped in 2009: 53 | Nights camped in 2010: 55
www.nwjeepn.com
NWJeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-01-2010, 08:08 PM   #3
Grape Escape
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 774
How often do you repack your truck bearings and am sure you put many more miles on the TV?
A lot depends on amount of towing and having had 5 trailer boats over 20 years I never had a bearing failure by just adding grease to nipples.
Seems like alot of money unless they do complete manual disassembly and repack which could take 1-2 hrs
__________________
2008 Cardinal 30RKLE 5th wheel sold
2006 Rockwood 2607, 2001 Traillite
55 nights 2009, 53 for 2010
44 for 2011, 38 for 2012, 35 for 2013, 51 for 2014
dezolen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 12:37 AM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Posts: 2,381
Labor charge for the front-end of a rear wheel drive car used to be one hour labor to remove, clean, inspect, repack, front wheel bearings, and install new grease seals. Assuming you can pick up the trailer, one side at a time, I would think 2 hours labor would be about max. Cost would involve $2.00 worth of grease total, and new seals, about $5.00 per wheel. Price sounds high, and yes you can do it in your driveway, just know that packing a wheel bearing in more than rubbing grease on it. Boat people have a lot of concern because they regularly submerse their axles and bearings in water. Cost would depend on labor rate, so I would ask, "What is your labor rate?" By the way, about 4 hours driveway time.
__________________
LadyWindrider
2012 Ford F250 ext. Cab 4x4
2002 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2008 Yamaha V-Star 650 Classic

2008 Work and Play 18LT
LadyWindrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 06:59 AM   #5
Commercial Member
 
huntr70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 435
The price is about average of what the shop would charge.

2 hours labor at $100/hour, and the parts to do it.

It really depends on whether you want to be bothered to do it yourself or not.
__________________
Steve and Vicki
2 kids
2011 Dodge 3500 CTD Outdoorsman
(Tweaked!!)
2013 Columbus 320RS-ITS HERE!!
huntr70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 08:34 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
kvtaylor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Dahlgren VA
Posts: 317
When we were towing a Montana 5th wheel, I used to use Camping World pack my bearings each year when we wintered in Florida. They were quite reasonable. On my boat trailer, I use the bearing buddies each time I come out of the water. And pack them once every other year myself. The bearings are normally ok, but use new seals everytime you pull the bearings to pack. A damaged seal will cause dirt and water in our case.
__________________


Ken and Velda
Dahlgren, VA.
2008 Georgetown XL 378
2010 Ford Escape Limited
kvtaylor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 08:44 AM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 29
Packing bearings is very easy to do. I've always done all of my own trailers and have not had any problems. If you have questions on whether or not you bearings are still ok or not simply replace. They are cheap enough that if I question them I replace them. Even if you have never done it before you should be looking at a maximum of 4 hours of drive way time. That allows time for head scratching, usually involved in most things I do the first time, and a cup of coffee. There are several sites on line that show exactly how to pack a wheel bearing. Good luck and have fun with your rigs maintenance.
__________________
2011 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8317rkss to come
2011 Ford F350 6.7 Diesel
2004 Honda VFR 800
2005 Brute Force 750
And most importantly, a loving wife, 2 year old son and a NEW BABY GIRL NOV.30 (I do it all for them!)
rigger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 11:17 AM   #8
Site Team
 
KyDan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 10,518
So where do you guys BUY your bearings and seals when
you replace them?
Local? -- auto parts or RV service desk?
Online? Where?

And IMO $250 is a little steep but not out of range if
they are doing it right.
That means complete removal of the hubs,
clean out of the hub and washing the bearings or replacing them,
checking and cleaning brakes. Not just brake shoes but good visual
inspection of all electric brake components (wires, coils, gap etc...)
and putting it all back with new seals and plenty of grease.

I will likely do mine this spring in my driveway but I'm retired
baby!!

(That $250 will seem like chump change one
day when you pass some unlucky RVer stuck on the
side of the road with a burned up spindle and his wheel
off in the weeds somewhere!)
__________________
Peace!
Dan & Rita D
2017 Nissan Titan 5.6L King cab 4wd
2016 Evergreen Everlite 242RBS
29' empty nest model. Blue Ox WD hitch
(1 queen bed, large main cabin and huge bathroom)
Camping days 2010-53, 2011-47, 2012-41, 2013-41, 2014-31, 2015-40, 2016-44, 2017-63, 2018-75, 2019-32, 2020-41, 2021-49, 2022-43, 2023-66
KyDan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 11:48 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
NWJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Enumclaw, WA
Posts: 2,615
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post
So where do you guys BUY your bearings and seals when
you replace them?
Local? -- auto parts or RV service desk?
Online? Where?
I usually buy a quality bearing like Timken where ever they are cheapest. Usually that isn't the RV supply store. We are lucky enough to have a place nearby that does custom metal fabrication but they also stock lots of trailer gear and have the bearings, caps, etc for real cheap. Northern Tool also stocks the bearing kits.
__________________
"I can fix it, and if I can't fix it, I can fix it so no one can fix it!"
Ed & Wendy
2009 Georgetown 378TS | 1998 Jeep Wrangler | 1998 Skeeter ZX202C
Nights camped in 2009: 53 | Nights camped in 2010: 55
www.nwjeepn.com
NWJeeper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 12:43 PM   #10
Moderator Emeritus
 
MtnGuy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley of Virginia
Posts: 9,280
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyDan View Post
So where do you guys BUY your bearings and seals when
you replace them?
Local? -- auto parts or RV service desk?
Online? Where?
I have a local non-camper trailer dealer nearby that stocks a lot of different seals and bearings. The seals cost $2.50 ea. The back seals need to be replaced every time that you remove the back bearings, or at the least the way I destroy the seal. Unless the bearings and races show unusual wear or pitting, they should be go for a long time when properly greased.
__________________

Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
MtnGuy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-02-2010, 04:57 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 126
I have my bearing repacked every two years, at a local trailer shop (non-rv) for $100 plus parts. I would and have done it before but its a little me and home plumbing on the week end (5 trips to the hardware store and still don't have the right parst)
__________________

Life is something to do when you've finished breakfast
Chuck & Margie
Both Retired
08 2500HD Silverado 6.6L Duramax
Flagstaff 829fkss
Round Mound of Sound is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:49 PM.