Rolling Resistance

[cdn1972]

Has anyone ever tried making towing an TT easier by replacing the standard wheel bearing grease used in auto repair shops with some of the newer high tech stuff used in industry conveyor belt driven systems and some race teams have switched too?
Seems like reducing rolling resistance would be a win win in trailer towing. Less heat, smoother wheel rotation perhaps lowering the load on the transmission of the tow vehicle. A customer of mine who runs a local race car circuit switched to a ceramic based grease two years ago and has no bearing failures (this years race circuit much shorter due to covid) but he swears the car rolls by push on the floor like its on rails.
Anyone?

[007matman]

Nope. Interested though in what others say.. I've had two failures.

Do you have examples of what they're using? Brand/Make/etc.

[cdn1972]

I do but will wait to hear others chime in. I want to think it could never hurt and over the years in Automotive we upgraded the ratings but snake oil for oils additives and such clouded real advances until the auto industry approved synthetics and semi synthetics for internal combustion use. Grease as far as automotive main frame use is still under the radar in my opinion as an automotive parts person for over 40 years. With new drive systems entering the market like direct drive or gear drive electrics one would think reducing rotating surface load would come hand in hand in the mainstream but not so far.

[cdn1972]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Nope. Interested though in what others say.. I've had two failures.

Do you have examples of what they're using? Brand/Make/etc.

What were your failures?

[babock]

Rolling resistance is a fraction of wind resistance.

My boat and travel trailer have almost identical weight. I get 13mpg with the boat and 10mpg with the travel trailer. The difference is wind resistance.

[cdn1972]

Originally Posted by babock

Rolling resistance is a fraction of wind resistance.

My boat and travel trailer have almost identical weight. I get 13mpg with the boat and 10mpg with the travel trailer. The difference is wind resistance.

I have no problem with that and agree TT disturb way more air being towed but the question is with TT can reduced rolling resistance help?

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by cdn1972

I have no problem with that and agree TT disturb way more air being towed but the question is with TT can reduced rolling resistance help?

It might help with bearing wear but I seriously doubt it would make a measurable difference in mileage.

[Sunseeker16]

I switched from conventional grease to high end synthetic on my tow dolly. The difference I noticed was the temperature of the hubs after a long haul. Barely warm now.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by cdn1972

I have no problem with that and agree TT disturb way more air being towed but the question is with TT can reduced rolling resistance help?

If it does you'll never be able to measure it.

Bearings are an inch or two in diameter and tires are over two feet in diameter. Any resistance in the bearing due to grease is overcome by the mechanical advantage created by the tire diameter vs bearing diameter.

Might be able to measure benefit in a lab but will it translate to easier towing?? Only in one's mind.