Greasing Camper Bearings: A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners

Camper bearings are an essential component of any camper vehicle, allowing the wheels to spin freely and carry the weight of the camper. They need to be lubricated regularly to ensure they operate at their best capacity. This process of regreasing is known as repacking, and it is an important part of camper maintenance. Repacking camper bearings can be done at home, but it is a complex and dirty process that requires a lot of tools and time. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to grease camper bearings.

How to access camper bearings

To access your camper bearings, you'll first need to remove the wheel. Use an impact wrench to remove all the lug nuts, then slide the wheel off and set it aside. Once the wheel is off, you can remove the dust cap with a pair of channel locks or a flathead screwdriver.

With the dust cap off, you'll see the spindle and castle nut (or spindle nut), as well as a cotter pin inserted through the spindle. Straighten out the end of the cotter pin and remove it with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Then, take out the castle nut from the spindle.

Now, you can remove the hub from the spindle. Place it with the wheel studs facing up on a stable surface. To remove the inner bearing and grease seal, you can use a wooden dowel and a mallet to tap them out, or you may be able to pry the grease seal up with a flathead screwdriver and remove the inner bearing by hand.

At this point, you will have access to the camper bearings and can proceed with cleaning, inspecting, and repacking with fresh grease.

How to clean camper bearings

Cleaning your camper bearings is an essential part of maintaining your camper. The bearings support the weight of your trailer and ensure the wheels spin properly, so keeping them clean and lubricated is vital. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to clean your camper bearings:

Step 1: Remove the Wheel and Dust Cap

Use a wrench or a tire iron to remove the lug nuts and set them aside. Then, remove the wheel from the rod and set it aside. Next, use a screwdriver or channel locks to remove the dust cap. You may need to wiggle it up and down to loosen it.

Step 2: Remove the Spindle Nut and Cotter Pin

With the dust cap removed, you will see the spindle nut and cotter pin. Straighten out the cotter pin with needle-nose pliers and pull it out. Then, remove the spindle nut with your fingers or a screwdriver.

Step 3: Remove the Hub and Bearings

If your model has a nut and washer, loosen and remove them. Then, jiggle the hub to loosen the outer bearing and remove it by hand. Pull the hub off the spindle and place it with the wheel studs facing up. To remove the inner bearing and grease seal, tap them out with a wooden dowel and a hammer, or pry the grease seal with a flathead screwdriver.

Step 4: Soak and Clean the Bearings

Soak the bearings, spindle nut, and castle nut in a small pan of kerosene, acetone, or mineral spirits for about 10 minutes. This will help to remove any grease and dirt. Wipe them with a clean rag to remove any remaining grease and inspect them for damage.

Step 5: Clean the Races

While the bearings are soaking, clean the inner and outer races by wiping away any visible grease with a clean rag. Inspect them for any damage such as pits, dents, or scratches.

Step 6: Dry and Repack the Bearings

Wipe down the bearings and spindle nut with brake cleaner and allow them to dry. Then, repack the bearings with new grease. Scoop a generous amount of grease with your fingers and manually push it into the bearings, rotating the rollers to ensure they are thoroughly coated.

Step 7: Reassemble the Hub and Wheel

Replace the grease seal, inner bearing, outer bearing, washer (if applicable), castle nut, cotter pin, and dust cap. Tap the grease seal gently with a wooden mallet to ensure it sits flush. Reattach the hub to the axle spindle and slide the wheel back onto the rod. Tighten the lug nuts and lower the car jacks.

Step 8: Repeat for All Wheels

Repeat this process for each of the wheels on your camper, following the recommended maintenance schedule for your vehicle.

Remember to always chock the wheels and use jack stands to support the trailer before removing any wheels. Additionally, always refer to your camper's user manual for specific instructions and torque specifications.

How to grease camper bearings

Greasing your camper bearings is an important part of camper maintenance. The grease in your hubs keeps everything moving around freely. If the grease isn't checked regularly and properly maintained, increased friction can cause your wheel bearings to overheat and seize.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to grease your camper bearings:

Step 1: Accessing the Bearings

Before you begin, make sure you have the necessary tools, including a car jack, heavy-duty wheel chocks, a jack stand, a wrench or tire iron, a screwdriver, needle-nose pliers, a wooden dowel, a hammer, and clean rags or newspaper.

Start by chocking the wheels and placing a jack stand on either side of the wheel. Crank them up until the wheel is no longer touching the ground. Test the sturdiness of the jacks by wiggling the trailer with your body weight to ensure they are secure.

Next, loosen the lug nuts and remove the wheel from the trailer using a wrench or tire iron. If the lug nuts are rusted, spray them with a thread loosener and let them sit for a few minutes before trying again. If the tire is stuck, use a mallet to gently tap along the edge where the rim and tire meet until it comes loose.

With the wheel removed, you can now access the dust cap. Use a screwdriver to pop it loose by wiggling the tip between the hub and the lip of the dust cap. Remove the dust cap and set it aside.

Step 2: Removing the Bearings

With the dust cap removed, you will see the spindle and castle nut (also known as the spindle nut). There will also be a cotter pin inserted through the spindle, which needs to be removed with needle-nose pliers. Straighten out the end of the cotter pin and pull it out, then remove the castle nut.

You may also need to remove a washer, depending on your camper model. Jiggle the hub slightly to loosen the outer bearing, which you can usually remove by hand. Set all the removed parts aside in a clean container.

To remove the inner bearing and grease seal, pull the hub off the spindle and place it with the wheel studs facing up on a stable surface. Use a wooden dowel and a hammer to gently tap the bearing and grease seal out from the front of the hub. You can also try prying the grease seal up with a flathead screwdriver and removing the inner bearing by hand.

Place the inner bearing with the outer bearing, castle nut, and washer (if applicable) in a clean container. Discard the old grease seal and replace it with a new one. You can find replacement seals at auto parts stores or online.

Step 3: Cleaning the Bearings

Before repacking the bearings with new grease, it's important to clean them thoroughly. Start by wiping them down with paper towels or clean rags to remove excess grease. Inspect the bearings for any signs of damage, including pitting, scratches, excessive wear, or discoloration. If there are any issues, discard the bearings and purchase replacement bearings.

If the bearings are in good condition, clean them with a solvent such as acetone or mineral spirits. Soak the bearings in the solvent for about an hour, then wipe them down with a dry paper towel and allow them to air dry. You can also use a brake cleaner for extra cleaning.

Step 4: Repacking the Bearings

Now it's time to repack the bearings with new grease. Wear rubber gloves to avoid getting grease on your hands. Scoop a generous amount of grease into the palm of your hand and use your fingers to push it into the bearings. Rotate the rollers as you go, ensuring that all parts are thoroughly coated. You can use a bearing packing tool or do this by hand.

Some recommended greases include Lucas Oil 10320 Multipurpose Marine Grease, Sta-Lube SL3121 Wheel Bearing Grease, and Star Brite Wheel Bearing Grease.

Step 5: Reassembling the Hub

Once the bearings are repacked, it's time to reassemble the hub. Place the newly packed inner bearing into its place in the hub, then install the new grease seal and gently tap it with a wooden mallet until it sits flush. Wipe off any excess grease.

Before putting the hub back on, clean and inspect the spindle for any debris or damage. Grease the outer race and slide the hub back onto the spindle, being careful not to damage the grease seal. Slide the outer bearing into place and replace the washer if applicable.

Thread the castle nut onto the end of the spindle and tighten it until it becomes snug. Rock the hub and push it in to ensure it is fully seated, then tighten the nut again if necessary. You can now put the wheel back on the hub and tighten the lug nuts.

Finally, insert the cotter pin and bend the end to lock it into place. Replace the dust cap, and your camper bearings are now greased and ready to go!

The frequency of greasing your camper bearings depends on the size of your trailer. For larger trailers, it is recommended to grease the bearings every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. For smaller trailers with smaller wheels that spin faster, you'll need to grease the bearings more frequently, typically every 2,000 miles.

How to reassemble after greasing camper bearings

Now that you've cleaned and greased your camper bearings, it's time to reassemble everything. This process will be much easier if you took pictures as you disassembled the wheel.

First, put the inner bearing you finished cleaning back on the hub after turning your wheel over. Making sure the rubber side is facing inward, put the new grease seal in the hub. Use a thin piece of wood to tap the seal and make sure it's flat against the surface of the hub. Add more grease over the lip of the grease seal when it's in the right spot.

Next, put your hub back on the axle spindle, making sure you replace each part in the opposite order of how you removed them. Apply grease over the castellated nut and place it over its tab, tightening the tab by hand. Then click it into place, making sure not to over-tighten it. Tighten the nut and place the cap over the wheel hub.

Behind your wheel hub is a rubber cover that exposes a notched star wheel when it's removed. Using a flathead screwdriver, turn the wheel in the star wheel grooves until there's complete resistance, then rotate the wheel backward one notch at a time until there is free movement.

Finally, put the wheel back on the rod and screw the lug nuts back on with a wrench or tire iron. Once it is secured, you can lower the car jacks and move on to the next tire.

How often to grease camper bearings

How frequently you should grease your camper bearings depends on a few factors. Firstly, it depends on the size of your camper. Larger campers with bigger wheels will need to be greased less often than smaller campers with smaller wheels. This is because smaller wheels spin faster, which puts more stress on the bearings. As a general rule, larger campers should have their bearings greased every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. Smaller campers, on the other hand, may need to be greased as often as every 2,000 miles.

It's also important to consider how you use your camper. If you use your camper frequently, you should grease the bearings at least once a year or every 10,000 to 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you only take it out for a few short trips a year, you can get away with greasing the bearings every 2,000 miles or once a year. Additionally, if you use your camper in extreme heat or consistently at its load limit, you should consider greasing the bearings more often, as this will cause the grease to deplete more quickly.

##

Frequently asked questions