Henry Horton
Greasing the wheels on your Apache camper is an important part of maintenance that will keep your vehicle in good condition and ensure your safety on the road. The grease in your wheel bearings keeps everything moving freely, and if it isn't regularly checked and maintained, increased friction can cause your wheel bearings to overheat and seize. This could lead to costly repairs, so it's best to keep on top of bearing maintenance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often to grease | Every 10,000 miles or annually |
| Why grease | Lubrication protects wheel bearings from friction and prevents them from overheating |
| What happens if you don't grease | Increased friction can cause a wheel to seize, catch fire or depart the hub |
| Tools required | Rubber gloves, rags or paper towels, flathead screwdriver, car jack, grease gun, plastic cover, grease canister, standard car jack |
| Bearing grease type | Red high-temperature grease, Lucas Oil 10320 Multipurpose Marine Grease, Sta-Lube SL3121 Wheel Bearing Grease, Star Brite Wheel Bearing Grease |
What You'll Learn
Why it's important to grease the wheels on your Apache camper
Lubricating the wheels on your Apache camper is essential to ensure the longevity of your vehicle and the safety of your travels. Here's why it's so important:
Preventing Friction and Overheating
Greasing the wheels of your Apache camper reduces friction, allowing the wheels to spin freely and smoothly. Without lubrication, the wheel bearings can overheat and seize up. This can lead to costly repairs and unexpected breakdowns during long trips.
Protecting Against Corrosion and Contaminants
Grease acts as a protective barrier, shielding the bearing surfaces from corrosion and contaminants. By periodically replacing the grease, you can maintain the integrity of these critical components.
Ensuring Smooth and Safe Travels
Well-greased wheel bearings deliver top performance, making your travels safer and more enjoyable. It is crucial to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for greasing intervals, which are typically based on mileage or time.
Avoiding Catastrophic Failures
Neglecting to grease your Apache camper's wheel bearings can have severe consequences. If left unattended for too long, the increased friction can cause a wheel to seize, catch fire, or even detach from the hub. Regular greasing helps prevent such catastrophic failures.
Maintaining Your Investment
Your Apache camper is an investment, and proper maintenance is key to preserving its value. By taking the time to grease the wheel bearings, you can extend the lifespan of your camper and ensure it remains in good working condition for years to come.
Mastering the Art of Stealth: Evade, Strike, Vanquish
You may want to see also
How to remove the wheel and access the bearings
To remove the wheel and access the bearings of your Apache camper, follow these steps:
First, lift the trailer with a car jack to safely access the wheels. Chock the wheels by setting heavy wedge-shaped blocks in front of each wheel to prevent the trailer from rolling while you work. Place a jack stand on either side of the wheel and crank them up until the wheel is no longer touching the ground. Ensure the jacks are sturdy by wiggling the trailer with your body weight to confirm they stay in place.
Next, use a wrench or tire iron to loosen and remove the lug nuts. Pull the wheel off the rod towards you and set it aside. If the lug nuts are rusted, spray them with a thread loosener and wait 2-3 minutes before trying again. If the tire is stuck on the rod, bang a mallet along the rim's edge to loosen it.
Now, remove the dust cap with a screwdriver. Wriggle the tip of the screwdriver between the hub and the lip of the dust cap and work it around the edge until the cap pops loose.
With the dust cap removed, you'll see the spindle and castle nut (or spindle nut), as well as a cotter pin inserted through the spindle. Straighten the cotter pin with a pair of needle-nose pliers and pull it out. Remove the castle nut with your fingers or a screwdriver.
Some models may have a nut and washer; if so, loosen and remove them. Jiggle the hub to remove it from the spindle and set it aside on a clean surface.
The trailer bearings are inside the hub. To remove them, use a wooden dowel and a hammer to tap the bearing and grease seal out from the front of the hub. Set the bearing and grease seal aside. If the bearing is dry, you may be able to push it out by hand or use a screwdriver to pry it out. If the seal is rusty, use WD-40 or a similar product to loosen it.
Now that you've removed the wheel and accessed the bearings, you can proceed with cleaning and repacking the bearings with new grease.
Venting for Pop-Up Campers: Drainage Solution
You may want to see also
Cleaning the bearings
To clean the bearings of your Apache camper wheels, you'll first need to remove the wheels. 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 be able to access the spindle and castle nut, as well as the cotter pin. Straighten out the end of the cotter pin with a pair of needle-nose pliers and pull it out, then remove the castle nut. Now, jiggle the hub slightly to loosen the outer bearing, which you can then remove by hand.
At this point, you should be able to pull the hub off the spindle and place it with the wheel studs facing up on a stable surface. You can then use a wooden dowel and a mallet to tap the inner bearing and grease seal out of the hub. Alternatively, you may be able to pry the grease seal up with a flathead screwdriver and remove the inner bearing by hand.
Once the inner bearing and grease seal have been removed, you can place them with the outer bearing and castle nut in a clean container. You'll want to discard the old grease seal and replace it with a new one. Now, it's time to clean your bearings.
Start by wiping down the bearings and castle nut with paper towels to remove any excess grease. As you wipe them down, inspect the bearings for any signs of damage, including pitting, scratches, excessive wear, discolouration, nicks in the roller, and dents in the roller cage. If you notice any damage, discard the bearings and purchase replacement bearings.
If your bearings are in good condition, you can clean them with a solvent such as acetone or mineral spirits. Soak the bearings and castle nut in the solvent for about an hour, then wipe them down with a dry paper towel and allow them to dry. While the bearings are soaking, you can inspect and clean the inner and outer races in the same way, wiping away any excess grease and checking for damage.
Once your bearings are clean and dry, you can repack them with a high-quality grease. Place a glob of grease in your palm and use the wide end of the bearing to scoop it up, turning and scooping until the bearing is completely filled with grease. Repeat this process on the other end of the bearing, then place the newly packed inner bearing back into its place in the hub.
That's it! You've now cleaned and repacked the bearings on one of your Apache camper wheels. Repeat the process for the remaining wheels, and your Apache camper will be ready to hit the road again.
Spacious VW Camper Van: How Many Seats?
You may want to see also
Repacking the bearings with new grease
Step 1: Prepare the Work Area and Gather Tools
Before you begin, ensure you have a clean and organised workspace. You will need the following tools and materials: an adjustable wrench, a socket set, a flat-head screwdriver, a hammer, a jack, jack stands, needle-nose pliers, clean rags, kerosene, penetrating fluids, a small pan, bearing grease, brake cleaner, and gloves.
Step 2: Remove the Wheel and Hub Assembly
Park your camper on a level surface and chock the wheels to prevent any movement. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel, then lift the wheel off the ground using a jack. Ensure the trailer is supported by jack stands, then remove the wheel by pulling it straight out. With the wheel removed, you will have access to the hub assembly.
Step 3: Disassemble the Hub
Use a flat-head screwdriver to pry off the dust cap. Remove the cotter pin and spindle nut that secure the hub in place. You may need to use needle-nose pliers to straighten and remove the cotter pin. Carefully slide the hub and drum assembly off the spindle. You should now see the inner and outer bearings and the grease seal.
Step 4: Remove and Clean the Bearings
To remove the bearings, carefully tap them out from the front of the hub using a wooden dowel and a hammer. Place the bearings in a clean and safe location. Soak the bearings in a small pan filled with kerosene for about 10 minutes to remove any old grease. Alternatively, you can use acetone or mineral spirits for this step. After soaking, wipe down the bearings with brake cleaner and allow them to dry.
Step 5: Inspect and Replace the Grease Seal
It is recommended to replace the grease seal each time you perform maintenance on your trailer bearings. Examine the old grease seal for any signs of damage or wear. If it looks intact, you may put it back. If not, replace it with a new one.
Step 6: Repack the Bearings with New Grease
Put on gloves to protect your hands from grease. Take a generous amount of bearing grease and work it into the bearings using your hands. Roll the bearings between your palms, ensuring the grease coats the rollers and cage evenly. Continue this process until you see fresh grease squeezing out between the rollers. This indicates that the bearing is fully packed. Repeat this process for each bearing.
Step 7: Reassemble the Hub and Wheel
Place the newly packed bearings into their respective races in the hub assembly. Install the new grease seal and slide the hub and drum back onto the spindle. Reinstall the washer and spindle nut, tightening them securely. Reinstall the cotter pin to keep everything in place. Align the wheel with the studs and slide it back onto the hub. Tighten the lug nuts in a crisscross pattern, ensuring even pressure. Finally, lower the trailer and use a torque wrench to finish tightening the lugs.
And that's it! You've successfully repacked the wheel bearings on your Apache camper. Regular maintenance of your trailer bearings is essential to ensure smooth and safe journeys.
The Cost of Camper Van Life in the UK
You may want to see also
Reassembling the wheel
Once you have cleaned the bearings and races, it's time to reassemble the wheel.
First, repack the bearings with new grease. Wear rubber gloves to avoid messiness. Take a generous amount of grease (about a tablespoon) and push it into the bearings manually. Rotate the rollers to ensure they are thoroughly covered. Don't forget to coat the inside of the bearings as well.
Next, use a wooden dowel and a hammer to tap the bearings back into place in the hub. Then, reassemble the remaining parts, including the grease seal, the spindle nut (also known as the castle nut), the cotter pin, and the dust cap. Tap each piece with a hammer to ensure it is securely in place.
If your trailer model has a nut and washer, place these between the outer bearing and the spindle nut.
Finally, put the wheel back on the rod and screw the lug nuts back on with a wrench or tire iron. Repeat this process for each wheel.
Camper Van Car Towing: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to grease your camper wheels every 10,000 miles or so. However, this may vary depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, your RV, and how often you use the trailer.
You can use calcium sulfonate grease, lithium complex grease, or polyurea grease. Calcium sulfonate grease is a good option if your RV is often exposed to water. Lithium complex grease is better for high-temperature applications but may not work as well in colder temperatures. Polyurea grease offers adequate environmental contaminant resistance and performs well in high-temperature conditions.
First, you need to lift the trailer with a car jack and chock the wheels to prevent the trailer from rolling. Then, remove the wheel, dust cap, cotter pin, spindle nut, hub, and bearings. Clean the bearings with kerosene or a cleaning solution, and dry them with a clean rag. Repack the bearings with new grease, then replace the bearings, hub, spindle nut, cotter pin, and dust cap. Finally, put the wheel back on.
If you don't grease your camper wheels, the bearings may wear out and cause the wheel to seize, catch fire, or depart from the hub. This can lead to costly repairs or even catastrophic damage while your vehicle is in motion.
