Bearings/brakes

[Marineman]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

In any "Pi**ing match" everybody is going to get wet....

As for "thenumber one RV dealership" I'd have to say, based on whose advertising office ??? I've seen at least 10 dealerships with that same claim. In fact, Keystone claims to be the number one RV manufacturer. So does Forest River, Jayco and Winnebago.... As for Number one automobile manufacturer, Ford, GMC, Chevrolet and Fiat/Chrysler all lay claim to that "cherished number one spot"...

So much for "The Number One Dealer said"....

As for routine maintenance, I stated (and I think it's valid for everyone) that when you buy a new trailer, it's a smart idea to inspect everything before the warranty expires. Until you look, you don't even know if there's bearings in all 4 wheels... Take a look at post #37 in this thread if you need "more proof about possible factory issues"....

Now, if we're going to quibble over whether bearings "should or will" go for 27 years. I'd say that like most carpenters, their house is the last to get a kitchen update and most mechanics who do it all day long don't want to go home and do it again..... So, putting off routine maintenance may be a "professional hazard"...

As for 27 years without repacking bearings ????? If someone "inspects them regularly" I'd have to ask first, how do you inspect them with grease all over them? and second, if you remove the grease, who would repack them with the same "old grease"? So, without answers to those questions, why inspect them without repacking them?

Back to the "quibbling". Whether someone chooses a "time based or a mileage based" maintenance schedule is entirely up to the individual. We're "quibbling" over whether it ought to be "sooner or later" based on individual opinions.... If I tow my trailer on dusty, rutty dirt/gravel roads, it's very likely going to need inspections and maintenance much more at 3000 miles than a similar trailer that's towed on a "smooth concrete highway" for that same 3000 miles.....

Why quibble. I think we can all agree that going 27 years between repacking bearing is a bit much and doing it every year might be "too often by some standards".... Where in the middle each person feels comfortable is not something to "quibble about on a forum"... Nobody wins and nobody convinces the other.... The purpose of the forum is to "convey information" not "force others to think the same as we do"....

Hahaha...I said the number one Cruise America outlet. Do you know what Cruise America is? It's an RV rental company. This was the outlet in Spokane, Washington. And this was a few years ago and he doesn't work there anymore. Here's the link so you can call them and prove I'm right.

https://www.cruiseamerica.com/

Factory mistakes happen with all vehicles, including with some of the most dependable cars on the road like Toyota. And you'll know if there isn't a bearing on the wheel. lol

And I totally agree with your premise of how and where the TT is used, which is what any mechanic would ask someone. Same with the machines I worked on in the military. I was stationed in Twentynine Palms and the dust, heat, and roads all abused our equipment, which is why they required more frequent maintenance intervals.

Gee whiz, I'm not quibbling. You're the one who is quibbling, telling people to repack their bearings every year. Most people hardly ever use their TT and telling them to repack their bearings annually is foolish.

And my old utility trailer hardly ever gets used (40 miles a year) which is why the bearings have not needed repacking. And you can test the bearing by jacking up the trailer, spinning the wheel, inspecting the hub with the dust cap off, and then moving the wheel back and forth when it's not moving. I do the same thing with my RV.

Use the old grease? lol

And look at the thread. People are repacking their wheel bearings every year, regardless. Sorry, but I don't follow that creed, even if it's written in the manual. This is what it says; "Repack wheel bearings every 12,000 miles or every year, whichever comes first".

[Marineman]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Marineman the op asked for advice. Others gave theirs's and you gave yours, why do you have to go to such lengths to tell everyone else that they are wrong and only you as an "expert mechanic" know the "truth" and it's verified by some RV dealer? I don't need to participate in the childish banter. N'uff said.

If I'm wrong then please share the good news. I have no problem with doing things the right way.

This is a forum where people learn things, and like it or not, I'm going to share my opinion.

And I'll guarantee, people are reading this thread and many have been convinced to do things differently. And any bonafide mechanic would agree with my analogy regarding repacking wheel bearings every year, regardless of mileage.

And no offense, but I am an expert mechanic. I don't know everything there is to know about wrenching, but I have plenty of experience to back up my claim.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Marineman

Hahaha...I said the number one Cruise America outlet. Do you know what Cruise America is? It's an RV rental company. This was the outlet in Spokane, Washington. And this was a few years ago and he doesn't work there anymore. Here's the link so you can call them and prove I'm right.

https://www.cruiseamerica.com/

Factory mistakes happen with all vehicles, including with some of the most dependable cars on the road like Toyota. And you'll know if there isn't a bearing on the wheel. lol

And I totally agree with your premise of how and where the TT is used, which is what any mechanic would ask someone. Same with the machines I worked on in the military. I was stationed in Twentynine Palms and the dust, heat, and roads all abused our equipment, which is why they required more frequent maintenance intervals.

Gee whiz, I'm not quibbling. You're the one who is quibbling, telling people to repack their bearings every year. Most people hardly ever use their TT and telling them to repack their bearings annually is foolish.

And my old utility trailer hardly ever gets used (40 miles a year) which is why the bearings have not needed repacking. And you can test the bearing by jacking up the trailer, spinning the wheel, inspecting the hub with the dust cap off, and then moving the wheel back and forth when it's not moving. I do the same thing with my RV.

Use the old grease? lol

And look at the thread. People are repacking their wheel bearings every year, regardless. Sorry, but I don't follow that creed, even if it's written in the manual. This is what it says; "Repack wheel bearings every 12,000 miles or every year, whichever comes first".

First, You're putting words in my mouth. I'd ask you to find anywhere in this forum (go back 10 years if you wish) and find ANY post where I recommend repacking bearings every year or every 12,000 miles.

Second, I've stated that I check mine "every other year" (time based) which, the way I tow my trailer is "around every 10-15K miles.... But I use the TIME BASED not mileage based time frame.

We've done this twice now, once with antifreeze vs compressed air and now this.... It's one thing to have a differing opinion, something else to "tell everyone that your way is the only way".... We did this same thing with the antifreeze vs compressed air. If I recall correctly, there was NEVER a statement from Cruise America concerning whether they would write a check for any damage from "doing it their way".....

I always recommend that anyone "err on the side of caution" not "on the side of hold my beer and watch this"....

[Marineman]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

First, You're putting words in my mouth. I'd ask you to find anywhere in this forum (go back 10 years if you wish) and find ANY post where I recommend repacking bearings every year or every 12,000 miles.

Second, I've stated that I check mine "every other year" (time based) which, the way I tow my trailer is "around every 10-15K miles.... But I use the TIME BASED not mileage based time frame.

We've done this twice now, once with antifreeze vs compressed air and now this.... It's one thing to have a differing opinion, something else to "tell everyone that your way is the only way".... We did this same thing with the antifreeze vs compressed air. If I recall correctly, there was NEVER a statement from Cruise America concerning whether they would write a check for any damage from "doing it their way".....

I always recommend that anyone "err on the side of caution" not "on the side of hold my beer and watch this"....

And the anti-freeze vs compressed air was exactly what your post needed.

Erring on the side of caution can become the slippery slope of fear. And fear causes people to worry and do things that are not necessary.

[JRTJH]

Marineman,

If you have any further comments, please address them in a PM. This discussion is not contributing to the thread. Thanks

[Traveler2017]

We have been going to S. California from BC, Canada for the last 5 years it is about 3100 miles round trip. Every fall before leaving I repack the wheel bearings and inspect the brakes. In April I have replaced the brakes and repacked the bearings. It is peace of mind to do check them and pack them every year. Touch wood haven't had any problems. Hopes this help you out.

[Gunny Mike]

We put our Outback 341RD in the shop every March before the camping season starts. Just want some assurance as I hate those breakdowns on the road.

[RVGator]

OP here. Thanks everyone for all the comments and in some cases spirited discussion. That’s what makes this industry so fun, people are very passionate about it.

I did take the camper in and how the brakes inspected and bearings repacked. The mechanic said overall they looked great, grease was still clean, and brakes were in good shape. He repacked the bearings for me and did slightly adjust the brakes(no idea what that means), so I’m all set for the upcoming June trip westward bound.

The wife and I spent the weekend emptying everything out of it and only putting back what we will need. Amazing what you can accumulate in such a small space, especially in the pantry. We had pulled it up to Charleston, South Carolina in Jan 2020 for the Oyster Festival and found 2 bottles of Tobasco still hanging out. Probably won’t need that much going forward.

[Marineman]

Originally Posted by RVGator

OP here. Thanks everyone for all the comments and in some cases spirited discussion. That’s what makes this industry so fun, people are very passionate about it.

I did take the camper in and how the brakes inspected and bearings repacked. The mechanic said overall they looked great, grease was still clean, and brakes were in good shape. He repacked the bearings for me and did slightly adjust the brakes(no idea what that means), so I’m all set for the upcoming June trip westward bound.

The wife and I spent the weekend emptying everything out of it and only putting back what we will need. Amazing what you can accumulate in such a small space, especially in the pantry. We had pulled it up to Charleston, South Carolina in Jan 2020 for the Oyster Festival and found 2 bottles of Tobasco still hanging out. Probably won’t need that much going forward.

Awesome, glad things worked out. Enjoy that trip from Florida to Utah. Sounds like a great time in the works. And I can't believe the stuff we find in our camper. What's funny is, when my wife runs out of something she immediately embarks to the camper which is conveniently located in our backyard. Most of the time our stockpile in there saves the day...lol

And because of this thread I did inspect my wheel bearings.

[Weldon]

Originally Posted by RVGator

OP here. Thanks everyone for all the comments and in some cases spirited discussion. That’s what makes this industry so fun, people are very passionate about it.

I did take the camper in and how the brakes inspected and bearings repacked. The mechanic said overall they looked great, grease was still clean, and brakes were in good shape. He repacked the bearings for me and did slightly adjust the brakes(no idea what that means), so I’m all set for the upcoming June trip westward bound.

The wife and I spent the weekend emptying everything out of it and only putting back what we will need. Amazing what you can accumulate in such a small space, especially in the pantry. We had pulled it up to Charleston, South Carolina in Jan 2020 for the Oyster Festival and found 2 bottles of Tobasco still hanging out. Probably won’t need that much going forward.

Just wanted to thank you for starting this thread. I was "consideting"...i.e. didn't want to do it....checking mine since it's a '17 with unknown mikes and we've had it for a year. Howevrr, we have a medium trip (7-8 hrs) approaching and because of the replies to your thread decided to repack my bearings, replace seals, and inspect my brakes this weekend. Now I'm going to replace my brakes in the next couple of weeks. I found an issue with 2 of my brakes...either could've been truly disastrous with my precious cargo (wife, 2 kids) on our trip. Glad you got your rig fixed up, and thank you for motivating me to do the same safe travels n happy camping.

[Jim2366]

Before we left on our trip to Alabama I spoke with a friend who is a retired pilot. He is an RVer and gives me a lot of good advice. He suggested I check get the bearings repacked and gave me information about brakes. I had a lot to do and put it off.
Well I am now at Gulf Shores and the wheels on the RV has a high pitch. I have a repairman coming Monday to check it out and fix it here. Hoping it's not the brakes and the drums too. I would appreciate any advice or what I should expect on the repair and cost.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Jim2366

Before we left on our trip to Alabama I spoke with a friend who is a retired pilot. He is an RVer and gives me a lot of good advice. He suggested I check get the bearings repacked and gave me information about brakes. I had a lot to do and put it off.
Well I am now at Gulf Shores and the wheels on the RV has a high pitch. I have a repairman coming Monday to check it out and fix it here. Hoping it's not the brakes and the drums too. I would appreciate any advice or what I should expect on the repair and cost.

Is the noise only present when the tires are rotating or only when the brakes are applied? You stated wheels, plural. Was that intentional? A damaged wheel bearing will only make noise while in motion.Typically that noise is described more as a "roaring" or "rumbleling" noise.

Typically a "high pitched" noise only while brakeing is caused by a brake magnet. I've heard them make a high pitched "whine" and sort of "sizzling " noise. If the brake coil is loose on the armature it can cause vibrations. It may be nothing to be concerned about or it could be worn out and ready to selk destruct.

Cost? If I could predict that I'd be at the casino beating the odds. What's the hourly rate of the mobile tech and is there a minimum charge? Does the tech have an inventory of "common" components on the truck? If not then you'll likely pay for their time to make a parts run or return the next day with a part and charge you for another "minimum charge". Asking those questions beforehand will give you a better indication of expectations.

[Jim2366]

The noise is high pitch when the wheels were moving and the brakes were not being used. I can not hear high pitch noises they were heard from my wife and the guy taking us to our site in a golf cart. (I have hearing loss). The repairman was recommended by the guy in the golf cart and another RVer that had used the repairman before. I did look up his reviews online and he had all good reviews. Well I will know more tomorrow and will let you know the results.
Thanks for you input it did give me what to expect, especially getting parts and travel time. I just want to pay for what is needed and pay the fair price for a good job.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Jim2366

The noise is high pitch when the wheels were moving and the brakes were not being used. I can not hear high pitch noises they were heard from my wife and the guy taking us to our site in a golf cart. (I have hearing loss). The repairman was recommended by the guy in the golf cart and another RVer that had used the repairman before. I did look up his reviews online and he had all good reviews. Well I will know more tomorrow and will let you know the results.
Thanks for you input it did give me what to expect, especially getting parts and travel time. I just want to pay for what is needed and pay the fair price for a good job.

I'm sure he will find the problem tomorrow. I will say that I've had a bearing go out and it sure did "squeal" (high pitched).....right before it froze.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by Jim2366

The noise is high pitch when the wheels were moving and the brakes were not being used. I can not hear high pitch noises they were heard from my wife and the guy taking us to our site in a golf cart. (I have hearing loss). The repairman was recommended by the guy in the golf cart and another RVer that had used the repairman before. I did look up his reviews online and he had all good reviews. Well I will know more tomorrow and will let you know the results.
Thanks for you input it did give me what to expect, especially getting parts and travel time. I just want to pay for what is needed and pay the fair price for a good job.

Not sure what your mechanical skills are, whether you're physically able or if you have any tools, but packing the wheel bearings & inspecting/replacing the brakes is not brain surgery. I'd suggest you watch the tech closely & ask lots of questions so in the future you could possibly do this maintenance item yourself.
If brake shoes need replaced it's very little more $$ & a lot less mess & work to replace the entire pre-assembled backing plate rather than rebuild the old.
Depending on your travels the bearings should be hand packed every 10-12k miles or annually. DO NOT pump grease through the Easy Lube zerks on the spindles due grease leaking past the seal & contaminating the brakes.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by sourdough

I'm sure he will find the problem tomorrow. I will say that I've had a bearing go out and it sure did "squeal" (high pitched).....right before it froze.

If the bearing is about to seize then yes it will squeal as it gulls metal on metal. That noise typically won't last long thoigh before it seizes, cuts through the spindle , or the bearing cage fails and the wheel falls off. Typically it starts smoking at that time.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by flybouy

If the bearing is about to seize then yes it will squeal as it gulls metal on metal. That noise typically won't last long thoigh before it seizes, cuts through the spindle , or the bearing cage fails and the wheel falls off. Typically it starts smoking at that time.

And it did.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by sourdough

And it did.

Ouch! Have an appointment in abou 3 weeks for an independebt shop to insect and service breaks/bearings and install new tires that I bought on-line. It frustrates me to have to pay someone when I have the tools but with all the injuries I've accumulated over the years it just isn't worth the pain anymore. I feel blessed that we can still get out and we have some longer trips booked for this year.

[JDDilly]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Ouch! Have an appointment in abou 3 weeks for an independebt shop to insect and service breaks/bearings and install new tires that I bought on-line. It frustrates me to have to pay someone when I have the tools but with all the injuries I've accumulated over the years it just isn't worth the pain anymore. I feel blessed that we can still get out and we have some longer trips booked for this year.

I totally understand, I am in the same boat. I hate it when I need to call someone in to do things that are fairly easy and actually kind of fun to do. thankfully, when we are home or at or seasonal site in Minnesota, my Son-in-laws take care of 95%. Now that my DW is retired, we will be traveling from January to mid-April, when on the road I will need to rely on mobile techs or other shops. We will be somewhat limited in our travels as I need to be at Mayo Clinic every 4 weeks, so that leaves us with Florida or Arizona. I too fell blessed I am able to travel and enjoy some traveling and some sites across the country.

[gearhead]

Originally Posted by Jim2366

The noise is high pitch when the wheels were moving and the brakes were not being used. I can not hear high pitch noises they were heard from my wife and the guy taking us to our site in a golf cart. (I have hearing loss). The repairman was recommended by the guy in the golf cart and another RVer that had used the repairman before. I did look up his reviews online and he had all good reviews. Well I will know more tomorrow and will let you know the results.
Thanks for you input it did give me what to expect, especially getting parts and travel time. I just want to pay for what is needed and pay the fair price for a good job.

Please keep us updated on how it goes.