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How Often Should You Grease RV Wheel Bearings

Your wheel bearings are located inside the hub of your RV wheels. They allow the wheels to spin properly and they also carry the weight of your RV. So one way to protect your wheel bearings is to understand your trailer’s weight ratings and never exceed them.

Some vehicles have something called sealed bearings. This design prevents debris from getting into the bearings and also traps the bearing grease inside. Sealed bearings do not need to be cleaned and repacked regularly like unsealed bearings do.

Unfortunately, you’ll find unsealed bearings on all but the most top-of-the-line trailers and RVs. So, for the purposes of this tutorial, we’re referring to unsealed wheel bearings.

Additionally, wheel bearings are packed with a special type of grease that prevents friction and allows the wheels to spin freely. While wheel bearings themselves are theoretically designed to last for the entire life of your RV, unsealed wheel bearings need to be cleaned and repacked with fresh grease at regular intervals.

Why Grease RV Wheel Bearings?

Over time, the grease packed inside wheel bearings breaks down and it will also start to acquire debris that gets inside unsealed bearings. If that grease isn’t cleaned out and your RV bearings aren’t re-packed with fresh grease regularly, the worst-case scenario is your entire wheel will seize when you’re driving your RV.

If a wheel seizes while you’re traveling at high speeds, it will put you and everyone on the road around you at risk. Even if a wheel seizes at slow speeds, it will leave you seeking roadside assistance and saddled with the costs of expensive RV repairs.

How Often Should You Grease RV Wheel Bearings?

Start by referring to your RV manufacturer’s specifications for wheel bearing maintenance. 

For starters, all recreational vehicles come with multiple manuals for all of their components. If you can’t locate the manual for your axle, contact the manufacturer of your used motorhome or used trailer , or reach out to your local Camping World service center ASAP to get a physical or digital copy for reference.

Inside that manual, you should find service tables that specify mileages for recommended service and maintenance on your vehicle. Following that table closely will help you keep your RV in tip-top shape as it ages.

RV wheel bearings should be repacked with grease once a year or every 10,000 to 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. 

If you travel frequently, this is a useful metric to go by, even if it means having your RV wheel bearings repacked a couple of times each year.

If you only go on a few short trips every year, some specifications recommend repacking your bearings once a year or every 2,000 miles, whichever comes first. While using RV tire covers will reduce the amount of debris that gets into bearings if your RV is just sitting, that grease can still break down and should be replaced regularly.

Note for new RV owners: If you’ve recently acquired a new or used motorhome, have a service technician inspect your wheel bearings before you hit the road. Unless you know exactly when your wheel bearings were last serviced, it’s best to take care of this essential RV maintenance check before you set out on your next adventure.

Selling , trading in, and buying an RV is also the ideal time to have a technician inspect, clean, and make any necessary adjustments to your brakes. Any adjustments should always be made according to manufacturer specifications.

How To Tell When Wheel Bearings Need to Be Repacked

If you stick to your RV manufacturer’s recommended service intervals for wheel bearing maintenance, you should be safe. But you should still be aware of the main signs that your wheel bearings may be wearing out.

A Visual Sign

If you can visibly see grease or an oily film coming out of the hub or coated around the wheel, it may signal that the grease is breaking down and your bearings need to be repacked.

An Audible Clue

If you hear a screeching or grinding sound coming from inside your tires while your RV is in motion, your bearings may need to be serviced.

A Physical Test

If you can jack up your RV so that the weight is off your tires, place your hands on the top and bottom of a tire. Push with your top hand first and then your bottom hand to see how much your tire moves. Repeat this test with your hands across from each other on the sides of your tire.

The tire should barely move on the axle and if you can move it enough to hear an audible clunk, this is a definite sign that your wheel bearings need to be serviced.

However, jacking up a heavy RV or travel trailer requires a heavy-duty floor jack, so only attempt this test if you have experience doing this safely and you know what you’re feeling for in terms of play in the bearing.

A Steering Feel

A more practical test for RVers is how your RV handles on the road. If it’s veering to one side of the road consistently or you’re noticing more play in the steering wheel than normal, it may be a sign that bearing maintenance is needed.

Keep in mind that axle and hub issues can be complex. If you suspect issues with your wheel bearings or other components on your RV, your best bet is to take your coach to your closest Camping World service center for further inspection. 

How To Grease RV Wheel Bearings

Cleaning and repacking RV wheel bearings is something you can do at home. However, it requires a heavy-duty floor jack, jack stands underneath your axle(s) and/or the tongue of your trailer, and the right mechanic’s tools to get the job done.

Unless you know how to jack up a trailer, disconnect the electric brakes, remove the wheel, take the hub apart, clean and repack the bearings, replace the wheel bearing seal, and put everything back together exactly as it came apart, we recommend leaving this RV service item up to the professionals.

It does also require the willingness to get dirty too. Few, if any, RV mechanics have cleaned and repacked bearings without winding up with a good deal of grease on their hands. So if you want to save yourself time, energy, and a substantial clean-up, have your RV wheel bearings inspected and serviced by a trained professional at the regular intervals recommended in your RV’s owner’s manual.

Book a service appointment to get your RV wheel bearings inspected today.

Best Grease for RV Wheel Bearings

Bearing grease for travel trailers is something that most RV mechanics stock in bulk. However, it is available in smaller quantities if you need it. If you are cleaning and repacking RV wheel bearings on your own, try this high-temp disc brake wheel bearing grease from MAG1.

RV wheel bearings are just one critical piece of the RV maintenance puzzle, but all of those pieces are essential to guarantee your safety on all your RV journeys. Trust this maintenance task to a trained professional as part of your annual RV checkup to keep your tires spinning free and easy down the road!

When is the last time you had your travel trailer’s wheel bearings serviced? Leave a comment below.

If you’re still learning the ins and outs of RV maintenance, check out our downloadable RV ownership and maintenance booklet !

How often do you grease your travel trailer’s wheel bearings? Leave a comment below. 

• Comment (10)

When your pumping in the grease n you don’t see the old grease coming out. What’s wrong ?

With a larger travel trailer, you should grease your trailer wheel bearings every 10,000 miles or once a year

Once you are on the side of the freeway changing wheel bearings, you get learned up fast!

I use that sticky red grease, the kind that sticks to everything ten feet away.

I also stay away from Chinese made bearings. I have had those burn up within 4000 miles. I like Timkins made in the USA.

We use our RV fairly hard, and do many dirt roads also. Dirt roads, for what it’s worth, I would cut the regrease time in half if you do dirt roads often, 5000 miles. I just changed my bearings, if I see any issues, such as the grease is runny and black (indication of bearing wear), I just put in new bearings. Trust me on this, it isn’t worth the cost and angst of roadside repairs. for $20 a wheel. And when you burn up the spindle, you need welder work done to replace the spindle, or the whole axle replaced.

I always carry a full set of spare bearings in the RV. Along with a good hammer, a drift (to remove the races) and I bought a bearing race driver kit, it wasn’t much money, but makes changing bearing races much easier. I also use one of those cone shaped bearing greaser devices that pushes grease through the bearings, you use a grease gun. I keep a thread die in my tool kit to clean up the threads on the bearing spindle. Once the spindle is gone, break out your wallet. Sometimes a fine flat bastard file is needed to clean up the spindle. Keep a can of brake cleaner along, makes cleaning parts easier when you don’t have compressed air while on the side of the road.

I also avoid using the grease zerks seen on Dexter axles. Grease will end up pushing past the seals, onto the brakes, rendering those useless. If you do use the zerks, jack up the wheel, and rotate the wheel and give two slow strokes.

Regreasing your bearings is not a difficult job, and can be done in a day. Always replace the seals when regreasing, they are cheap and non-reusable. A tub of solvent with a stiff paint brush along with compressed air and a air nozzle is needed to totally clean things up proper.

My wife and I did a 14.5k mile trip last year, Alaska to Florida and back, it took ten weeks. I had two bearings burn up. I was able to do repairs on the side of the road, because I keep spare parts and tools handy. The second bearing that failed was replaced mid trip with made in China bearings, they are made with inferior metals and wear quickly. Avoid! RV part houses sell those, you can tell, if it’s hanging on a rack do not buy. If the new bearings come wrapped in a little box, with a name like Timken, FAG, National Bearing, etc, you’re good to go.

Check for black runny grease and that smell of heat when removing the bearing cap. If you see black grease when red grease was used, the black is from metal wear, you must regrease. At that point, I’ll replace the bearings. Why mess around for about $20 a wheel?

I never go anywhere without a full kit of bearings, seals, and grease. I also keep new caps, washers, nuts, and retainers in my “kit”. Those small parts just about always get wasted when a bearing goes out. Another handy thing to keep is a new wheel hub, already packed with grease and new bearings. This would work for braking or non braking axles, unless you packed a hub with brake drum. But those are heavy and take up space, a non-braking hub isn’t big or heavy, but would help to get you back on the road to somewhere better then the side of I-70! Just turn your brake controller to zero and slow down.

Those Timken bearings that have USA stamped on the are actually made in China. The stamping of USA signifies they are a US based company but that L44649 bearing is not made in US. The problem is not China. The problem is the use of inferior metals and that is not specific to China.

what about sealed wheel bearings

I grease my RV wheel bearings about every 7500 miles

I’m glad to know that greasing the wheel bearings will help the travel trailer to spin freely and easily. My brother is taking his family camping this weekend, and I don’t think he’s ever greased the bearings. I’ll get him a grease gun so he can carry it in case he needs it.

Great advice from this man, follow his instructions and you’ll be fine.

more often than recommended is never a bad thing

What grease do I need to use?

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How Often Should RV Wheel Bearings Be Repacked?

By: Author The Drivin' & Vibin' Team

Posted on September 10, 2021

RV wheel bearings are a hidden maintenance item that can be easy to overlook. However, by ignoring your RV wheel bearings, you’re taking a huge gamble.

We want to make sure you and others are safe while you’re RVing. So today we’ll look at wheel bearings and how often you should repack them.

Let’s jump in!

What Do RV Wheel Bearings Do?

RV wheel bearings play an essential role in keeping your RV traveling down the highway smoothly and safely. These bearings allow your RV’s wheels to turn correctly and carry your RV’s weight. Keep your wheel bearings in good working order.

If not, you risk putting yourself and your RV in a dangerous situation.

How Often Should You Repack Your Wheel Bearings?

To avoid a wheel bearing failure, you should regularly repack your wheel bearings. If you have a large RV and travel regularly, you should do this every year or 10,000 miles.

If you’re not taking your RV on extended trips and it’s smaller, you should do it every year or 2,000 miles. Sitting idle for extended periods isn’t good for your RV’s components.

How to Tell If Your Wheel Bearings Need to Be Repacked

If you’re worried about whether you need to repack your wheel bearings, there are a few things you can watch and listen for while your RV is in motion.

Let’s take a look to help you avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

Screeching Sounds

Screeching sounds coming from your wheels while you’re in motion is a major sign that something isn’t quite right. This can be hard to identify because rarely is anyone outside the RV while it’s in motion.

It may be beneficial to keep an ear out while you’re towing through the campground or at slow speeds. You can also take a lap around the campground or have a traveling companion get out while you drive by them. Listen for any irregularities.

Doing this regularly will help you distinguish between normal axle flexing noises and potential signs indicating you need to repack your wheel bearings.

Pro Tip: Unsure what’s causing suspicious sounds on your RV? Sometimes only a mechanic can diagnose the problem, but Should You Avoid Mobile RV Repair?

Tire Movement

If you can move your tire up and down more than usual, it’s another indication that something isn’t right. You may also notice unusual wearing on your wheels as a result of tire movement.

Having uneven wear and tear on your tires can lead to a dangerous blowout at high speeds. Keeping your wheel bearings packed is a great way to protect your wheels and avoid a blowout.

Steering Play

Another significant indication that your RV’s wheel bearings need repacking is when you feel the RV and tow vehicle begin to pull in a certain direction. This steering play will go away when you’re not towing.

This is a major indication that you need to repack or replace your wheel bearings. Don’t procrastinate on the repair. It’ll only get worse.

How Do You Repack Your Wheel Bearings?

If you’re not comfortable with repacking your wheel bearings, hire a professional. Incorrectly repacking your wheel bearings can be incredibly dangerous.

You run the risk of making an expensive and dangerous mistake when it comes to an integral component of your RV. Saving a few bucks isn’t worth putting yourself and others at risk on the road.

Preparation

Start by reading your RV’s maintenance manual. This can provide critical information. One thing to note is the proper torquing procedure. Improperly torquing your wheels can increase the wear and tear on your RV’s bearings and create excessive heat.

Next, use a set of quality wheel chocks to prevent your RV from rolling. Use a trailer jack to lift your trailer until the wheel you want to work on is off the ground. If you haven’t gathered your tools, this is a great time to do so. From here on out, your hands will probably be messy.

Pro Tip: A good set of wheel chocks will be a game changer for RV repairs and parking. Find out What RV Wheel Chocks Are Decent, Better & Best .

Use a hammer and chisel to remove the dust cap from the wheel hub. This will allow you to pull the wheel hub to see the castellated nut and remove any tabs holding the nut in place. You’ll then be able to unscrew the nut and begin removing the wheel.

Removing the wheel may require you to spin the wheel gently. Once the outer bearing is loose, you can remove the hub and wheel. This will give you an easy view of the axle spindle and brakes and help you see if you need to address issues with their components. You can then remove the grease seal to remove the inner bearings, the washer, and the outer bearings.

Place the bearings on a clean towel to wipe all of the remaining grease off of them. Roll the bearings across the towel to ensure you remove all of the old grease. Keep an eye out for any signs of wear and tear on the bearings. If you spot any, visit a trailer supply shop with your old bearings to find replacements.

You can then clean the hub with paper towels and begin greasing the hub with new grease. Avoid getting grease on your brakes as it will make it very difficult to stop. Then reassemble in reverse. It may help to take pictures during disassembly for quick reference during reassembly.

Again, this can be a complicated process, and only someone who knows what they’re doing should attempt it. It may be worth asking a trusted and educated acquaintance to help teach you how to pack your bearings correctly. If not, don’t be afraid to pay someone to do it.

How Much Do RV Wheel Bearings Cost?

RV wheel bearings aren’t overly expensive. You can expect to pay $20 to $30 for all of the parts. However, unless you’re repacking your wheel bearings yourself, you should expect to pay a considerable amount more to have it done for you.

How Much Does It Cost to Have Your Wheel Bearings Installed?

Prices will vary depending on who you entrust to repack your RV’s wheel bearings. If you don’t have a trusted garage for these kinds of repairs, be sure to shop around. Ask other RVers who they use for their wheel bearings and RV services.

Again, the parts will generally cost $20 to $30, but labor will be the bulk of your expense. You can expect to pay $50 to $75 per wheel when it comes to having your wheel bearings professionally packed. It may be expensive, but it’s worth the assurance that it’s done right. 

Pro Tip: Keep your tires protected when your RV isn’t in use with tire covers. Find out if it is worth the investment: Do RV Tire Covers Really Work?

Keep Your RV’s Wheel Bearings in Top Shape

Any time you’re messing with your brakes or wheels, it’s important to minimize risks. You want these essential components in optimal working order to keep you and others safe.

Stay up to date with your wheel bearings, and you’ll help keep your RV traveling down the open road. Do you prefer to pack your wheel bearings yourself, or do you leave this to the professionals?

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Many RVs now have Zerk grease fittings on their wheels which allows grease to be pumped into the wheel bearings, reducing the needed frequency of laborious repacking. However, care must be taken not to pump in too much. I know this from personal experience, having blown out the rear seals. The dealer where the repairs were done suggested no more than two pumps of the grease gun handle.

Thanks for the article on greasing hitch balls. I’ve been confused for years because of the differing advice so prevalent on this subject and the article was very helpful

Honestly, this article could not be more timely! Just last night we had an issue with our 25″ winnebago trailer – the wheel bearings blew out, the hub, brake and axle both damaged irreparably. Thankfully we have an extended warranty — but it was a great deal of trouble and the trailer could have caught on fire since the wheel was smoking. The dealership told us to pack the bearings “every 3-4 years” when we asked. hmmm. We have only taken this trailer out about 2K miles in 2 years. and this dangerous situation happened. We will be checking these religiously from now on and not relying on a specific timeframe. thanks for the article!

Best Wheel Bearing Grease for Travel Trailers On The Market

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You know you’re in trouble when cars passing you on the highway are honking their horns and waving their hands, then pointing back toward your trailer.

One clear, sunny day just before Thanksgiving, this happened to us as we were driving through the high desert of California. We pulled over to try to figure out what was wrong and it didn’t take long to see what the problem was. We were missing a wheel from our travel trailer. Not a tire… the whole wheel . The axle stuck out like an amputated stump with absolutely nothing on it. We’d never seen anything like it.

My Top Picks

In case you want to learn about the best wheel bearing grease for travel trailers, we put the top three here:

• Plews & Edelmann UltraLube 11320 LMX
• Lucas Oil 10301 Heavy Duty

For reasons we will never know, something on that wheel assembly locked. As we drove, the other 3 wheels kept us rolling, but the pressure was building on the locked wheel until it finally exploded, shooting the wheel off into the desert. We explored several miles of the highway but never found that wheel.

We spent several hours waiting for roadside assistance, then slept in a repair shop parking lot for a few nights while it was being fixed, and we nearly missed our planned Thanksgiving celebrations. The moral of the story? Make sure you keep your wheels rolling smoothly! Crazy things can happen on the road. That’s part of RV life. But proper maintenance can help prevent a lot of mishaps, and when it comes to keeping your wheels moving, well-greased wheel bearings are very important. 

Is your RV wheel bearing in need of a little attention? You need to find the best wheel bearing grease for travel trailer wheels ASAP. Don’t wait and risk a costly and inconvenient repair. The first step to making sure your wheel bearings are properly lubricated is to choose and purchase trailer wheel bearing grease. There are many different types of travel trailer wheel bearing grease and a wide variety of brands, so the choice might seem overwhelming at first. Here’s what you need to know in order to choose wisely.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Wheel Bearing Grease

Keeping the wheels rolling on your travel trailer subjects your wheel bearing grease to harsh conditions, including extreme temperatures and pressures. All lubricants will break down over time, especially under these conditions, so choose a wheel bearing grease that is able to stand up to the strain for miles and miles. It is important to note that while longevity is a factor worth considering, maintaining your wheel bearings is something that still must be done regularly. Long-lasting grease may extend the time between maintenance slightly, but it will not enable you to postpone the need for you to grease wheel bearings for very long.

Temperature Ratings

The ordinary friction of driving and braking creates extremely high temperatures in the wheel of your travel trailer. Different kinds of grease are able to tolerate a different range of temperatures without breaking down. Grease that has broken down is not lubricating as it should, and then you’re headed for trouble. Most wheel bearing grease will give its temperature rating on the package. The minimum temperature rating you should consider is 300°F, but higher is better. The lower end of the temperature rating spectrum is also worth paying attention to, especially if you use or store your travel trailer in cold weather conditions. 

For this reason, multipurpose regular grease is not a suitable choice for the wheel bearings of a travel trailer.

Pressure Tolerance

Similar to temperature, different types of grease are rated for different pressure ranges. The wheels of your travel trailer are under a lot of pressure, and subjecting your wheel bearing grease to a higher pressure than it is rated for can cause it to break down and fail. Look for a product that is able to withstand high-pressure use.

The viscosity of the grease is a measure of its consistency. Higher viscosity indicates a thicker consistency, while lower viscosity is more liquid in consistency. The National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) has a standardized chart that classifies the consistency of lubricating greases according to a scale from 000 to 6.

Most travel trailers should have a wheel bearing grease with an NLGI rating of 2, which is similar to peanut butter inconsistency. This can vary between rigs, however, so be sure to consult your owner’s manual before purchasing your grease.

Ease of Use

Wheel bearing grease can be… greasy. It can be messy and difficult to both apply and remove. Its water-resistant qualities can make it very difficult to clean up if things end up in the wrong place. There are different types of packaging to look for when purchasing the best grease. You may find it convenient to use a grease gun when applying it, though some people prefer packaging that makes it easier to use their fingers. 

Water Resistance 

Water-resistant grease will help protect your wheel bearings when your grease trailer wheel bearing to-do comes up and other nearby parts from damaging effects of water or moisture. The water resistance of your lubricant is related to its oil content. While most grease offers at least some protection, the degree of water resistance varies from low-resistance all the way to fully waterproof. Evaluate how much time you spend driving in wet conditions and decide how high of a priority this is for your circumstances.

Compatibility 

Some types of grease are not easily compatible with other types of grease. If you are replacing your existing grease with a new kind and the two are not compatible, it is vital that your wheel bearings and the surrounding area are thoroughly cleaned of the old lubricant before applying the new one. 

Choosing a grease with higher compatibility saves you this time and effort both now and later, since you may need to thoroughly clean everything again if you choose a new lubricant in the future.

Environmental Impact 

While the wheel bearing grease market is still dominated by petroleum-based products, there are bio-based grease products available that reduce the environmental impact significantly. Bio-based greases do not consume non-renewable petroleum resources, and they are also fully biodegradable.

In most cases, choosing a bio-based product does not mean compromising on quality or function at all, and in some cases, it even results in improved function. If you are interested in making environmentally-responsible choices, consider finding a bio-based wheel bearing grease.

While the prices of different wheel bearing greases can vary, none of them would usually be deemed expensive. The cost of lubricating wheel bearings should be considered a normal part of regular maintenance for your travel trailer, just as regularly changing oil and filters is an ordinary part of owning a vehicle. All the same, it isn’t worth spending more for similar performance, so it’s worth weighing cost as a factor. 

Types of Wheel Bearing Grease for Travel Trailers

There are several different types of grease available that can be considered for use on travel trailers. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each before choosing a wheel bearing grease.

Moly EP grease is named for the key ingredient molybdenum disulfide, which increases its tolerance for extreme pressure (EP). 

• Advantages: Moly EP is unmatched for high-pressure conditions. Molybdenum disulfide is also resistant to corrosion and tolerates very high temperatures.
• Disadvantages: Shop carefully. Most Moly EP greases have a lower viscosity than is recommended for trailer wheel bearings. It can be hard to find a Moly EP grease that will meet your needs.

Disc/Drum grease is specifically designed to lubricate disc and drum brakes and related parts such as wheel bearings.

• Advantages: This type of grease is specifically designed for wheel bearings, so the temperature and pressure tolerances, viscosity, and water resistance are ideal for typical travel-trailer use.
• Disadvantages: This is the most recommended type of grease for wheel bearings, so there aren’t many disadvantages. It is sufficient in all important factors but it is not the best in any one area. Other types of grease have higher tolerance for pressure or temperature, and still, others are more waterproof.

LMX stands for lithium complex . LMX Red greases are often considered to be a premium grease option.

• Advantages: LMX Red greases are known for excellent pressure and temperature tolerance, good water resistance, and for adhering well to moving parts.
• Disadvantages: These tend to be among the most expensive lubricating greases on the market. Their excellent adhesion can make them difficult to remove and therefore messy, especially given their red color. 

As the name suggests, marine grease is specially formulated for the needs of boat trailers and other items that regularly come into contact with water, even saltwater.

• Advantages: Marine grease is top of the line when it comes to being waterproof and resisting the corrosive effects of both water and salt. While you’re unlikely to back your travel trailer into the water like a boat trailer, marine grease might be a good choice if you spend a lot of time at the coast or driving on roads that are brined with saltwater in the winter.
• Disadvantages: Marine grease is often made with calcium sulfonate, which is incompatible with lithium complex greases. Any old grease needs to be removed completely to avoid compatibility issues.

Bio-based / Biodegradable

Bio-based greases use vegetable oils instead of petroleum as the base for the grease. They are not their own specific type of grease, but rather the above types of grease, such as LMX Red, can be either bio-based or petroleum-based. 

• Advantages: Bio-based greases deliver all the same functions as their petroleum-based counterparts, but they are biodegradable and made with renewable resources. Their natural viscosity is higher, so they are less likely to thin out due to heat or other conditions.
• Disadvantages: Because bio-based greases still represent a very small portion of the lubricating grease market, there aren’t as many to choose from, they are sometimes hard to find, and they often cost more 

Top 10 Recommendations for Wheel Bearing Grease

#10: triax spheron ht-2.

In addition to the features that most wheel bearing grease offers, such as high temperature and pressure tolerance and excellent water resistance, the Triax Spheron HT-2 grease is also formulated to help protect against dust. This may be an extra advantage if you are spending a lot of time in the desert or other high-dust environments.

You can expect all the basic benefits you hope from a wheel bearing grease with this product, plus protection from dust.

#9: Valvoline VV985 Full Synthetic

As the name implies, this lithium complex grease is fully synthetic. It is also moly-fortified to withstand extreme pressures. Valvoline is a trusted brand in the automotive industry. This grease can tolerate high loads and extreme temperatures. It is a multi-purpose grease that will serve well in your travel trailer’s wheel bearings. 

Valvoline is a trusted brand in the automotive industry. This grease can tolerate high loads and extreme temperatures. It is a multi-purpose grease that will serve well in your travel trailer’s wheel bearings. 

#8: Royal Purple 01312 Ultra Performance

Royal Purple is well-known for quality and performance and this aluminum, synthetic, multi-purpose grease does the job well.

#7: LubriMatic 11404 Marine Corrosion Control

This marine grease is highly suitable for non-marine uses as well. It is a calcium sulfonate complex that is insoluble in water and provides excellent corrosion protection. It is temperature rated for up to 550°F so there is no question that it can stand up to the heat of your travel trailer’s wheel bearings, including disc brake wheel bearings.

This marine grease is highly suitable for non-marine uses as well. It is a calcium sulfonate complex that is insoluble in water and provides excellent corrosion protection.

#6: Timken GR224C

Timken’s GR224C is an EP (extreme pressure) disc/drum grease that includes additives to protect against corrosion. Timken is a reliable brand when it comes to wheel bearings and this grease claims a proprietary formula that will enhance the life of your wheel bearings. Take note that this grease is designed for light to medium duty applications, so it may not be the ideal choice for a heavier travel trailer or one that is used extensively. 

This light medium duty grease includes additives to protect against corrosion formula that will enhance the life of your wheel bearings.

#5: Timken Allstar ALL78241

Designed specifically to lubricate wheel bearings, and other automotive purposes, this is a great disc/drum grease with added elements to protect against corrosion. This is a great compromise if you are considering using a marine grease due to water and salt exposure but want the peace of mind of a disc/drum grease that’s perfectly suited for your travel trailer’s wheel bearings.

This is a great grease if you are considering using a marine grease due to water and salt exposure but want the peace of mind of a disc/drum grease that’s perfectly suited for your travel trailer’s wheel bearings.

#4: Sta-Lube SL3121

This aluminum complex grease is blue in color to reflect its marine qualities. This grease is highly water resistant and comes in a tub or in a tube for use with grease guns. It is temperature rated to over 500°F so it should meet all your needs for travel trailer wheel bearings. Just be careful with compatibility and be sure to clean out other types of grease before repacking the bearings with this.

This grease is highly water-resistant and it is temperature rated to over 500°F so it should meet all your needs for travel trailer wheel bearings.

#3: Star Brite

Star Brite is a trusted name in the marine industry, so if your travel trailer’s wheel bearings are in need of superior waterproof protection that will resist the corrosive effects of salt and moisture, look no further.

If your travel trailer’s wheel bearings are in need of superior waterproof protection that will resist the corrosive effects of salt and moisture, look no further!

#2: Lucas Oil 10301 Heavy Duty

Excellent performance for a budget-friendly price is possible! This heavy-duty grease from Lucas Oil does the job without a lot of bells and whistles.

#1: Plews & Edelmann UltraLube 11320 LMX

This bio-based grease combines all the premium advantages of LMX Red greases with the quality and natural advantages that come with being vegetable-based. Plews and Edelmann is a reputable and reliable brand. As you explore beautiful places with your travel trailer, you’ll rest easy knowing that your choice of wheel bearing grease isn’t polluting them.

This bio-based grease combines all the premium advantages of LMX Red greases with the quality and natural advantages that come with being vegetable-based.

Comparison Chart

How often should you grease travel trailer bearings.

The wheel bearings on a travel trailer should be greased and repacked at least once per year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first. Even if your travel trailer isn’t used frequently or if you don’t tow it long distances, grease begins to break down over time. If you haven’t serviced your wheel bearings within the last year, it is time to do so.

How do you grease travel trailer bearings?

Servicing your travel trailer bearings is something you can pay a qualified technician to do, but if you have the interest and some basic mechanical skills, it is also a job that you can learn to do yourself. It is important to your safety that your wheel bearings are repacked properly and that your wheels are re-installed according to the proper specifications. Consult your owner’s manual for information specific to your travel trailer. Search YouTube for video instructions, or consult this step-by-step guide .

How much grease will I need for my travel trailer bearings?

One 14 oz. tube of wheel bearing grease should be enough to repack your travel trailer’s bearings. To make sure you have enough of the same kind, consider purchasing a second tube. Stocking up is not advised, though, unless you have multiple vehicles to service. The grease will break down over time, so you’ll need to purchase a new tube for next year.

What are EZ Lube travel trailer bearings?

EZ Lube bearings are designed in such a way that the grease can be replaced easily, by simply squeezing new grease into a specific opening. The pressure will push the old grease out until all of the wheel bearing grease has been replaced.

What does it mean to repack the bearings on a travel trailer?

Repacking is the process of removing the wheel of your travel trailer in order to access the bearings, then cleaning them and adding new grease in order to keep these vital moving parts properly lubricated.

Top Choice: Plews & Edelmann UltraLube 11320 LMX

There are many options for wheel bearing grease that will keep your wheels rolling and keep you and your travel trailer safely on the road for miles to come. Any of the 10 lubricating greases on the list will do the job well, and the price variation isn’t large. Ultimately the decision comes down to which specific functions and features are a priority for you and your travel choices. 

For our money, if we have the option to make an environmentally-friendly choice, then it is worth a few extra dollars to do so. In this case, the biodegradable, bio-based UltraLube from Plews and Edelmann offers an eco-friendly option without sacrificing quality or function, and with only a marginal price difference. That’s what makes the Plews and Edelmann UltraLube 11320 LMX stand out from the crowd.

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