So doing some general checks - I have a 1.5 year old trailer and today is its 4th time I have had to tighten the Hubs up. The trailer has bearing buddies which I was told not to over fill - i.e 6 pumps every 6 months or so. 

Mine is a tandem set up carrying 2.2 tonne. I have had it three years now and haven't had to touch them. If the trailer is going to sit in one position for long periods with out use and you have a solid base to store it on I would recommend jacking the axles up and taking the weight off the wheels so that the rollers in the bearings don't have a chance to get corrosion fretting. I haven't done this mainly because the unit sits on the grass. A friend who had a smaller unit had to change his bearings every WOF so I got him to jack it up in winter when he didn't use it and since then has had no issues. Back in the old days we were forever changing wheel bearings in cars and trailers but I think improvements in materials for seals, bearing quality and probably lubricants are much better. Now you can drive a vehicle for 400000 km and have no issues with ball joints, bearings or any of the things that used to give issues. I still lift each wheel every 6 months and listen for any noise and check for play ( similar to having a wof check)

My opinion, change them now before Xmas, if they have needed tightening that often, they are of poor quality and will soon fail.

One of my jobs this weekend in between finishing my boat off, Jack up, check bearings and change brake pads. Pads done every year regardless.

They shouldn't need adjusting that often. Although you should be checking them that often.

Everyone makes mistakes, it's how that mistake is dealt with that shows you're dealing with a good company or not, and whether or not they might get used again.

Last Sunday blew a bearing couple of k from home,go to repco,holden or ford,dunno,so brought both,nope neither fit,take hub in.Arr 52mm ,fitted not right but enough to get home. 

Barings have been covered many times here in the forms.
 How to check, how often, how to replace..

Also what bearings to use, where and how to source etc.. what not to get..

Bearing buddies how to install and maintain, how they work..
And other stuff like broken studs on the side of the road.

A lot has been made of not being one of those being on the side of the road.

Also there have been snide, underlying BS comments about those who do post the how tos etc.

Maybe more time and notice should be made of such advice than continuous pin pricking of those ppl

Does jacking up each wheel at least 0nce a yr, preferably 2X per yr... grab the top and bottom of the tyre and shake hard to feel for any play... then spin the wheel, see if spins free and no rumble noise ....
 All Too hard?

Steps wrote: Barings have been covered many times here in the forms.  How to check, how often, how to replace.. Also what bearings to use, where and how to source etc.. what not to get.. Bearing buddies how to install and maintain, how they work.. And other stuff like broken studs on the side of the road. A lot has been made of not being one of those being on the side of the road. Also there have been snide, underlying BS comments about those who do post the how tos etc. Maybe more time and notice should be made of such advice than continuous pin pricking of those ppl Does jacking up each wheel at least 0nce a yr, preferably 2X per yr... grab the top and bottom of the tyre and shake hard to feel for any play... then spin the wheel, see if spins free and no rumble noise ....  All Too hard?

When the WOF is 6 monthly due trailer age,there is the bearing check twice yearly,now WOF issued in November and only towed  about 100km since,point is you never know when one is going to go. But taking hub to make sure you get exactly the right bearings and still get supplied with wrong ones not a lot you can but go back and try again. Why would you get one 52mm and 1x 48mm when both are 52mm.And it appers all bearing are the same,marine/non marine,marine difference is you get a seal. Where has the expertise gone too??

There's nothing stopping you doing your own bearing check. I do mine every 3 months

Yep I even write in felt on the mud guard the date of the last check.. Espec when trailers that have a load on remain stationary for periods of time..
 Back in the day it was common for caravans, boats to be jacked up at the back (or a block for a boat) and lot of the weight taken up with the jockey .. and a potato sack hung over the tyre to protect from sun.

 And lets not forget the old trick to try and fool the WoF guy.. a bearing check just before the wof.. bit of play rumble, so quick grease , re torque , and often will pass... by time get home and if check would be a fail.
So have your wof, on dud bearings and happily think because has wof its fixed...
Spent many yrs/ decades in a near everyday in a auto workshop in Sth Auckland , also reading Radiator at morning teas.  And if you know what Radiator is you will understand what I am saying. WoF where booked in after morning teas.. Shop was 2.8 and 2.9 for some 30yrs.. and only some will know what that means..
 But what the hell would I know...?

It only takes one trip, a bit of water in and you have a bearing on its way to failure. Especially bad if you tow long distance.



 Yep espec long distance, even a 30min open road is enough.
What happens is usually ambient temps are down in the morning.
Bearings hubs etc cold.
 Head to the ramp, hubs bearing warm up..normal.
 You back down into the cold water, sudden cooling of hubs bearings, vaccuum pulls when hubs submerged.. and sucks in a little bit water.
Even more so with generally lower fresh river water temps.
Espec if have std , and not double marine grade seals in the back.

And that is where correctly pressured bearing buddies come in.
When the vacuum is pulled the spring pressure still on the 'buddies take up the vacuum.

 So 5  things generally cause marine trailer/ water failure
1/ incorrect rear seals
2/ Dont use brand marine bearing grease.. eg Evinrude RED triple guard... and dont trust your local service shop to actually use it either.
3/ ppl who dump the trailer way deeper than best practice  and what trailer is designed for... (thinking deep makes easier launch/ retirive
4/ dont check their  bearing buddies pressures
5/ Over tighten the bearing because WoF comes up and a little play.
6/ Sit with full weight on the hubs without moving for long periods of times.

 Get it right , do the regular checks as Dave suggests and bearing last out a good decade and more..and without any need to adjust castle nuts.

I take the attitude.. bearings dont fail.. the person does.. because haven't done due maintenance/care.
We keep blaming inanimate objects and others rather than take responsibility these days.