Trailer Hubs question?

[callwakeup]

took my boat in for trailer service just now; shop suggested i change my Ranger trailer hubs from oil bath to grease-- any quick advice? thank you

[mark poulson]

I did that.
This is what Pacific Trailer told me.
Oil bath bearings weren't meant for submersion in water, they were designed for trucks.
The cold water quenches the bearing's metal parts, which are hot from motoring, and makes the shrink. The cold water is pulled past the seals by the sudden drop in internal pressure as the oil also cools and shrinks.
I had that happen to my Ranger trailers bearings. The oil levels looked fine, but I was seeing water instead of oil.
I had may bearings switched out to grease bearings, just like my old trailer had, and was able to monitor them myself. This meant new spindles, too, because the old bearings had frozen and scored the spindles.

[callwakeup]

thanks Mark! always great to hear from an old CBC'er.... i appreciate your detailed response

[Trace]

I had oil bath hubs that leaked. All I had to do was put new grease seals on the back side of the hubs, pack the bearings with grease, and install bearing buddies and grease them up. No issues since.

[Dave Brabec]

I hated the oil fill hubs . My 05 I had always leaked. I have vault hubs on my current trailer . Way better system

[bustout]

In that year range, Ranger changed to a different company for their axles, etc. It used to be UFP and they changed to tie down engineering.

If you have the tie down engineering version (see tongue on trailer for axle mfg) , its junk. Replacement parts difficult to get and ranger recommend going to vault hubs (grease).

The UFP brand supposed to be better, Ranger still sells replacement parts. I have an 03 tandem. So far so good. no leaks.

[zdbm2004]

X3 to the Vault hubs. Call Pacific trailer and see what changes over to your existing set up. I purchased mine (Basscat trailer) from Pacific and they were good to work with.

[Tony M]

Vortex hubs are the way to go.

[mark poulson]

X3 to the Vault hubs. Call Pacific trailer and see what changes over to your existing set up. I purchased mine (Basscat trailer) from Pacific and they were good to work with.

My experience, too.

[CBS]

Hated those Cool Hubs I was always anticipating a problem. I finally got one when I launched at Orwood. I noticed an oil slick emanating from my passenger side wheel. When I pulled the trailer out to check I found the entire outer hub housing had fallen off. Fortunately I put a call into Boatmasters, Drew got me back on the road in 2 hours. Since then I retro-fit with grease bearings and Buddy Bra and I now sleep much better the night before I launch.

[Mitch]

I've had Cool Hubs on 2 different trailers, never had any problems, and now have Vault Hubs. If I were to be changing from Cool Hubs, I would advise going to Vault.

[Robb R]

I have bearing buddies on mine ---- Here is what the owner at Orlandi Trailer told me .
Specifically for bearing buddies -- most people do not use them correctly .
He advised --
Bring a grease gun with you to the lake , upon arrival AND when all the grease has slightly settled due to heat , use the grease gun and carefully add just enough grease to eliminate the " air " pocket created when the grease heats up and settles . That will avoid the inrush of cold lake water into the bearing area and keep any potential rust from starting . Be extra careful not to OVERFILL and blow out the seals .
Additionally , I bring an I/R gun to check temps on my bearing hubs and tires to ensure I have consistent temps .If I get a " rise " on one of the hubs in temp , that should be a sign of bearing wear . I also use it to check the sidewalls of my tires to make sure I have consistent temps ---- you can buy an I/R gun on Amazon for about $20.00

[will.o]

Hello Mark,
Did you use Pacific Trailers in Newark to replace your hubs and spindles? And was it recently? I'm trying to get a handle on where the mechanic went when they closed a few months ago. I'd like to get some work done on my Ranger trailer. Hopefully someone on this forum has the answer.
Thanks.

[Old dog]

I had oil filled on all 4 of my Stratos trailers. The last for 15 years. Once you learn how simple they are to rebuild you’ll like them. I just rebuild them, 2 O-rings, every 3-4 years. No leaking, no grease gun & no remembering to add grease. They have a rear seal just like grease filled bearings. They gave a sight glass face, which most people don’t even realize they have, & when you notice the oil has turned slightly clouded it’s time for the rebuild.

[mark poulson]

Hello Mark,
Did you use Pacific Trailers in Newark to replace your hubs and spindles? And was it recently? I'm trying to get a handle on where the mechanic went when they closed a few months ago. I'd like to get some work done on my Ranger trailer. Hopefully someone on this forum has the answer.
Thanks.

No, I used the Pacific Trailer down south, because I was living in SoCal at the time. Jorday at Anglers Marine had them build a new trailer for me.
After I moved up here, I needed some more trailer work done to the winch, so I called Pacific down south for a referral. At that time they said their shop up here had closed.
Maybe they reopened it. Call them and ask. (888) 479-6920 was the number I had five years ago. If that doesn't work, call Jordan at Anglers amd ask him for their number. (714) 666-2628

[will.o]

Thanks Marc. I called down to Chino a month or so ago and the front office had no info on the mechanic.
Meanwhile another forum member gave me a local recommendation (Thanks!) so I think I'm good for now.

[callwakeup]

truly appreciate all the responses and helpful notes on this topic thread.. ive come to find that the 2005 class ranger trailers used some real different engineering - Tie Down hitch and break assembly's and these oil filled bearings for the wheels. Both of which appear to be a bear to service and find parts for.
thanks again to all above.

[mark poulson]

truly appreciate all the responses and helpful notes on this topic thread.. ive come to find that the 2005 class ranger trailers used some real different engineering - Tie Down hitch and break assembly's and these oil filled bearings for the wheels. Both of which appear to be a bear to service and find parts for.
thanks again to all above.

And really weak axle mounts. That was not Ranger's finest hour.