Trailer Bearings / Hubs: Oil Bath or Grease ?

[HS]

Looking for preferences, opinions and experiences on trailer wheel bearing lubrication.

My last trailer was grease with bearing buddies, never any problems. I liked the idea of positive pressure from the bearing buddy; whether it actually helped keep water out or if that was the function of the seals, I do not know.

Been reading about oil bath bearings and looking for opinions on those as well.

Thanks in advance.

[TxJole]

I'm not a fan of oil bath, nor is Ram-Lan or most other trailer manf. If it was to leak down your done, grease you atleast have alittle time to make it to a good fix point.

[east tx skier]

A friend of mine with a MC trailer was back and forth to the dealer countless times a couple of years ago with one oil bath seal failure over another. I have never had any trouble with grease fittings and bearing buddies.

[RideButter]

My understanding is the oil bath provides better cooling and better lubrication, must be why long haul truckers use them. The main disadvantage shows when you don't use them often, the seals can dry out at the top because the whole seal is not coated in oil. This drying can lead to leakage and obviously be a problem. That being said, I tow a lot with oil bath and had a leak once, caught it on the day it happened, towed it home, refilled with 50wt oil and never had a problem since.

I have had bearing buddies fail on me too.

I say light usage-grease, frequent usage-oil. All depends on how you expect to use it.

[ski4evr]

When I added second axle brakes, the manufacturer told me if I would replace the oil bath cups to the bearing buddy style, he would send me new ones free just to get the oil baths off the boat trailer. He stated that oil bath is great if allowed to cool naturally, but dipping the hot seals and oil in the lake, cools too rapidly and creates a vacuum which draws in water. They had a rash of wheels flying off travelling down the interstate, and stopped supplying the oil bath for boat trailers. Never had a problem and towed for 2 hrs each way every weekend. Took the deal and haven't had a problem with the trailer buddy's either. UFP was very good to work with.

[thedude]

I have UFP oil bath bearings and trailered many long trips plus 45 min to and from the ramp for 6 years without issues. Just change the oil every few years.