Travel Trailer Axle Grease
 

My travel trailer has the EZLube axles on it, and i wanted to top off the grease in them.
the trailer has a red grease in it, but i cant find out any info on what it actually is.
Called the dealer i got the trailer from, and they just said its high speed grease from oreilly auto

My question is, would it be OK to use Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty Grease to top the bearings off?

or would i need to pump out all the old grease?

Most of the old-timers in "RV World" (the Escapees forums, etc.) recommend not using the E-Z Lube feature. It's prone to pushing grease out the rear seals and rendering the brakes useless (I'm sure Dexter denies this). Most of us (including a bunch of the experienced guys over on the Grand Design forum) pull, clean, inspect, and re-pack bearing the old-fashioned way. In addition, unless the hubs have been submersed like those on a boat trailer - and assuming they were lubed properly during assembly - there should be no need to "top off" the grease.

Rob

For sure the best way to push grease into the brake linings is pumping grease into the EZ lube fittings.

I think this is the grease I have been using https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b...rtridge&pos=14

It happens to be red in color.

thanks for the heads up on the issues of the Ez Lube, i'll just leave them as is, and re pack them at the end of the season.

That is exactly what I would suggest. I think the standard recommendation is every 5,000-10,000 miles. I carry an infrared and check my temperatures when we stop for fuel and as long as all the wheels are running about the same, I figure I am pretty safe. I normally at least pull my hubs and have a look-see annually.

Don't know how many miles you do in a season, but most of us full-timers use a 12 month/12,000 mile or 24 month/24,000 mile schedule. We tow 10K-12K miles/year and use the latter schedule. If you're not doing high miles, you could easily get by with every two years.

Rob

This year i will put about 10,000 on the trailer, but normally i wont be doing more than 5,000 per year.

I had that exact problem with my first ever trailer. Had ez lube axles and I pumped them up and greased my brakes.

I have had ez lube axles on other trailers since and its pretty easy to manage the problem. I now pump the great in until I see it start to push toward the cap. Once it moves, I stop. Never had a problem since.

We discussed this issue quite a bit in the distant past. The crazy thing is the manufacturers recommend you break down the hub regardless of the presence of EZ lube.

Here is the grease I use on my EZ Lube axles: Valvoline SynPower Synthetic Automotive Grease.

It has the exact component in the grease that the Dexter sticker on the side of my trailer calls for - NLGI #2 GC-LB lithium complex EP grease. I keep this grease in a separate grease gun just for using on my trailer.

Every June during my annual maintenance routine I put one pump of grease in each zerk fitting while rotating the tire. I put at most 3,000 miles on my trailer a year. Once I figure out how to pull everything apart I'll start doing my own repack. Until then, I let my RV tech do it every other year.

I've used Pennzoil Wheel Bearing grease (yellow/gold) and never had an issue (YMMV). Another thing to remember is that large amounts of grease, like inside of an E-Z-Lube cap, are heat sinks. Obviously, that's something that you don't want. I had the E-Z-Lube zerks on my old Wells Cargo and never used them. It's just easier to have one of these and re-grease on a schedule.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...771880b051.jpg

Whys everyone afraid to get their palms dirty these days? :confused:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...04ad0ea077.jpg
Our 10 yr old after packing her last bearing for the 5th wheel

She was playing with it by the time i got my hands clean enough to take her picture, but she did great packing bearings with me this year. Blob of grease in the palm, pack em in. Used the Oriely's high temp synthetic stuff that comes in a peanut type can.

An no grease on her clothes! You won't have to explain that one to mom. :)

My wife did the bearing packing when we (yep, she was wrenching under the TT with me too!) upgraded to 8 lug hubs with bigger bearings last year, she did wear gloves to keep her freshly done nails intact. We use Mobil 1 red Synthetic grease on our bearings, over 40K towing miles on 3 trailers with excellent bearing performance.

Attachment 285112

I use Lucas red n tacky.