Oil Hubs VS Grease Hubs on trailer

This. All of this. Its posible to get them rolling again sure. But dealing with grease pack can be a #### nightmare if it gets cold enough. That said grease is usually better then oil in most applications but like anything oil has its advatages.

 

All modern grease trailers are running “semi liquid synthetic”. It’s super thin even when very cold.

They shouldn’t require re-packing unless you have a problem. And the grease is very hard to find and expensive. After I reset my bearings on my new to me trailer they literally shouldn’t need any maintenance at least for 5 years.

 

I am an oil guy. If quality seals are installed properly and wheel bearing adjustment is correct I do not see high failure rates. Use a light and look up in the hub during PM's. Seals can usually be caught early. You can use a magnet and check for metal in an oil lubricated hub but not in grease. A lot of trailers running here are 20 - 30 years old.
Some of the newer ones came with semi - fluid synthetic grease. They are regional and rolling over 10 years. Just started repacking them when brakes are replaced. A 5 gallon bucket was about $200.00. None have failed so far. I cannot call that wrong even though I do not prefer it. Nasty to work with compared to oil.

 

Oil timer taught me to see if the hub is not overly hot to put a tube of grease up to the open hole in the hub cap and squeeze all the grease into it you can. Maybe back the brake off. Check and grease it along on the way home. If it is not hot you are not toast.
Just do not care for conventional grease in OTR semi's and or once a year service but to each their own.

 

Maverick trailer, grease hubs and tire inflation system.

 

Just did a couple blown grease seals on a gooseneck recently too.

 

I have an Extreme Trailer tri axle flatbed. I bought it during covid off the lot so i didn't have a choice. I have grease hubs, the techs at the dealer loved them, plenty of trailers around town have the grease. 2 1/2 years later zero problems in the PNW and western Canada.

 

Why oil is better when multiple trucks drop and hook. Grease hub, quick look and everything looks fine.