Northwest Fishing Reports

I need advice from my salty brethren who never fail me!:thumleft: I am about to take my little trailer on it's first long roadtrip to Eastern Washington. I have no reason to anticipate problems, but that is when they usually happen. The trailer has "bearing buddies" and was pretty well taken care of by previous owner. However, I would like to know how to change the bearings on the road if need be and where to get extra ones. Any how to links or advice or someone living near Sammamish who would be willing to give me a quick tutorial?

Bring it over here. Make sure you have extra set or 2 of bearings, and seals, and the grease cup as they can fall off once in awhile.

Make sure you jack up the trailer side/tire with the jack under the spring plate as the beam will bend if you jack it up in the middle of the axle beam.

I replaced mine last year. I checked west marine first and found that I could get them cheaper at the auto parts store (make sure and tell them it is for a boat trailer). Go with the advice given above and carry an extra set of grease cups/bearing buddies. Mine were not bearing buddies but I did have one come off. It went on hard and didn't seam loose but came off on the freeway. Not sure how all the physics worked but the wife was not impressed when she could hear it bounce down the road and see it go past us. There are lots of web sites that explain how to do the replacement. If in dought I would change them out before going over the hill. I would not want to do it at the side of the road. At the very least jack the trailer up and spin the wheels and listen for bearing noise and give the wheel a shake to see if it has too much play.

Its hard to answer this without knowing your mechanical abilities. They are super simple if you know what your doing.

How long since they have been serviced?

Buy Bearing buddies and service them when in doubt. $2 worth of grease, some new seals and an hour of time will put your mind at ease, add bearing buddies and your golden.

If you lack the ability to do the work yourself take it to limit out marine and they will take care of you :thumleft:

Here is how I do mine...


Alternate taping on the top, then bottom of the bearing buddie to walk it off the hub. Use a plastic or wood mallet so you do not damage the bearing buddy.

A little grease cleaning...


Remove cotter pin.
Remove big nut and bearing washer.

Pull wheel assembly off of the trailer and try to make sure you dont drop the bearings.

Clean it all up and replace the bad parts.

Make sure you take extra grease and the pump or can pack it well when you done with the repair.

If the back seal cooperates, I can do one side in under 15 min on my 1 axle trailer. 30 min for both wheels.

If you replace the bearings besure and replace the races also. Other wise the new bearings will not last.

Amx wrote:Bring it over here. Make sure you have extra set or 2 of bearings, and seals, and the grease cup as they can fall off once in awhile.

Make sure you jack up the trailer side/tire with the jack under the spring plate as the beam will bend if you jack it up in the middle of the axle beam.

How do I know what size bearings I need?

reigndawgs wrote:

Amx wrote:Bring it over here. Make sure you have extra set or 2 of bearings, and seals, and the grease cup as they can fall off once in awhile.

Make sure you jack up the trailer side/tire with the jack under the spring plate as the beam will bend if you jack it up in the middle of the axle beam.

How do I know what size bearings I need?

Ya have to know the make, model and year of trailer.

Or copy the numbers off the bearings and seal, AND take them to the store if possible.

I stopped by Les Schwab and had them look at them and order the new bearings and seals for me.

Amx wrote:

reigndawgs wrote:

Amx wrote:Bring it over here. Make sure you have extra set or 2 of bearings, and seals, and the grease cup as they can fall off once in awhile.

Make sure you jack up the trailer side/tire with the jack under the spring plate as the beam will bend if you jack it up in the middle of the axle beam.

How do I know what size bearings I need?

Ya have to know the make, model and year of trailer.

Or copy the numbers off the bearings and seal, AND take them to the store if possible.

Any store you would recommend?

Black Diamond Auto Parts. Should be a place in Enumclaw, but I forget the name, it's only been 40 some years since I was there. :-)

And I don't know the auto parts stores in Issaquah.

Check Oreilly Auto Parts. Search for "Bearing Kits"

I was told by the Les Schwab guy that the trailer bearings typically come in 2 or 3 standard sizes.

Rich McVey wrote:Check Oreilly Auto Parts. Search for "Bearing Kits"

I was told by the Les Schwab guy that the trailer bearings typically come in 2 or 3 standard sizes.

ANy ballpark idea what Les Schwab charges to service a small boat trailer?

I paid about $50+ tax (per wheel) on the trailer for my 17ft Bayliner and that was the races pressed in and seals installed. All I had to do was take it home and assemble.

reigndawgs wrote:

Rich McVey wrote:Check Oreilly Auto Parts. Search for "Bearing Kits"

I was told by the Les Schwab guy that the trailer bearings typically come in 2 or 3 standard sizes.

ANy ballpark idea what Les Schwab charges to service a small boat trailer?

If you're gonna let someone else do it, take it to Limit Out Marine in Pacific, south of Auburn.