Cost To Repack Travel Trailer Wheel Bearings: How Much Is It?
Not everyone is a mechanic or a carpenter. Thus doing it themselves is not a viable option. Repacking bearings is not everyone’s cup of tea either. It pays to hire professionals even though it may cost a little bit more.
The cost to hire a professional to repack your bearings is around $300. That seems to be a standard price across the nation. You may be able to find some mechanics who will do it cheaper but that would require some searching.
To learn more about the cost of this task, just continue to read our article. It explores the issue so you can have the best information to make your repacking decision. Take a few minutes to see how this data helps you.
Cost To Repack Travel Trailer Wheel Bearings
This will depend on the size of your trailer, the number of wheels, axles, and so on. Some people have quoted a figure between $160 to $200 but that cost may be for those tiny horse trailers and not a 14,000-pound 5th wheel.
A more reasonable cost has been quoted between 4300 and $500 with the larger Class A trailers costing more. Different owners on a discussion forum for RV owners have stated that $300 is a good price and about average.
While the cost may seem high to you, there is a lot of work involved and it is the labor, not the parts that will be most expensive. That is why most people hire this task.
Not only do you need special tools for some trailer axles, but it is also just a lot of work and you are bending at the knee quite a bit. That can be hard on some RV owners.
Boat Trailer Wheel Bearing Replacement Cost
Some people may have two sets of prices. One price will be for the parts which may range between $150 and $300.
The second price will be for labor and that can cost you between $225 and $350. Of course, these are just ballpark figures and the prices you are quoted will depend on the mechanic you use.
Some experts have said that you should have the bearings repacked every 20,000 miles. If you travel a lot, this can be a very high expense. But if you do not travel a lot, then your costs will not be so great.
Others have stated that for boats, you may be looking a $200 per wheel, parts, and labor included. You may be able to find a deal and there are some RV owners willing to help out for a lower price. But it can still be expensive to have friends do the work.
Where To Get Trailer Bearings Repacked Near Me
Since this is a common repair done to all vehicles, you will not have trouble finding a mechanic or auto shop, etc., that will repack your bearings. Some RV owners go to their dealers to have the work done.
They will also inspect and clean your brakes and do other wheel and axle maintenance. The best way to find someone near you is to look for RV repair shops in the closest city or town near where you are camping.
When you are out sightseeing in your car, take some time to look for these shops. They are everywhere as just about everyone has a car or a truck. Or just do a local search on your computer.
Since not everyone will handle RV trailers, they may not be as populous as auto repair shops. We cannot be more specific as RV owners are located all over the country and in some fairly remote locations.
Do I Need To Repack The Trailer Wheel Bearings?
Yes, you do. Bearings are an important part of your trailer and help the wheels roll better. The grease also protects all the metal parts from friction. If you do not repack your bearings, then the grease loses its viscosity and damage can occur.
Not just to the bearings but to your axle wheels, etc., When that happens you are looking to have the bearings repacked as well as paying for any repair work that needs to be done.
Some experts have said that you should repack your bearings every 20,000 miles. Others have said to do it once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Still more people say 12,000 or once a year. When you do it will be up to you and your budget. But you should do it regularly so you do not have any problems with your axles and wheels.
How Often do You Repack Trailer Wheel Bearings?
As you can see the frequency rate is not universal or standard across the board. Everyone has their own opinion on this topic. One thing is for sure though, when you buy your trailer check the wheel bearings to see what shape they are in.
Then either mark the mileage on as best as you can or have the bearings repacked soon after your purchase. Then mark the date on a calendar and each year check your bearings to see if they need to be repacked.
The signs that tell you that you waited too long are as follows:
- you see smoke coming from your wheels
- the metal around the wheels is hot
- the wheels do not rotate smoothly
- the wheels make a squeaky noise when they turn
Some Final Words
Repacking bearings is a maintenance necessity. You do not want to go too long between repacking duties. If you can’t do it yourself, there is no shame in that. Most RV and trailer owners can’t do it.
If you are in that group of people, just do some shopping around and see if you can get a better price than has been quoted above. If you do not do this chore, you could be setting yourself up for some expensive roadside problems later on down the road, pun intended.
