momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 DH needs to grease the axles on our Four Winds Travel Trailer. He attempted to remove the caps with a flat head screwdriver as was suggested online, but it would not budge. Any advice on what he should do is greatly appreciated. He won't take the camper out until it is done and some of us are getting a bit restless here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Use a small chisel and hammer or a big pair of channel pliers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted July 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bigdisneydaddy 9 Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 Use a small chisel and hammer or a big pair of channel pliers.I usually use a small flat blade screwdriver and hold it at an angle where the cap flange and the hub meet, a few taps usually drives it in and then you can twist it to start the cap removal, work it around the cap twisting it and you should be able to pry it off. Check Dexter axle website for maintenance manuals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Desperately need some help. As I mentioned DH said we needed to grease the axles before we took the travel trailer out. Having never done this before he didn't know where to start. He was mistakenly told that we had the easy type to grease. Nope. Not the case. A friend of mine's husband met him at the storage lot where we store the camper hoping to help out. Well since it was not the easy simple method he wasn't sure what to do. They were able to get to this point, but from there we have no idea. Steve says apparently there are three options: 1 of course was the simple method that this obviously will not work for. The other is you have to completely take the whole thing apart. If this is the case then how is he suppose to get this cap thing off cause apparently it is not budging. The third is he is not suppose to do anything. Here is a picture. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TnBob 311 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 That is not a 5 min job, or even an hour job, you need to pry the cap off pull it all apart clean the bearings, pack them, put new seals in and KNOW how to put it together. Too tight you burn the bearings up, not enough grease you burn the bearings up, too loose you burn the bearings up, packed wrong you burn the bearings up, burn the bearings up and it could cost you a lot and be dangerous. I am guessing if he doesn't know how to get the cap off he hasn't done them before, I would tell him to get someone who has before he tries it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Ok. He had a feeling that was the case for this one. He has tried to pry the cap off and it won't budge. Any advice on how to do this? Also since we have never greased the axles yet and we bought the trailer new in 2007 (an 06 Model) is it safe for us to bring it to Defeated Creek or do I need to look into tenting it there? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TnBob 311 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 people put 100,000 miles on cars and never pack the bearings, they are the same thing. Personally I would but you have to make that decision for yourself. I have the easy ones but I did pack them last yrs just for S&G's and they didn't really need it. As I said people drive 100's of thousand miles but trailers are a little different but not that much, what I don't know either how many miles you have on the trailer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Thanks Bob. That makes me feel better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 The farthest we have ever towed it was to Gatlinburg. We made two trips there. Most of our trips have been within an hour of home. The first year we got it we were gone almost every weekend in the summer. As the kids got older and their activities increased we have barely had it out all. I can safely say we have traveled no where near 100,000 miles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TnBob 311 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 I'm not saying they shouldn't be done, they always need to be taken apart every couple yrs and checked and new grease packed into the bearings, along with new seals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Momoffive aka Loretta 34 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 We had a bearing burn out on our pop up on our way to the Fort. Dang thing never made it. Left it in SC for repair. I took it to an RV place to have them do a full inspection and road ready tune up. From what I understood, they didn't grease the inside. Make sure you have somebody who knows what they are doing. We were lucky, my in-laws were behind us and saw the smoke before anything really bad could happen. Good luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Bob, I knew what you were saying. Steve is afraid something will happen to it on the way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Katman1356...Jason 1,140 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Yvonne I was recently doing some research to prepare myself for all the work of owning the pop up we are getting. Do a search in YouTube on how to grease bearings and there are a bunch of videos that might help your husband Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ftwildernessguy 778 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Greasing the bearings isn't hard, just messy and time consuming. I used to do the popup every year. I don't do the big trailer. I pay the guy to do it every two years or so. As far as the "easy" bearings to grease, you are better off without them. I have EZLubes on the Outback and never use them. Too easy to blow the rear seal and get grease on the brakes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Santa ... Shannon 160 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Just whack the cap with a hammer to get an edge lifted then work it off with a screw driver. Take particular note of the play in the hub, and the resistance of the spin before you disassemble, you'll want it to match when you're done. Have a mayo jar of gas, new cotter pins, and lots of shop towels handy before starting. It's really not that hard, but can be a little intimidating. Pull everything apart, wipe off as much grease as possible, shake the bearings in the gas to dissolve all the packed grease, dry thoroughly (very!), repack, reassemble and match play/resistance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 740 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Dexter makes a "never lube" bearing and that is what you may have. I would check with the dealer or the factory to see if that is the case. If it is you don't want to mess with them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 OK now I am confused as to which type we have. I know for sure it is not the quick squirt some in go on your way.Bob says looking at the picture I posted above that it is the more time consuming one. Grumpy and Grandma say it may be the kind we have to do nothing too. Is it possible to tell which kind based on the picture? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grumpy and Grandma 740 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Is it possible to tell which kind based on the picture?Maybe, maybe not. I would contact Dexter Axle, or the company who made the trailer. If you contact Dexter get the serial number off the axle, should be a tag on the tube. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TnBob 311 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 The never lube caps are totally different, I had them on my last trailer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Dexter Nev-r-lube axles usually have the "nev-r-lube" marking on the cap. If you were to pull the cap you would see a sealed bearing, not an open bearing with grease packed in. It would be very obvious. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TnBob 311 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 . It would be very obvious. not to everyone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Point was if someone were to pull a cap and see a nice clean smooth sealed bearing it would be obvious compared to a greasy one with visible ball or roller bearings. Not to be rude but if someone doesn't know the difference between a sealed bearing and an open bearing it is probably best to pay to have it done...or at least do some studying up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
momof3kids-Yvonne 596 Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 You all are the best!We have decided against bringing it. Steve says it is stressing him out. Besides the axle work, we also need to replace the tires. He said he noticed that there appears to be some dry rotting. Never mind that I told him months ago that we needed new tires. Did he listen to me? Of course not.OK need to let it go. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TnBob 311 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Point was if someone were to pull a cap and see a nice clean smooth sealed bearing it would be obvious compared to a greasy one with visible ball or roller bearings. Not to be rude but if someone doesn't know the difference between a sealed bearing and an open bearing it is probably best to pay to have it done...or at least do some studying up.agreed 100% Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.