Servicing my trailer bearings

[rickasbury]

I have a 10k tandem axle trailer I need to service the bearings. I did this when we first bought the boat 10 years ago - which sounds alarming but that's probably 2500 miles tops. The water is more the concerns than the miles.
I did it the one time having never done it before. I'm bringing the boat home which draws the ire of the city so I need to do this like a Nascar pit stop.
I have a temp gun and I keep an eye on the hub temps even on the short runs. I have one that is always about 20 degrees hotter.
I saw one guy on you tube who said the red shop rags should not be use as threads can get on the bearing surfaces..not sure what I should be using.
I do not know any of the bearing or seal numbers. That will be the first thing I get and check with my local shop for inventory. The one that is running hot I for sure will replace, I'd like to have a second set on hand plus replace the seals.
If I have any pitting or rust on the spindle or seal surface, what should I clean that up with? What grit paper can I use?
Clean parts with brake cleaner? How many cans for 4 hubs?
How many tubes of grease and what kind?
Type of rags?
I'm also doing this on asphalt in front of my house. I'll put a tarp down, I have buckets I can spray into and will find something to catch fluid from the spindles.
I'll look at some you tubes on hand packing the bearings..I see contraptions available to press the grease through consistently but I have not priced them.
The boat will be on the trailer- but another goal would be to replace the carpet on the bunks - is that special material? What is used to attach it? I should ve able to do that at the ramp after I slide the boat in the water quickly? That I will do later but want to line up what I need.
Thanks! I need to complete in 2 days max. If I find something that needs additional repair, that will be a come back to or park it if its not safe.

 

[alldodge]

Many times the heat coming from the bearings is actually coming from the brakes. Might need to replace the brakes, or any of it's parts, won't know until you get into it

Bearing sizes are pretty standard, getting the right ones should be easy

Using shop rags is no issue same as most any other rag (old Tee shirt, other). You have 10K axles and if a small fiber is in the bear it will be smashed up quick.

If there is just very slight pitting it can be cleaned up with emery cloth
I can of brake clean should do all axles. If pitting is deep you would need a speedy sleeve or replace the axle, all depends on how bad

Tubes of grease? If you have easy lube type axles you might need 2 tubes, if they are you pack type, then one will work

Hand packing is easy enough just messy. This is the way I do mine, just take your time and ensure you see grease come through every spot. Bearing packers are pretty cheap (under $20)
Can use any kind of carpet for bunks, even some old carpet someone just removed from there floors. They sell precut carpet. Use stainless steel staples or galvanized roofing nails

 

[tpenfield]

I just did the brakes on my Tri-axle trailer. In doing so, I also took a look at the bearings. some are better than others. On the wheel that gets hotter than the others see if the bearing is tighter than the rest. else it could be the brake dragging on that wheel, as AD said.

Depending on the type of bearing system you have pumping them with grease can be a good way to do a quick check to see what the exiting grease looks like. That can tell you which wheels may need attention vs. some others.

My axles are the 'posi-lube type, so the grease zerk is on the spindle. I think most are that way now.