My Brother has a new boat trailer with “Oil filled hubs”. Anyone with experiance with them? What are the posatives and the negatives to them? Is this the latest thing? Better than sliced bread or in the “vegamatic” category.
From what I have seen at our shop, one of the best things designed ever for trailer bearings. A quick visual check is all you need to do each time you use trailer. Watch for oil level going down or milky color in oil (from water getting in) Both are signs of seal leakage. Also with age, the oil will get discolored (dark) from break down of oil. We have yet to replace a bearing on a system with oil filled hubs and a visual sight glass. Seals and sight glasses so fail from time to time but rarely.
After a new bearing broke and ruined the spindle on my EZ Loader , I had new spindles welded on and went with the oil bath hubs. Absolutely satisfied. Over the road trucks have used them for years. I went with synthetic 85-140 and have had no moisture whatsoever. I saw on Walleyes.com that they suggest changing the oil. Might be a good idea after a couple of years , but Id say keep your eyes on the color of the oil and the level like Big Dad says and you will love them………just my $.02.
Thanks for the opinions. My next trailer will have them.
Mike , Do they use a special seal ? thanks 
I ran the liqu-lube system for 2 years on my last trailer. Did’nt have any problems, and during the summer they were actually cool after a 75 mile pull.
I haul my boat alot (many thousands of miles a season) and I haven’t had hardly any problems with them. I had one seal go bad one time, and I could see the oil on my hubs. I just went to the hardware store and picked up a regular old o-ring, put it on, re-filled it with oil and it has been good ever since. I changed the oil in all 4 after 2 years and it still looked fine. I don’t know if it’s recommended to use just a regular o-ring but it seams to work fine for me. I would definately recommend them. 
Do they need a special seal ?
FYI,
A few months ago, this topic came up, and someone posted a news item from Shorelander trailers that cautioned against oil-filled hubs (check http://www.shoelander.com, and look under press releases). They pointed out that heavy trucks and boat trailers run in completely different environments.
One of my fishing buddies is the equipmnet service director for a local government, and while he runs oil-filled hubs on his snow plows and other heavy equipment, he recommended against adding them to my trailer last summer.I went with the “red-eye” bearing protectors instead to help keep me from overgreasing my hubs.
I’m still not sure what’s best- just my 2cents worth.
Mike
I read that also at shorelander. I am set on getting Liqulubes I don’t know know. However the dealer that installs them said they are the way to go. Also They don’t heat up like grease so they shouldn’t suck in water like they mention. One last thought is that the oil is suppose to fight the water and actually protect better and you can simply change the oil in a few minutes so you should be able to keep it much fresher than grease. Last time I checked water and grease didn’t get along either take your best guess I suppose. I am going to have them installed and give them a try.
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