Karavan Trailer Bearings

[Moondoggie]

On my 2018 duel axle Karavan for my SPX 210, I have noticed that the forward axle bearings on both sides gets hot even on short trips around 10 miles or less. The bearings on the rear axle stay cool.
Both axles have been maintained with grease.
Any ideas what is going on to have both bearings on the forward axle equally hot?

 

[boatrboy]

On my 2018 duel axle Karavan for my SPX 210, I have noticed that the forward axle bearings on both sides gets hot even on short trips around 10 miles or less. The bearings on the rear axle stay cool.
Both axles have been maintained with grease.
Any ideas what is going on to have both bearings on the forward axle equally hot?

When you say "maintained" are you saying you just pump grease in there very so often? Have you ever removed the bearings and replaced the seals?
Also - if you have brakes on all 4, can you jack up a little to make sure they are not sticking or put a tempature gun on the calipers and see it they are hotter than the rears.

 

[Stingrayaxe]

Do you have brakes on the front axle and not on the rear? If so, that’s where the heat is coming from most likely.

 

[Moondoggie]

When you say "maintained" are you saying you just pump grease in there very so often? Have you ever removed the bearings and replaced the seals?
Also - if you have brakes on all 4, can you jack up a little to make sure they are not sticking or put a tempature gun on the calipers and see it they are hotter than the rears.

I have not pulled them. Just lubed with the grease gun. No grease is leaking from the hub so I assume the seals are still good. Brakes are only on front axle.

 

[Moondoggie]

Do you have brakes on the front axle and not on the rear? If so, that’s where the heat is coming from most likely.

Yes on single axle brakes, forward axle. I had thought of that but seems like like a lot of heat being transferred from the rotor to the hub in such a short amount of time.
Pads are still in good shape after 5 years.
When I tow to the ramp with a little rust on the rotors, the rust is still there from lack of hard breaking. Hubs are still hot. The rotors get cleaned off on the way back to the house due to more downhill braking.
It is surge brake system. Possible the surge system could be failing?

 

[Lazy Daze]

If the braking system was failing (in this case the brakes sticking due to sticky caliper bolts, for example), I don't think you'd see the rotors "still rusty" after a trail.

But, jack it up - how well do the wheels spin? Dragging? Any bearing noise? Wiggle/looseness? Pull them and check out the bearings/races.

Try this... go for a ride but be very gentle on the brakes - especially right before you stop to check temp. Cooler?

And/or... physically disable the brakes and go for a ride... still hot?

Is the trailer frame perfectly level when on the hitch?

I suspect it's simply brake temp bleeding in to the hub - especially since there's only one set of brakes on there. There should be two. Right now those front brakes are trying to do double duty - even though they can't really perform like two sets would.