Traveling isn’t all fun and games; you have to do some maintenance, too. When it comes to travel trailers, we wanted to look at one specific aspect of routine maintenance: greasing the wheel bearings.
Lubricating the wheel bearings with a wheel bearing grease helps to improve performance and maintain stability of the wheels. This is important because the last thing you want when you’re traveling is to have problems with your trailer’s wheels. That could mean a lot of time that could be spent sightseeing has to be spent trying to get your wheels fixed, not to mention the cost.
COMPARISON CHART
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Royal Purple 01312
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Lucas X-Tra Heavy-Duty Grease
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Timken GR224C Wheel Bearing Grease
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Lucas Oil 10301 X-TRA Heavy Duty Grease
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Castrol 55527 Fifth Wheel Grease
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1. Royal Purple Ultra-Performance Grease
Specification
| Drop Point | 525 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Flash Point | 430 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Color | Purple |
| Grease Type | Aluminum Complex Synthetic |
| Ounces Per Container | 14.1 ounces |
| NLGL Grade | 2 |
Royal Purple’s Ultra-Performance Grease is a high performance aluminum complex grease designed specifically to increase the lifespan and reliability of bearings and equipment. It has the highest drop point on our list at 525 degrees Fahrenheit, and a high flash point at 430 degrees Fahrenheit.
WHAT WE LIKE
This Royal Purple grease is meant to help bearings run smoother and cooler, and is suitable for a variety of applications. Royal Purple boasts its capabilities under extreme pressure and it’s water resistance. It also features resistance against oxidation to extend its service life.
This is a synthetic grease, so it is made with a synthetic oil base and Royal Purple’s Synerlac additive to make it non-corrosive. It is a multipurpose grease, good for many applications.
PROS
- High drop point
- Unique purple coloring
- Cooling properties
- Extended lifespan
CONS
- Typical cons of synthetic grease versus non-synthetic
2. Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty Grease 10 pack
Specification
| Drop Point | 500 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Flash Point | Not Listed |
| Color | Green |
| Grease Type | Polyurea |
| Ounces Per Container | 14.5 ounces x10 |
| NLGL Grade | 2 |
The Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty Grease is a shear stable polyurea-based grease that is meant to be more stable than lithium ion-based greases. It is stable at all temperatures, with a drop point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit and no listed flash point. It is washout proof and waterproof.
WHAT WE LIKE
This grease is fortified for use under extreme pressure. Lucas Oil boasts that this product exceeds Lube for Life specifications. It features increased mobility even in low temperatures, while not melting in high temperatures.
This is a good choice of grease for heavy equipment such as that used in agriculture. It also works well with high speed bearings, and is advertised as lasting much longer than other grease.
This is a pack of 10, 14.5 ounce tubes, so it will last you a long time.
PROS
- Waterproof
- Extended lifespan
- Stable at all temperatures
- Plenty of grease
CONS
- Possibly too much grease depending on what you need it for
3. Timken GR224C Wheel Bearing Grease
Specification
| Drop Point | 300 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Flash Point | Not Listed |
| Color | Red |
| Grease Type | Disc and Drum |
| Ounces Per Container | 14.1 ounces |
| NLGL Grade | 2 |
The Timken wheel bearing grease is a disc and drum grease meant for automotive applications. It has an operating temperature range of -40 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. While this is good for withstanding livable temperatures, it might not be enough for some uses. There is no listed flash point.
WHAT WE LIKE
This grease features corrosion inhibitors to protect the metal you apply it to. It is also anti-wear and water resistant. It contains a lithium complex thickener to add stability.
PROS
- Good for general automotive applications
- Visible red coloring
- Corrosion resistant
- Wear resistant
CONS
- Limited temperature range
4. Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty Grease
Specification
| Drop Point | 500 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Flash Point | Not Listed |
| Color | Green |
| Grease Type | Polyurea |
| Ounces Per Container | 14.5 ounces |
| NLGL Grade | 2 |
As stated previously, the Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty Grease is a shear stable polyurea-based grease that is meant to be more stable than lithium ion-based greases. It is stable at all temperatures, with a drop point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit and no listed flash point. It is washout proof and waterproof.
WHAT WE LIKE
This grease is fortified for use under extreme pressure. Lucas Oil boasts that this product exceeds Lube for Life specifications. It features increased mobility even in low temperatures, while not melting in high temperatures.
This is a good choice of grease for heavy equipment such as that used in agriculture. It also works well with high speed bearings, and is advertised as lasting much longer than other grease.
PROS
- Waterproof
- Extended lifespan
- Stable at all temperatures
CONS
- Green coloring may not match in some cases
5. Castrol 55527 Fifth Wheel Grease
Specification
| Drop Point | Not Listed |
| Flash Point | 350 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Color | Black |
| Grease Type | Graphite/Moly |
| Ounces Per Container | 8 ounces |
| NLGL Grade | 2 |
The Castrol Fifth Wheel grease is made specifically for fifth wheel travel trailers. It is a tacky grease that will stick well to metal surfaces rather than sliding off. This is great for travel trailers as they move around a lot more, causing wear on metal surfaces.
WHAT WE LIKE
This grease has a flash point of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes using it in high friction applications questionable. There is no listed drop point. It is a graphite and molybdenum disulfide grease, giving it a versatile black color and corrosion resistance.
PROS
- Inconspicuous black coloring
- Designed for use with fifth wheel trailers
- Extra tacky
CONS
- No 14 ounce option
- Low flash point
What Does Wheel Bearing Grease Do?
Wheel bearings are a vital component in attaching and rotating your vehicle’s wheels. In order to maintain their structural integrity and keep passengers safe, it’s necessary to keep them lubricated and protected. To do this, you apply wheel bearing grease.
Wheel bearing grease reduces friction, which can cause overheating and even failure of the wheel bearings. It also eases rotation in the bearings and protects the metal from corrosion and wear. It quite literally greases your wheels so your vehicle and trailer can move.
Types of Wheel Bearing Grease
There are several types of wheel bearing grease to choose from, depending on the applications you need it for. These types include disc and drum, molybdenum, ion-based and marine wheel bearing grease.
Disc and Drum
Disc and drum bearing grease is meant for high pressure and high temperature applications. It is often used on disk and drum brakes, but can also be used on other equipment. It is water resistant, so it protects against water damage and rust.
Molybdenum (Moly EP)
Commonly known as Moly EP, this type of grease is made of molybdenum disulfide. This compound is highly corrosion resistant with a high drop, or melting, point. The EP stands for extreme pressure, indicating that the grease holds in extreme pressure applications. It is often used with ball and U-joints.
Ion-Based
You may have heard the term “lithium ion” when referring to batteries. Ion-based grease is a lithium or calcium based grease. The benefits of ion-based grease depends on which element it uses, but all versions are water resistant with varying heat tolerances.
Marine
Marine wheel grease is resistant to water and salt. It is made for use in ocean environments, but is also useful for equipment and vehicles that operate near the sea or in cold climates. Marine grease is a good choice for vehicles that have to contend with snow and deicing salt frequently.
Now that we have the basics covered, let’s review some greases.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best wheel bearing greases of 2021. We will compare each of them and determine which one stands out as the top wheel bearing grease. Read on to find out which grease is the best.
Conclusion
There are a lot of excellent grease options out there, with a ton of different applications. With travel trailers in mind, our pick for best wheel-bearing grease has to be the Royal Purple Ultra-Performance Grease.
This grease is multipurpose and designed to lengthen the lifespan of bearings and increase their reliability. That’s important when you’re on the road a lot. It even has cooling properties, although with such a high drop and flash point it doesn’t need to cool down to function well.
The other greases on our list simply can’t compete as they are more limited than this grease. The only option to come close would be the Lucas X-Tra Heavy Duty grease, but it’s still not as versatile as the Royal Purple.
Royal Purple’s products are also a distinctive purple color, making them stand out among their competitors. This also helps when applying the grease, as it has good visibility while not being ostentatious.
The one downside compared to other greases is just that it’s synthetic grease. This fact doesn’t affect its longevity or applicability, but it can make it more difficult and time-consuming to use. Synthetic grease will liquefy non-synthetic grease, so it will need to be reapplied if there is non-synthetic grease left on the surface before the first application.
All things considered, Royal Purple has our vote for best wheel-bearing grease for travel trailers in 2021. It is the most versatile as a multipurpose grease and has the best temperature ratings compared to the other greases on our list.
For more travel trailer-related product reviews and information, visit our website and check out our other articles.
