Dexter Vortex trailer bearing caps

[SawyerTed]

In 2020 I bought a new boat and trailer.  The trailer is a Wesco aluminum trailer.  It has two Dexter 3,500 pound axles with Dexter Vortex hubs.  I like the trailer it tows well and has excess capacity for the boat that's on it.  The boat loaded isn't anywhere near the 7,000 pound capacity of the trailer.  

My frustration is the plastic bearing caps.  They are threaded and for whatever reason the threaded portion breaks off the cap.  

What an aggravating design!   The hubs are supposed to be sealed.  No bearing buddies.  So when one breaks I have repack the bearings.  If the caps are tight enough not to leak, the things break. I've been through three caps so far at $17.50 each minimum - I just paid $30 each.  

$&"(/@!

Rant over back to your regular scheduled broadcast. 

[21incher]

According  to dexter there is a 6 year warranty on Vortex axles and components. You should  really contact dexter to see if it's common or something is possibly machined wrong  on yours. 

[SawyerTed]

Dexter is reimbursing me for caps and grease!  They have already responded affirmatively!

Thanks for slowing my roll and pointing me right!

[SawyerTed]

An update - Dexter was very responsive to my warranty request.  I was reimbursed for caps, grease and labor to repack my trailer bearings.  

The problem is the replacement caps haven't lasted any longer than the original equipment. I had to replace two today as I serviced the trailer for a tow to the coast coming up.  The trailer is two years old and has been through two sets of caps.  The caps are plastic threaded and the threads only catch correctly in one spot.  They are easily cross threaded which was the problem with the original caps.  

Others may have had good luck with Dexter Vortex bearing caps but my advice is get the hubs swapped for a better design bearing cap. 

Dexter is a pretty good company but I believe they didn't get this design right.  

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[charles mann]

It will cost significantly more, but what about getting set made out of aluminum? 

[Southside]

"Hey, who forgot to switch the threading machine off metric? Ahh, I am sure it will be OK"... :D

[YellowHammer]

Interesting. I know I have Dexters on some of my trailers, I'll check them tomorrow.

Are the hubs loctited in, or use other sealant?  Do the bearing covers breaks off in use or during service?   

[SawyerTed]

Robert, none have broken when servicing the bearings.  At least three broke on the road.  When I stop I do a walk around and have found them broken off at the threads. That presents an on the road repair challenge to get the threaded part out of the hub,  bearings greased etc.

A couple more caps I found had cracked at the threads but the cap hadn't separated yet.  This causes water to get in the bearings and we know where that leads.

They are not installed with loctite. The do have and O ring seal.  

[K-Guy]

If they didn't get a bad batch, I would say it is a poor choice of materials.