Tapered or parallel trailer bearings.

Well, I think you need bearings that can take sideways thrust, as when you go around corners, etc. So I'm thinking you need tapered bearings because as far as I know parallel bearings cannot deal with sideways thrust, but tapers can.

You can get ball bearing races that will take thrust, but I don't know the pros and cons between them and conventional tapered roller thrust races.

Frank

Bros,

Wheel bearing are usually tapered bearings. One inner and one outer.

The reason that they are tapered is so that they can take side thrust and can locate the hub on the stub axle. They are also roller bearings.

The parallel bearings are use for pulleys etc where they have to spin at high speed with little or no side thrust. They usually have ball bearings.

If you do beef up the bearings make sure they are a popular bearing that can be sourced just about ever where.

Wayne

Bros 1

I just did this same mod, I used 1400kg rated springs with a 2.2 tonne rated axle and tapered bearings.

The trailer only weighs 1 tonne but it stood up to 1200 straight km of dirt road from the Strzelekei desert to the Oodnadatta track.

I have towed trailers from Arnhemland to the Kimberley using the same axle, you won't break the stub axle and those bearings will take the bigger 4wd rim without stressing them.

Cheers Steve.

i have parallel bearings on my caravan, came that way from new.
i think that term is used for same bearing inside and out. they are also tapered.
im no mechanic, just what i noticed when repacking them.

I would be careful beefing up the springs too much. Going too far will give you a much harsher ride which in turn will bounce everything in the trailer around and also increase stress on the trailer itself. Properly rated springs are designed to absorb the shocks from the road and track conditions, thus relieving undue stress on the trailer and contents.
Cheers
Gerry

The heaviest duty bearings the caravan makers use are parallel Landcruiser bearings, they use the Larger Inner Bearings for both inside and out.

You can also get em with parallel Ford pattern bearings as well.

As others have said,

If you are upgrading to a heavier set up then the use of bearings of the same size are the go. Each bearing itself is a tapered bearing but the two bearings are of the same size. If you want I have a set of these brake drum/hubs with bearings that are six stud to get rid off. They came of a camper that was converted to 5 stud.