Bearing buddies are great, but your failure rate is too high. Something else is afoul.
Things that make bearings sad: Contamination Bad seals Bad races (if you don't replace the inner race with the rest of the bearing, bad things happen) Incorrect compression
Either that, or your maintenance standards are super high, and what you consider to be a failed bearing is not what I would consider a failed bearing.
Failed bearings have 1 or more issues: Have play and/or get hot (+40F over ambient). Don't turn easily, and/or smoothly
Nearly failed bearings: warm, some play Turn easily, but have some rough spots have shiny flakes in the grease
It is not unusual for your grease to be dark/dirty looking. However it should always be free of discrete debris, like sand grains, metal fragments, water drops.
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