CONTINUOUSWAVE

I want to share my experience I had with Karavan boat trailers when trying to order some replacement bearings for my hubs:

You can't.

Apparently some Karavan trailers are specifically made for Boston Whaler and use a Knott-brand hub.

These hubs are not serviceable.You cannot remove the bearing to repack with fresh grease, nor can you purchase replacement bearings and have them pressed in.You must purchase a complete hub assembly.

That's the problem: it will be up to three months before my replacement hubs will arrive.

My 2013 210 Boston Whaler Montauk is currently on my lift and will stay there until November, thus I don't need the trailer right now—unless I have to pull it due to an engine malfunction.

My advise to anyone with a Karavan-brand trailer with Knott-brand hubs is to order replacements now so you will have them in the event of a bearing break down.

An additional note: the nut that holds the hub to the spindle is a one -time-use only. It must be replaced each time it is removed and torqued to exactly 207-ft-lbs.

I had to use a 3/4-inch-drive ratchet with a 4-foot' piece of pipe for leverage to remove the nut.

Not something you want to do on the side of a highway.

I made the same discovery: I have a Karavan trailer with the Knott bearing hubs under my 1972 13-footer. Since I haul the boat from Ohio to Florida and back each winter, I purchased a replacement hub assembly. I carry a complete set of parts and the tools needed to make a repair, but I (too) think it would be difficult to make a repair along the side of the road.

I purchased a torque wrench that will give me the correct torque on the spindle nut.


Wirenut—where are you purchasing the hub assembly?

I (too) had to wait several months for the hub assembly to arrive. The Knott parts are made overseas.

I am purchasing my hubs directly from Karavan. I was referred to Eastern Trailer on their [Karavan’s] website who [i.e., Eastern Trailer] referred me back to Karavan. The parts associate was very apologetic, but he said the hubs are manufactured in Hungary.

Anyone who has one of these trailers would be well advised to purchase at least one to have as a spare.

Sometimes I just can't understand Boston Whaler engineers specifying a trailer like this.