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Author Topic:   Karavan Trailers

BMR posted 12-05-2002 10:13 PM ET (US)
Does anyone have experiences with Karavan Trailer out of Michigan? I am looking at one and it looks like a nice trailer.
tbirdsey posted 12-05-2002 10:24 PM ET (US)
I have two of them; one under my 18 Outrage and another for my 21 (see page 57 for photo. I have been very pleased with both of them. I added additional cross members and keel rollers for the 18 and will make similar modification for the 21 someday (right now it has bunks). Karavans are actually manufactured in Wisconsin, however I got the 21's trailer from Michigan dealer when I picked up the boat last spring.
skred posted 12-06-2002 07:48 AM ET (US)
I live in Wisconsin, and had a '92 Karavan under my Montauk. Very solid, inexpensive trailer. Never a problem.
PFSQUAN posted 12-06-2002 08:51 AM ET (US)
I have Karavan for my 85 Montauk and it is a nice piece of equipment; large tires, decent support, etc. I have replaced the rollers to a larger size, which makes it even better. My only observation is that the axle is not galvanized like the rest of the trailer. Using it in salt water means I have to keep an eye on it and battle rust with regular (once a year) priming and painting.
minimontauk posted 12-06-2002 12:47 PM ET (US)
I just bought a 1987 Sport CC on a 2000 Karavan trailer with rollers. I would have bought the boat regardless, but it sounds like I lucked into a good trailer also. I know bupkis about trailers, but this one has roller wheels instead of the carpeted pads I see on some trailers. I read something in a thread about Whalers needing better keel support. I have a 1987 6 cylinder Nissan Pathfinder, which I assume will haul this boat ok. I ordered a trailer hitch for it, have to get that all set up before I pick up the boat. This is all new to me. Any advice on using a trailer appreciated.
BMR posted 12-06-2002 04:15 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the information, they sound like a good manuafcturer of trailers.
DJS posted 12-06-2002 05:14 PM ET (US)
minimontauk,
To learn more about trailering go to:
www.continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/trailering/
In your post my perception is that your trailer may, or may not have keel rollers. In your post you state "but this one has roller wheels instead of the carpeted pads I see on some trailers." If you are saying that the rollers support the hull somewhere between the keel and the chines,rather than under the keel, you should be very careful. A whaler has a very thin skin and this skin may be damaged by rollers that support the weight of the boat in this area, rather than at the keel.
David
BWdaunt18 posted 02-25-2003 07:46 PM ET (US)
I had a Karavan under my daunt 13 and never had a problem with it.
Now have Vangaard and am NOT happy with Vangard.
FLUKEDUKE posted 02-26-2003 09:12 AM ET (US)
I have a tandem Karavan under my 18 OR, overall it's a good trailer, As PFSQUAN mentioned the axels need an annual corrosion control treatment along with the fastening hardware. One thing to watch for, and this may be unique to tandems, is the long plate
U-bolted under the frame that the spring shackels are welded to. On mine, both sides, in front of the forward most schackel welds, the plate cracked. I'm guessing the steel used had a too high carbon content and the weld caused a local hardening resulting in the cracks. I check these regularly now as these are the connections that attach the under carriage to the trailer. Repaired 3 years ago and no recurrence since.

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Author	Topic: Karavan Trailers
BMR	posted 12-05-2002 10:13 PM ET (US) Does anyone have experiences with Karavan Trailer out of Michigan? I am looking at one and it looks like a nice trailer.
tbirdsey	posted 12-05-2002 10:24 PM ET (US) I have two of them; one under my 18 Outrage and another for my 21 (see page 57 for photo. I have been very pleased with both of them. I added additional cross members and keel rollers for the 18 and will make similar modification for the 21 someday (right now it has bunks). Karavans are actually manufactured in Wisconsin, however I got the 21's trailer from Michigan dealer when I picked up the boat last spring.
skred	posted 12-06-2002 07:48 AM ET (US) I live in Wisconsin, and had a '92 Karavan under my Montauk. Very solid, inexpensive trailer. Never a problem.
PFSQUAN	posted 12-06-2002 08:51 AM ET (US) I have Karavan for my 85 Montauk and it is a nice piece of equipment; large tires, decent support, etc. I have replaced the rollers to a larger size, which makes it even better. My only observation is that the axle is not galvanized like the rest of the trailer. Using it in salt water means I have to keep an eye on it and battle rust with regular (once a year) priming and painting.
minimontauk	posted 12-06-2002 12:47 PM ET (US) I just bought a 1987 Sport CC on a 2000 Karavan trailer with rollers. I would have bought the boat regardless, but it sounds like I lucked into a good trailer also. I know bupkis about trailers, but this one has roller wheels instead of the carpeted pads I see on some trailers. I read something in a thread about Whalers needing better keel support. I have a 1987 6 cylinder Nissan Pathfinder, which I assume will haul this boat ok. I ordered a trailer hitch for it, have to get that all set up before I pick up the boat. This is all new to me. Any advice on using a trailer appreciated.
BMR	posted 12-06-2002 04:15 PM ET (US) Thanks for the information, they sound like a good manuafcturer of trailers.
DJS	posted 12-06-2002 05:14 PM ET (US) minimontauk, To learn more about trailering go to: www.continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/trailering/ In your post my perception is that your trailer may, or may not have keel rollers. In your post you state "but this one has roller wheels instead of the carpeted pads I see on some trailers." If you are saying that the rollers support the hull somewhere between the keel and the chines,rather than under the keel, you should be very careful. A whaler has a very thin skin and this skin may be damaged by rollers that support the weight of the boat in this area, rather than at the keel. David
BWdaunt18	posted 02-25-2003 07:46 PM ET (US) I had a Karavan under my daunt 13 and never had a problem with it. Now have Vangaard and am NOT happy with Vangard.
FLUKEDUKE	posted 02-26-2003 09:12 AM ET (US) I have a tandem Karavan under my 18 OR, overall it's a good trailer, As PFSQUAN mentioned the axels need an annual corrosion control treatment along with the fastening hardware. One thing to watch for, and this may be unique to tandems, is the long plate U-bolted under the frame that the spring shackels are welded to. On mine, both sides, in front of the forward most schackel welds, the plate cracked. I'm guessing the steel used had a too high carbon content and the weld caused a local hardening resulting in the cracks. I check these regularly now as these are the connections that attach the under carriage to the trailer. Repaired 3 years ago and no recurrence since.