Karavan Trailer Advice

[MNUser]

I'm hoping there is somebody here that deals in these trailers that can offer some advice. I have contacted Karavan and have yet to hear back from them. I contacted Crystal Pierz and they told me to contact Karavan......I sure hope it is not the start of me chasing my tail.

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I purchased my Lund 1700 Explorer in 2004 from Crystal Pierz Marine in Brainerd, MN in the Spring of 2004. It was sold with a Karavan Trailer. The boat weight is 1080 pounds without motor. My neighbor has a 2001 Lund Mr. Pike. This boat weighs 1070 without motor. Here are my concerns.

I have included a couple of pictures to help show the issues that have developed. The crank system located on the front has started to bend and pull away from the frame of the trailer. When comparing the assembly to my neighbors, mine seems to be made cheaper and has weaker parts. His boat weight is 10 pounds less but is trailer is designed to be much sturdier. Here are some pictures to help you see the problem.

Any ideas? I think it is REW that has a Lund Dealership. Any ideas??????

[CodyDawg]

i had Karavan on my old boat. In keeping with the saying "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"...........

[MNUser]

Understood but this is not why I posted. Looking for some ideas/help not a response on how I got a sh%$#y trailer and such. It is what I have now I have to deal with it and find a solution. If I only had 20/20 vision like you.

[stmichael]

MNUser,

Unless I am missing something from the picture, it looks like your winch was was the only thing tweaked. Your strap must have been overtighted at one point. I did that once and it looks exactly the way that mine did, mounted the same as well (two bolts). Maybe a manufacturer defect?...(the winch that is, not the trailer maker) I replaced it for 20 bucks and have not had the issue return. I stopped once the trailer met the "V". In the past I thought that it was necessary to winch it another half turn (did not want it going anywhere)

Hope this helps.

My trailer was a COX

[Surface Tension]

Quote:

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MNUser,

Unless I am missing something from the picture, it looks like your winch was was the only thing tweaked. Your strap must have been overtighted at one point. I did that once and it looks exactly the way that mine did, mounted the same as well (two bolts). Maybe a manufacturer defect?...(the winch that is, not the trailer maker) I replaced it for 20 bucks and have not had the issue return. I stopped once the trailer met the "V". In the past I thought that it was necessary to winch it another half turn (did not want it going anywhere)

Hope this helps.

My trailer was a COX

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That would be my guess too. Looks like the wench is bent at the point where the bolt is. Not a big deal IMO.

[MNUser]

Thanks guys. I knew you would come through with explanations to the problem. Thanks for not making it a Karavan issue!

From what I'm reading I can go to Fleet Farm and get a new crank, take the old one off and replace it. The front is only being held by one bolt so I'm thinking when I replace it I should fix that and place two bolts in the front to hold the crank down. Is it possible to bend the one back or do you think it would be wiser to just replace it with new? Are the ones at Fleet "heavy" enough for that application?

[stmichael]

You get the whole set up replace everything, you will even get a new strap. sorry I forgot to add that they have different sizes, 600lbs 900lbs...etc. make sure you go a little overboard if you want to be on the safe side.

[MNUser]

What size do you think would be needed for a 1700 Lund Explorer? How do they rate the poundage? Poundage of what? Does this make sense?

[stmichael]

Your boat weighs 1080, assuming you have a 115 4 stroke that weighs a approximately 400, I would look for one that is rated to 1600 lbs. min.

The rating in lbs. and is labeled on the box.

The rating in pounds just implies that you should not be lifting anything over that amount or it may cause serious injury or death, or, just simply break and you are screwed. It does not hurt to go a little beefier with the weight of gas and cargo.

[MNUser]

Thanks for the input. I have been in contact with Karavan and they have been helpful. I have been emailing their customer service back and forth. I'm not sure on the rating on the trailer. I will let you folks know how it turns out.

Here are some numbers I took off the trailer. Does this number mean 2100 pounds???

KKR-2100-78

[FlyingV]

[Note from Admin] Please read forum policy before posting again.

[MNUser]

Yea, I hear ya. It just shows their true character when it comes to us consumers. It seems to be more the norm than the exception these days. I try really hard to not get so cynical as I get older. I do know that you have to always be looking after yourself and your interests when it comes to things like this. I can say that Karavan has been really good so far.

[AQUAJOE]

The same thing happened on my karavan.

It's not Crystal -Pierz fault for Karavan only putting one bolt in the center. Mine was on a 2000 with my 1750 fish hawk I got 5 years out of it before it twisted enough to cause and issue. It was our faults for over tightening it which bends and twist the wench.

If yours was a 2004 you are really putting the boat on way to tight.

I put a new wench on with 2 bolts all is well now. I also replaced the roller the boat rest into on the front to a non marking roller. The black ones that come with it really mark up the front of the boat. Again overtightening.

my .02

[marine_man]

Yes... it's probably a 2100 lb trailer... I agree with what everyone else has said... get a new winch and put another bolt in the winch stand and you should be in good shape...

marine_man

[stmichael]

Sorry mn, no idea

[MNUser]

Did what you guys suggested and bought a new winch at Fleet. I get the heaviest they had and it was a rated at #1400. Funny thing was, I took off the old one and it was rated at #1300. I secured it with two bolts inthe front too.

I do realize that I was over tightening it. If I do not pull the eyelet up tight the boat bounces as I travel down the road.

I did a little math last night and if you figure in the boat, 115 Johnson 4 Stroke, full tank of gas, gear and such the combo is pushing #1900-#2000 pounds.

1080 - boat

420 - motor

189 - 27 gallons of gas

150 - trolling motors/batteries

Why would there be a #1300 winch in the front?

[lawman]

I have seen this occur on other brand trailers. A new winch will do the trick.

[Surface Tension]

Quote:

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Why would there be a #1300 winch in the front?

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If you where able to crank the boat up with a 1300 lb wench then thats all you need. If you go with a higher lb rating you'll notice a gear reduction making it easier to crank in but it'll take more cranks.

[stmichael]

If you were to lift the boat with just the winch (straight up)then you would need a winch that would cover the total mass, however, in the case of putting a boat on the trailer you are only lifting a portion of the mass (rolling, typically it is rolling fairly easy). That is why the winch can be rated much lower.

I hope this helps.

[marine_man]

Quote:

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If I do not pull the eyelet up tight the boat bounces as I travel down the road.

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How high are you having to lift the eylet on the boat? More than 1/2"? If so, adjust the height of your winch stand, and possibly location, so that when the boat is on the trailer the eyelet hit at the bottom of the roller.. no higher or no lower... that'll significantly help improve the life of the roller on the winch stand as well as your trailer.

marine_man

[MNUser]

I never thought about that. Good advice. I will look at that tonight when I'm at home. When I crack it up I do have to lift the eyelet up to make it snug against the front roller.

I sometimes I wish I was more mechanically inclined and able to see the whole picture instead of the smaller pieces.

[marine_man]

All the winch should be doing is holding the eylet tight against the front roller (on the winch stand) not lifting, lowering, or any combination of either... just pulling.

marine_man