Towing with tower up or down??

[scootc]

I've been towing with the tower up, but just noticed a sticker advising to fold it down. Problem is my speaker brackets would probably damage the boat with all the bouncing and vibration. Most of the others I see on the road tow with the tower up. Any thougts or advice?

[Matt Garcia]

Hmmm..I have never seen a boat being towed with the tower down. That is the first time I have ever heard that. I would imagine if your trips to the lake are short I wouldnt worry too much.

[hanzj]

You should be able to leave it up. I've towed my boat thousands of miles with the tower up and it's fine. The worst rocking, vibrations, bouncing, etc. I've subjected the boat to has been on rough lake water.

[scootc]

Thanks. I'll continue to tow with it up - which makes more sense to me. Maybe the sticker's there for some liability reason??

[Dan Gleave]

I just drove to Chicago and purchased a boat. I drove it home with the tower up (5600 km round trip) and when I took the padding off the tower to clean it up when I got home, both pieces were sheared right off where they lay over top one another and bolt together. I don't know if it was like that before I purchased it or it was during transport. I will be traveling with the tower in the upright position as it is too hard on upholstery on the inside sides of the boat.

Dan, Edmonton, Alberta,Canada

[Banks]

Pieces of what were sheered off?

[Dan Gleave]

Sorry about that.After reading that note back to myself it didn't make sense to me either. It was the aluminum on the tower itself. I've had new pieces machined, I just have to cut the old ones off and reweld the aluminum tubing. The boat is a 2001 21i and the tower is 1 3/4 " tubing.

[Banks]

matt, andrew can either of you tell us whether it is better to ride with the tower up or down?

[Matt Garcia]

Banks being that I live in an area that has a ton of wakeboard boats I have never seen one being towed with it down. I don’t know why Tigé has the sticker on like that, maybe for reliability reason like scootc said. Personally I leave mine up because I don’t want to hassle with it when I arrive at the lake or river. I would imagine the tower would take more punishment crossing rough water and double ups then riding on the trailer. Maybe Andrew or Harvey can clarify some more.

[Banks]

Thanks. I guess i'll be leaving mine up.

[belmontbay]

i think it all has to do with liability, people have the tendencey to sue over anything, "nobody told me to put it down when I towed it and I took it under a low overpass and ripped the tower off of the boat....."

[Domsz06]

i've never seen anyone tow with it down. I hate having to have mine down when I put it into the garage so much, that I decided to take it out of the free garage and put it into a storage that was tall enough. Ok, the folding down the tower wasn't the only reason to move, but it was one of many. If you are worried about hitting the top on a a low pass, just put a big antenna on your truck My tower did not have that sticker on it about warning so not sure what everyone is saying

[Banks]

mine didn't either dom

[Domsz06]

ok just making sure I wasn't the only one

[neilm]

Originally posted by Dan Gleave
Sorry about that.After reading that note back to myself it didn't make sense to me either. It was the aluminum on the tower itself. I've had new pieces machined, I just have to cut the old ones off and reweld the aluminum tubing. The boat is a 2001 21i and the tower is 1 3/4 " tubing.

Dan, you're not alone. A buddy of mine with a 21V Riders Edition had exactly the same problem a couple of years ago -- it was a flaw in the tower. FWIW, the dealer had it replaced under warranty at the time and the problem hasn't reoccurred.

ps. I almost always tow with the tower down with strategically placed padding between the tower and the upholstery. (too many bug guts on the tower otherwise as well as a low underpass that I'm pretty sure I wouldn't fit under).