Pulling Tubes w/ Alpha Z Tower?

[outhousetickets]

I've read much about older towers and how they should not be used to pull tubes, but what about the newer Alpha Z tower? I've got a 2012 RZR and am wondering if the tower will be okay to pull a 4 person tube.

Does anyone know the capabilities of this tower?

(I've searched and couldn't find anything about these towers... they seem pretty solid)

Thanks,
Greg

[Rz22013]

I have pulled one person with my rz2 but I wouldn't do more than that personally. It's not so much the tower but the hull where it's attached. Stress cracks in the gel coat most likely.

[BCRider]

Are we talking 4- 6 year olds in this tube or 4- 200lbs adults? I'll pull a couple small kids on the tower but that's about it. Everything else goes on the rear pylon. A weighted tube has a lot of drag.

[sandm]

^why not pull all from the pylon?

have not ever read a story on a tower failure from a tube, but have also read enough talking about not doing it and the physics of the load a tube would put on the tower has led me to never do it.

[BCRider]

^Go right ahead. Sometimes I find the wake can hold the rope at slower speeds so the kids don't slide out as easy given the lower angle. Having the rope higher can help with this.

[Jetdriver]

These towers aren't designed for side loads. I wouldn't take the chance with my boat.

[myers]

I would not take the chance. My brother has a Super Air 210. He was pulling 4 kids on tube largest one might have weighed 75lbs, and the actual tower cracked. New towers are not cheap.

[IDBoating]

It's not the weight of the riders. It's the force when the tube submerges. The stress on the rope, and thus the tower, can be ENORMOUS. No way would I ever pull any inflatable from any tower.

[007]

Some other manufactures warn against pulling tubes from the tower for the reasons listed above. I'd be surprised if the warning label on mine doesn't say something about that.

[SKSailboatshop]

why not go from the pylon?

[D&P Powell]

I would not tow from my Alpha Z for the reasons stated above, but I would recommend something our family received as a gift a few years ago... http://www.overtons.com/modperl/prod...i=14181&r=view
It works as advertised, and we wouldnt pull a tube without it at this point.

[JohnnieMo]

The Alpha Z is the strongest tower on the market. I see no issues for kids For adults, I see no advantage.

One consideration is the "thrill of the ride". You get more 'action' on the tube when pulling from the rear of the boat.

Call and ask Tige to be sure.

I pulled a 300+ lb guy on a wakeboard. That initial force will easily exceed kids on a tube.

[JLG]

No way would I pull from the tower no matter if its an alpha z or X brand!! Had a tube flip years ago when I was newer to the inboard boat industry and was towing from the tower. I didn't notice the tube flip until the tower made an insane snapping and popping noise and damn near came completely off the boat. The tower shook and caused the boat to damn near tip over it seemed as I was turning when it submerged.

It scared the chit out of me and my wife and haven't to this day thought about towing from a tower again! Just my experience and no it wasn't an alpha z but in that sense I know the legs are crazy expensive on the alpha so wouldn't want to damage it.

[Iwndr]

http://m.dickssportinggoods.com/prod...TS-ACCESSORIES

[outhousetickets]

The only reason I want to pull from the tower is to make room so that people can sit on the back.

I'm pulling teenagers mostly - so 2-4 kids of 75-120 lbs.