Tow w/Tower down?!?

[jslayde1]

I saw this yesterday on the road and it made me wonder who else tows with the tower down?

I would love to tow with it down, but would like to know if it would be structurally sound in years to come - any info on this out there?

IMG_5114.jpg

[rensink]

I would not recommend towing with the tower down the the factory ships the boats with the tower down but there is an aluminum bracket that is bolted to the tower and the tower base to prevent the tower from bouncing/flexing during transport. I would say if you can get your hands on a set of the brackets and wanted to keep a wrench or two in your truck to bolt/unbolt it you probably could...

[myers]

Agree to disagree! I ride with tower down! I have a friend that tows with tower up and stopped. He had a bunch of stress cracks on his boat. I have never towed with tower up and i have ZERO stress cracks. My father-n-law has a nautique, and the manual said to tow with tower down. Plus no bug guts to wash off when you get to the lake or home.

[ChrisBarnes05-12-84]

Now that I have my lazy button I tow with the tower down everytime. The 17 tower seems just as strong folded down as up. No more bugs on my tower!!

[sandm]

I have a set of the original shipment brackets that I use to store the boat in the fall and no way I would want to put those on and off with each trip. they aren't hard but kind of a pita.
I tow with tower up and have no issues. seeing it sitting in the boat, no way I would want it bouncing around back there especially with the added weight of the speakers. it's too close to the vinyl and I know it would rip/tear something.
wisconsin roads leave a lot to be desired. your roads may differ...

[Greeko]

I saw a tower hyperextend and snap the hinges.

the Alpha Z tower is NOT designed to tow in the down position...no way!!!

[jimidemo]

I think it would depend on the type of tower you have. I have an old aluminum tube type frame that I have towed with it folded forward. I also cut a piece of wood to rest it on that extends up from the floor to prevent it from resting on the vinyl. It seemed more flimsy this way. 350 miles to Havasu!! As far as the bugs....I've heard of people wrapping their towers in plastic kitchen wrap and removing at their destination. Honestly I have never tried that. A quick wipe off seems easier.

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[BCRider]

Others also use PAM and spray the tower down which makes wiping off easier. I've never done it.

[jslayde1]

Consensus kinda what I had figured - same reasons I never have either. Yeah, some of our roads here are horrible as well.