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Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 11:01 am
by dsthomas
I just got a new R7 Surf :0) Tower folds down, it locks so that it won't come back up, but there is still about an inch of play up and down. I'm wondering has anyone ever towed with the tower down? I'm thinking probably not a good idea, but thought I'd ask on here.
Thanks everyone!
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 11:12 am
by akorcovelos
I'd leave it up. I wouldn't want it bouncing around if there is play when lowered. There's no benefit to towing with it down, and I would assume if you have a travel cover it's designed to fit with the tower up.
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 11:42 am
by AsLan7
akorcovelos wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 11:12 am
I'd leave it up. I wouldn't want it bouncing around if there is play when lowered. There's no benefit to towing with it down, and I would assume if you have a travel cover it's designed to fit with the tower up.
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+1
Also stronger when it's in the up and locked position....unless you back into your garage with it up. ..too soon bbp?
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Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 4:51 pm
by BobRae99
I've towed mine short distances with the tower up, but I wonder about fuel mileage if you are hauling a couple of hours or more. Also, in my neck of the woods, once June/July hits there are lots of juicy bugs deposit their carcasses all over my car at highway speeds which could cause a bit of a mess on the bimini cover.
I hadn't thought about how to tow with the tower down so maybe after considering all the angles, the best thing to do is leave it up and clean the bimini cover if necessary when you get there.
Love the colour by the way.
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 6:09 pm
by AsLan7
BobRae99 wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 4:51 pm
I've towed mine short distances with the tower up, but I wonder about fuel mileage if you are hauling a couple of hours or more. Also, in my neck of the woods, once June/July hits there are lots of juicy bugs deposit their carcasses all over my car at highway speeds which could cause a bit of a mess on the bimini cover.
I hadn't thought about how to tow with the tower down so maybe after considering all the angles, the best thing to do is leave it up and clean the bimini cover if necessary when you get there.
Love the colour by the way.
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We towed one boat from Arkansas to Pennsylvania and the other was towed from Vegas to Pennsylvania thru all kinds of bugs.
Ran the Bimini cover trough the washer and used a bug sponge on the Bimini poles and tower structures respectively after the two tows were complete.
No issues.
We also applied a fabric guard protector after washing the Bimini cover.
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Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 7:32 pm
by Big Block Power
AsLan7 wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 11:42 am
akorcovelos wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 11:12 am
I'd leave it up. I wouldn't want it bouncing around if there is play when lowered. There's no benefit to towing with it down, and I would assume if you have a travel cover it's designed to fit with the tower up.
.
+1
Also stronger when it's in the up and locked position....unless you back into your garage with it up. ..too soon bbp?
.
They are all designed to be towed up. The factory does at delivery. If you leave it up there is a sensor on it if it sees a low hanging item in its way it self lowers. Or at least after you hit something its now lower then it was before. Too soon

Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Thu May 07, 2020 8:36 am
by dsthomas
Thanks everyone, sound advice. I think I'll leave it up.
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 11:10 am
by tarachanowicz
I tow with my tower down all the time I made up a bracket mount so tower is just off steering wheel when locked down.
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 4:09 pm
by mdadgar
That is a really great idea. Nice work.
- Mark
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 9:23 am
by Tuscany
I don’t have a tower. But, If I’m not too lazy to get back up into the boat, I tow with my cover on and bimini locked down. No point in it being a bug catcher and adding to wind resistance.
Its amazing how many bugs I can catch with it up, not to mention bugs splattered all over the back seat if the cover is off.
Nice idea Tara.
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2021 11:19 am
by straubtms
Great idea Tara - I trailer about 1-1/2 hrs from the water and would like to use this system. Where did you find the quick dis-connect combination used at the floor located on the ski locker?
Thanks
Re: Towing with Tower down.
Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2021 5:12 pm
by AsLan7
straubtms wrote: Tue Feb 16, 2021 11:19 am
Great idea Tara - I trailer about 1-1/2 hrs from the water and would like to use this system. Where did you find the quick dis-connect combination used at the floor located on the ski locker?
Thanks
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Hey straubtms. Welcome to the Cobaltchat forum. So glad you found us!
Any pics of your Cobalt? On which lake do you boat?
Again welcome aboard mate!
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