Tube Towing

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Post Reply
Message
Author
soccs11
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:58 am

Tube Towing

#1 Post by soccs11 » Mon Aug 08, 2022 2:56 pm

Is anyone using something less expensive then the TurboSwing Ski Tow bar to pull a tube with their pontoon boat? I only have a 75 hp motor on an 18 foot toon, so I don't think that I would be going too fast pulling a tube. Everything out there says that it is not meant for tube pulling. Would love to find something besides this TurboSwing.

User avatar
Rick McC.
Posts: 417
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:12 pm
Location: Weeki Wachee, Fl

Re: Tube Towing

#2 Post by Rick McC. » Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:38 pm

This came on our Qwest:
CDBF533C-C808-40BA-8600-DB59C9303B1E.jpeg
CDBF533C-C808-40BA-8600-DB59C9303B1E.jpeg (444.31 KiB) Viewed 9907 times
Rick

Sights are for the unenlightened.

User avatar
Rick McC.
Posts: 417
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:12 pm
Location: Weeki Wachee, Fl

Re: Tube Towing

#3 Post by Rick McC. » Mon Aug 08, 2022 8:39 pm

🤬🤬🤬🤬
Rick

Sights are for the unenlightened.

riplipper
Posts: 278
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 8:00 am
Location: St Augustine, Florida

Re: Tube Towing

#4 Post by riplipper » Tue Aug 09, 2022 4:07 am

Does your boat have trailer tie down holes or eyes under the deck?
If so they make a simple rope with Bouy designed for those and tow ropes.

https://www.scheels.com/p/airhead-tow-d ... atersports
I am the guy at the boat ramp that gives you dirty looks when you are a complete idiot and too stupid to know it.

User avatar
curtiscapk
Posts: 5393
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 8:31 am
Location: OP KS\Hillsdale Lake

Re: Tube Towing

#5 Post by curtiscapk » Tue Aug 09, 2022 4:57 am

not sure why that wouldn't work? I've used a homemade one for 14 years!
Attachments
tow bar measured.jpg
tow bar measured.jpg (183.19 KiB) Viewed 9898 times
Craig and Paula
"THE FLOATER" rebuild Spring 2013
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15328
94 Party Barge 24' 115 merc
Turning Point hustler 14 x 13 prop
22mph gps 3 people
12 F150
Overland Park Ks
Hillsdale Lake, KS

robburns76
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:35 am

Re: Tube Towing

#6 Post by robburns76 » Tue Aug 09, 2022 7:04 am

I used a Airhead self centering Y harness and it was getting worn through rather quickly. I decided to go with the turboswing and couldn't be happier. I placed the order directly via the TS website and it shipped within a day and had it within a couple days. Install only took about an hour (was taking my time) and I was able to do all of it except the final placement by myself. they are well worth the $ if you do not have (or cannot get) the factory tow bar.

User avatar
steve1313
Posts: 679
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 6:33 am

Re: Tube Towing

#7 Post by steve1313 » Tue Aug 09, 2022 8:22 am

I've got a Turbo Swing and love it. I had my dealer remove the one that looked like the one on Rick's Qwest because it supposedly wasn't rated for tubing, and I tend to opt on the side of overkill if I have a doubt. Apparently tubing can put many more pounds of stress than skiing or wake boarding.

But I see boats all the time using a setup like Rick has for towing tubes. However, about a month ago I saw a brand new looking Tritoon in our marina with that setup and it was completely ripped out of the deck in all but one of the mounting points, so maybe it really can be a problem.
Steve
"Serendipity" - 2017 Sweetwater 2286 WB Tritoon w/ 150HP Yamaha
Slipped at Lake Anna, Virginia
Primary Residence: Richmond, Virgina
Lake House: Lake Anna, Virginia

Horsepen
Posts: 42
Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:39 am

Re: Tube Towing

#8 Post by Horsepen » Tue Aug 09, 2022 3:45 pm

When I took delivery of my toon, I went to a local metal fab shop and bought 4 ea. 6 X 6 X 1/2” aluminum plates to put under the deck where my tow bar attaches to the deck. It’s been fine for 7 years so far.

soccs11
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:58 am

Re: Tube Towing

#9 Post by soccs11 » Wed Aug 10, 2022 2:42 pm

Thank you all for yor replies, Cheers.

User avatar
Rick McC.
Posts: 417
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:12 pm
Location: Weeki Wachee, Fl

Re: Tube Towing

#10 Post by Rick McC. » Wed Aug 31, 2022 6:50 pm

steve1313 wrote:
Tue Aug 09, 2022 8:22 am
I've got a Turbo Swing and love it. I had my dealer remove the one that looked like the one on Rick's Qwest because it supposedly wasn't rated for tubing, and I tend to opt on the side of overkill if I have a doubt. Apparently tubing can put many more pounds of stress than skiing or wake boarding.

But I see boats all the time using a setup like Rick has for towing tubes. However, about a month ago I saw a brand new looking Tritoon in our marina with that setup and it was completely ripped out of the deck in all but one of the mounting points, so maybe it really can be a problem.
Thanks Steve!
I don’t plan on using it for anything more than possibly towing a disabled boat; but now I know to keep an eye on it! 👍
Rick

Sights are for the unenlightened.

User avatar
Marc K
Posts: 740
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:35 am
Location: Eustace, TX

Re: Tube Towing

#11 Post by Marc K » Thu Sep 01, 2022 7:45 am

Go ahead and laugh, but I like low-budget solutions. We tow our Super Mable tube with 450+ lbs on it using the $30. "Y" harness from Airhead. Connection points are the factory lugs on the pontoons. I use a short/heavy piece of nylon rope between the lugs and the harness, so the rope takes the wear. The stress during a WOT turn (only 25 MPH for us) is considerable, but this setup has held up for 4 years so far. It may not be suitable for others, but I like it.
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

robburns76
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:35 am

Re: Tube Towing

#12 Post by robburns76 » Thu Sep 01, 2022 9:51 am

Marc K wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 7:45 am
Go ahead and laugh, but I like low-budget solutions. We tow our Super Mable tube with 450+ lbs on it using the $30. "Y" harness from Airhead. Connection points are the factory lugs on the pontoons. I use a short/heavy piece of nylon rope between the lugs and the harness, so the rope takes the wear. The stress during a WOT turn (only 25 MPH for us) is considerable, but this setup has held up for 4 years so far. It may not be suitable for others, but I like it.
i bought the self centering Y harness from airhead and was towing the super mable with it. the rope was showing a lot of wear even with just minimal usage so I ended up going with the tuboswing. it was expensive but well worth it. much easier to connect and disconnect the lines and i dont have to worry about it putting stress on the ladder.

User avatar
Marc K
Posts: 740
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:35 am
Location: Eustace, TX

Re: Tube Towing

#13 Post by Marc K » Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:50 pm

Yep, I am well aware of the TurboSwing. I have never seen anything bad about them and the owners really like them!
Big and ugly but we love our 1999/2000 Crest II DL with a Yamaha F115

MattGent
Posts: 62
Joined: Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:27 am
Location: South FLA

Re: Tube Towing

#14 Post by MattGent » Wed Sep 07, 2022 7:29 pm

Normal towing around with a tube is no issue for any tow mount, but the tube can put a massive load if it submerges under water. Like stop the boat in 6ft.

Big backing plates and an observant operator can mitigate the risk.

Post Reply