Tower recommendation - Monster vs Titan I and II

[blueplastic]

 

I have a 99' Epic 22.

In the next few weeks, I'll be (finally) placing an order for a tower. I have narrowed the choices down to a Monster Tower ($1195), a Titan I ($1170) and a Titan II ($1620). All costs include shipping

These three towers seem to have a very high quality build and are affordable.

Which one do you guys recommend as far as looks, quality, etc.?


I'm a little dissapointed that I didn't jump on the Monster Tower a couple of months ago when it was selling for $999 with shipping.

Sameer

[cyclone]

Monster is a good tower, no question,  but a Titan is definitely built better. I'd recommend a Toyota tower, it costs more but it fits in where the reinforced places are on your boat.  And it looks cool and is stiffer and better designed than either of the other two. It costs more, but maybe you can work a deal.

[lesman01]

I can't speak for Titan, but I have had a Monster Tower and have been very pleased. It is very sturdy and does not rattle. I installed it in about 4 hours, and it's easy to fold down and store. I think it looks great on our boats.

After 2 full seasons, there are NO cracks in the gelcoat around the feet. That was one thing I was concerned about, but not any more.

The other reason I like the Monster is that these are really great guys. They have gone out of their way to help me whever I have called. They are a local company here in Atlanta and I bought my tower when they were just starting out. I recently purchased a bimini top from them. They contracted with Sunbrella to design a top that  mounts right to the tower with cleaver ball and sleave brackets. It stores right up to the tower. I just installed the bimini last week. I'll take pictures next time I get it out.

You can't go wrong for the price. I can take closeup pics of where mine is mounted if you need help mounting it, but the directions are really helpful.

Before you buy it, go to their website and READ the installation dierctions. That will give you a sense of how the tower is put together and how well thought out their tower is.

Oh, and tell them to throw in a few calendars for ya!

[cyclone]

They are really good guys, and the calendar works year after year because you never really look at the dates anyway!

[Chris A]

I like the Titans but the Powder coat will take a beating over the bare aluminum on the Monster.  The Titan will also give you a bit more head room and is a little easier to take down.  But you have more accessory mounting options and cheaper accessories on the Monster, and their customer service is WAY better than Titans.  You would probably save some $$$ and hassle with the Monster but it is really a coin toss as you would be happy with either...

[spyman]

Hi everyone, I'm a newbie with an Epic 21 that I want to put a tower on.? I was wondering if anyone can tell me if Toyota's tower that was on the 22's would fit and if so can I still get one from Toyota.

Some background, between my brother and I we have had 18 Ski Nautiques.? When I say my Epic 21 at the SF boat show it had things on it that my 98 Nautique didn't, more freeboard, trunk and of course, the motor.? I had a Lexus SC400 in 92 and loved the motor and that was the primary reason I bought my boat.? The only bad thing I can say about the boat is the speedo's are crap.? After NorthBay Motor Sports tried fixing them four times I gave up and installed a GPS tournement speedo and have had not problems.? Like everyone else I love the 4 gals. an hour or less that I burn.? My brother has a 04 Nautique and I still top out better than him.? I changed the color of the boat about a year after I got it, I didn't like any of Toyota's in 99 but didn't want to pass up a great boat just because of color so I changed it with 01 graphics.? All so, it is the only 21 with a composite platform.? Toyota advertized the 21 as coming with a composite but they never made one, instead they gave everyone wood.? When I bought the boat I had Howie at NorthBay include language in the contract that I would get a composite platform.? It took almost 2 years but after Howie told Toyota that I was going to sue for breach of contract they made a "one of". Why buy a glass boat and then put wood on it?

Any help on the tower would be appreciated.

[cyclone]

I'll bet you can still get one, I think they are hull specific. There was a tower option and ballast option for all Epics. Maybe Capt. Rick will chime in with part numbers. They are expensive but worth it.

I'd really like to get a composite platform but they are close to a grand with the pads that go on top. I'm probably one of about five people in the world that want one, I'll wait until they come off the price a bit.

[2000epic]

I'm really not all that satified with my factory tower.  It rattles like crazy, the powder coating is coming off at the welds, and the pins that lock it down are a bitch to get in/out.  It also doesn't fold down low enough to fit in my garage, so for the winter I have to remove the upper section.  I have considered the Titan, butin a couple years I think I'll go with a Phat Budde.

[cyclone]

whiner

If you don' like it, sell it to me. I'll put it on a bass boat.

Just kiddin:)  It should work better than that. My pins were tight but I ran a drill bit through there. Mine doesn't make one noise, even with the lights and two more speakers on there, what're you running? Consider, it might not have been installed right or it's loose or it might be crooked. Them thangs was built by a dude named Bubba Joe. I heard they were built by the guy that made Supra towers. A guy with a tape measure and a chop saw and a tubing bender and a welder.

Don't toss it, I'll buy it. Have your machine call my machine.

[blueplastic]

For the record, I went with a Titan II from wakeside.com. I got a pretty good deal since they're running a special price for a Titan II with two titan low rider racks for $2050.

Here are the measurements for the Titan II that I went with:
(note these are the specs for the red X in the back)

Boat year/model: 1999 Toyota Epic 22
Front Spread (center-to-center): 69 inches
Rear Spread (center-to-center): 80.75  inches
Front to Rear Spread (center-to-center): 81 inches

I guessed that the angle of the deck is no more than 8 degrees, so I'm going to go with the standard base plate.

Note, that I decided to mount the tower behind the black plastic plate on the back.

Here are the measurements for mounting the back end of the tower before the black plastic plate.

(note these are the specs for the green X in the back)

Boat year/model: 1999 Toyota Epic 22
Front Spread (center-to-center): 69 inches
Rear Spread (center-to-center): 80.5  inches
Front to Rear Spread (center-to-center): 68  3/8 inches

Hopefully this will help someone who wants to buy a titan I or II for a Epic 22 in the future. I'll post any weird installation obstacles that come up, if any, a couple of weeks from now.

Sameer

[2000epic]

If I were to buy a new tower now, a titanII is what I'd get too, very classy looking.  Can't wait to see your pics of the finished product!

[lesman01]

Congrats on the tower. Can;t wait to see pics when it is installed.

[toyotafreak]

Blue, your crew's REALLY gonna rip now. I remember being blown away by how good you guys do from the ski tow.