How many of you HATE those damn gear towers. Everything has to go into them and come out and it is absolute hell doing so. A good friend told me if there was anything he would do differently on his award winning 8, it is to gain access to the tower.
The tower already has lightning holes. I cut the hole damn thing out and put an access plate with platenuts. I have had no trouble getting to the gear bolts, running wires, plumbing heat or whatever. The cover plate is solid .125 aluminum plate. It is going to be way stronger than before. Not that it needed to be. The plate is off so you can see the access.