On vacation with a few bows with me. Does anyone know if leaving a bow unstrung in a car with cracked windows for a few hours will hurt anything? Temperatures will be about a high of 87.

on the floor with a cover and windows open ok, shade better.

What r-man said. If there is some air flow in the car so the overall temp doesn't get really high and they aren't in direct sun light magnified by the window glass they should be ok.

I live in San Diego where temperatures exceed 90 degrees most of the summer. I drive a Dodge Dakota with a black roll-top bed cover and I have had my bows riding there 24/7 all year round.

With that being said, I allow them to cool before stringing them up.

It was between 85 and 108 here, all of August, and my bows did just fine. BTW they are all vintage bows too, 1963 and older.

What Jaz said, south Louisiana is every bit that hot and my old bows hang across the back window of my truck for days sometimes

What Jaz said, south Louisiana is every bit that hot and my old bows hang across the back window of my truck for days sometimes

You really have no way of knowing.....

Mines in a bow sock and a blanket over it.

Thanks all! Blackstick, was the one that "let go" strung or unstrung?

Foxallan, I would never....never let a strung bow in a hot car. That's just asking for Murphy to join the party. If you want to let an unstrung bow in the car, get a sleeping bag and put the bow in that. Put it on the floor of the back seat, or on the floor behind the seat in a truck. The bag will insulate it against the heat. Let the windows cracked too.

If its too hot for you, it just might be too hot for your bow.

I saw a bow delam while it was sitting in the sun on a vendor's table at a shoot one time. Boing!

It was hot and sunny but probably not above 85 or 90.

I had a bow take a set across the sight window, ASL type bow, would not hold a string after that, then about 3 years later it was stringable again. My belief is that the diamondwood was what gave way. Limbs were not the problem.

The bow was under a solid toneau cover in the driveway for an afternoon, in Canada, so not the worst you can imagine. There was no significant weight on it, maybe some clothes.

Foxallan, if I need to have a bow in my Jeep Liberty for any time I'm not in the Jeep, I keep it unstrung lying flat from the folded back seat to the rear tailgate door. I cover it with one of those reflective type windshield gizmo's that's fully opened, covering the entire bow.

The blanket and/or quilt suggestions are probably the best, if, and only if, you absolutely have to leave it in a vehicle. Personally, if that's not the case, then I take it out. No sense tempting fate.

Heat can be a real problem for a bow, but I had a bow de-lam while I was eating lunch with the bow laying on the table. Any bow can de-lam at any time for no apparent reason, just because it can.

James

I've said this on here before, and folks kind of discount it, but that's fine.

I had a bowyer who has built as many bows as anyone ailve tell me one time that EVERY glass laminated bow was going to fail at some point.

No reason to take chances that can accelerate that happening in my book.

Glass bows are glued with epoxy. Epoxy is cured with heat. Heat is a glass bows enemy, period.

I treat mine like I do my dog. If I'm carrying it in my truck it means that I love it and if I love it I take care of it.....like my dog :)If I wont leave my pooch in it, I wont leave my bow in it.

My former hunting buddy let a real nice longbow behind the seat in his pickup truck. Heat never was a problem but when he traded off the truck, he forgot about the bow. I know...duh. Lost the bow. I am betting one of the minimum wage washboys found himself a real nice custom bow.

Thanks for all the replies & tips! I was able to extend the vacation for a day so didn't need to leave them in the vehicle.

Want to take a chance be our guest but I wouldn't. At worst put on floor with some towels over plus you don't want to invite thieves as well as the good ol murph.

I wont even leave wood arrows in the vehicle afraid they could warp

One of the guys at the GLLI but his custom in the car strung due to a rain storm and when he took it out.......well he had to buy a new bow. Sometimes its inevitable. Especially in the south and west. Cover. Park in the shade. Windows cracked. Let cool before stringing. All these are good pieces of advice. Best thing is to avoid if at all possible.

""One of the guys at the GLLI but his custom in the car strung due to a rain storm and when he took it out.......well he had to buy a new bow""

That bow likely had an issue beforehand if that was the case. I have left bows in the car when there was no other choice; never strung, and never in direct sunlight....that is common sense. Bows are cured generally above 120 degrees, so they should stand some heat. How much is a good question, but again...a little common sense goes a long way. I carry a heavy quilt-like blanket in my truck, and if necessary to let a bow in it, I wrap it in the blanket. If you do that, you insulate it from heat and keep it a reasonable temperature.

I have a self bow,, it won't delaminate,,:)

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