remove tubes before moving cross town?

Don’t think you have to remove them. I’ve driven to and from the dealer (4 hrs one way) with a pair of mono blocks in the car. Tubes in place.  No boxes BUT I did have each amp in the huge, lower half custom-fit styrofoam block they shipped in. Dealer was okay with doing it that way.

If the tube gear is going to be shipped via FedEx or UPS I would remove the tubes and pack them separately.

If you are bringing the tube gear in your car and they are buckled up or properly secured I would keep the tubes in. I did that with my Jolida 502P amp once when I was bringing it over to a friends house for a listening session.

Void UPS. Taking tubes off won't help if the rest of the unit desecrated. 

IMHO, the main reason for removing tubes for shipping is the possibility of the shipping carton being dropped upside down. This could cause a tube to come out of the socket, then being loose, would surely break.

tls49918 posts07-11-2016 1:25pmIMHO, the main reason for removing tubes for shipping is the possibility of the shipping carton being dropped upside down. 

To void that possibility do not use UPS.