Max Coupler installation

[BroncoHauler]

Seems like this should be a simple topic, but I found the instructions that came with my, what I believe to be first gen Max Coupler, to be lacking (terms describing the same object seem to change from one sentence to the next), and though I've talked to a few people about it, but I guess I'm just overly cautious when it comes to towing anything. I've attached a pic of how I bellieve the MC is suppossed to connect to the drawbar. Basically, as I see it, from the top to the bottom it goes:

bolt head
flat metal washer
Max Coupler
flange pointing up into the Max Coupler
drawbar
flat metal washer
nylock

Do I have this right?



thanks,
Herb

 

[Dwb]

I'd like to know as well. THe instructions were not very clear.

 

[gabepari]

Yes, that is correct.

Gabe

 

[BroncoHauler]

Yes, that is correct.

Gabe

Thanks Gabe. I'm a visual person, so I needed to lay it out to make sure I got it right.


Herb

 

[BroncoHauler]

One last question. Are most people who run Max Couplers, running them on the road as well, or are you running a ball coupler and then swapping to the MC when heading off the pavement?


Herb

 

[tclaremont]

Are the max couplers even DOT legal? I would like to know before I commit on my current project.

 

[BroncoHauler]

Are the max couplers even DOT legal? I would like to know before I commit on my current project.

At least as of Martyn's (Adventure Trailers) 08/2010 post, "The multi-axis MAX coupler recently went through DOT testing and is now certified as a Class III coupler rated at 6000 lbs..."

See this thread;
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/47555-New-Class-III-Max-Coupler


Herb

 

[Martyn]

Max Couplers are certified for on road use. That's what the SAE J683 on the label refers to.

 

[loup407]

BroncoHauler: I use the MaxCoupler exclusively. It's more quiet than a ball hitch, and once you get used to it, almost as easy to hook up. On the rare occasion I have to rent a trailer from U-Haul, I feel like Fred Flintstone messing with a ball hitch. I've had my Horizon in every attitude except fully inverted (knocking on wood here) and have come to trust the MaxCoupler implicitly.
Of course, YMMV.

 

[BroncoHauler]

Thanks guys. I'd much rather stick with one hitch and not have to swap things around so that's good news.


Herb

 

[BroncoHauler]

OK, hauled my teardrop about 2200 miles earlier this month, including a couple hundred miles off pavement. The Max Coupler was absolutely great, quiet (not that my ball coupler was ever noisy), and problem free.

I will say reconnecting the MC while off pavement was a bit challenging, having pulled the center connecting pin a few times, but I think my learning curve on reconnecting is improving. I wasn't about to have my six year old son help while I was backing up and moving things around, but I do think a spotter would definitely helped speed up the process.

I'm very happy with the Max Coupler.


Herb

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Good news that they are DOT approved. I am looking at one of these soon.

On a side note, how hard is it to mess up instructions (or make them hard to follow) when there are so few parts and it is so basic? When I say mess up, I mean creating poor instructions...not your level of understanding of them. lol

Good info.

 

[BroncoHauler]

Good news that they are DOT approved. I am looking at one of these soon.

On a side note, how hard is it to mess up instructions (or make them hard to follow) when there are so few parts and it is so basic? When I say mess up, I mean creating poor instructions...not your level of understanding of them. lol

Good info.

I hear you. Maybe I'm just overly cautious, and I do know that I understand far better when I can see rather than read a set of instructions, but at a minimum, they should include a pic or a line drawing. A pic would likely be very beneficial to non-English speaking customers.


Herb

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

I think being overly cautious when it comes to towing is a good call!

I am surprised that they don't include a picture? Could have saved typing a thousand words? lol

 

[BroncoHauler]

I think being overly cautious when it comes to towing is a good call!

I am surprised that they don't include a picture? Could have saved typing a thousand words? lol

There is one picture included, but it's of it fully assembled, which doesn't quite cut it in my opinion.


Herb