Installing Maximus-3 Tow Loops

[Kevin_D]

BUT, connecting/disconnecting the loops is a pain in the ass compared to when I towed my Fiat 500 with RoadMaster baseplate and it's cross bar.

Really?
I use a Roadmaster Falcon all-terrain tow bar with the 035 adapters and I don’t have to drive any of the pins out. Just make sure there’s no load on the tow bar, and the pins slide out easily.

Also, the thickness of the loops - as mentioned above - require you to use huge D style shackles to attach safety cables.

I posted a solution to this already.

Kevin

Sponsored

 

[Gramps.busa]

I ran a dedicated 12v into drivers wheel well to power my RVI brake system. Curt plug & play harness for lights, works great.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

.....Just make sure there’s no load on the tow bar, and the pins slide out easily.

Well, this^^^ is precisely the problem. If both the RV and the Gladiator were on level, smooth pavement there would be little load. But pulling into every campsite I've used so far the surface ISN'T level, smooth, and usually not even paved. There's always a little binding and I can't get the pins out with the the hammer and punch. A couple time I could but it was fight, hurt my fingers putting them through the metal loop they provide...and I've got other chores to do while setting up so I don't need sore fingers. I carry the punch and single jack. Works fine, just not as easy as the Roadmaster baseplate and cross bar system.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Anyway, while on the subject of my travails while RV camping I did this to my passenger side rear NFab step bar. SEVERELY pisses me off!

Pulling out of the campsite, I hit a big boulder used to define the parking spot. What you can't see in the photo is it also slightly bent the whole bar toward the body in the center. My son says it gives me 4x4 "cred". I think it looks like crap and will fix it. Thinking using a hole saw on the reverse side, using a rounded punch to drive out the dent as much as possible. A little filler, texture and flat back and it won't be noticeable.....except to me of course. I'll weld the hole shut after.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Also while bitching and moaning, I noticed I lightly dented the tailgate somehow. NO idea when or how I did it but a Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) guy I used before should be able to get it out.

Before you inevitably say, "It's a truck, it's SUPPOSED to get used and abused". My attitude is, "I don't polish turds". If I don't fix things as they happen I begin to lose interest in the vehicle. Having payments on something that's getting more and more beat up pisses me off!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Oh, I forgot the "money shot". Here's the rig connected. Tows fine, no issue at all. I got an additional "cigarette lighter/12V outlet" added in the driver side under dash area. Brake controller worked fine this trip.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Cig lighter isn't hot if the truck is Off

Had a similar problem with the camp fridge, but I was told there is a setting for that. Can anyone confirm that?

 

[en2dirt]

Oh, I forgot the "money shot". Here's the rig connected. Tows fine, no issue at all. I got an additional "cigarette lighter/12V outlet" added in the driver side under dash area. Brake controller worked fine this trip.

Looks great! I plug my Patriot Brake System to my Jackery battery generator. Just set the Jackery on the passenger floor and run the cable over the center and plug it in. This way I don't drain any power from Gladiator battery. And I can also use on my wifes Grand Cherokee if we decide to take that with us.

 

[Kevin_D]

Had a similar problem with the camp fridge, but I was told there is a setting for that. Can anyone confirm that?

No setting that I'm aware of.
I tried making the Aux. Power plug on the dash, "Hot," with a piggy-back jumper in the PDC (fuse box,) but the voltage drop was too high for the Brake Buddy.
I ended up running a dedicated line from the battery to run my Brake Buddy.

Kevin

Sponsored