Adventure Trailers Max Coupler

[Martyn]

How often should the Max Coupler be greased?

That depends on how often it's used. I'd say give it a pump of grease every month it's in regular use, make sure it's full before you are storing it.

If you do water crossings during a trip, when you get home, take the coupler off empty any water out and make sure it's full of grease. Keeping it lubed and keeping the water out is the goal.

 

[Hilldweller]

I use a locking anti-rattle pin at both ends and a regular locking pin in the middle. On a roadtrip, I keep the whole thing together every day. For basecamp, I slide Max out of my Jeep receiver and put the pin back in Max and lock it.

If you squint you can see Max dangling here:

Thanks again for the spare nylock, Martyn. Max has been extremely reliable, quiet, and well-mannered. It must have at least 8,000 miles on it by now.

 

[nwoods]

I don't have the anti-rattle locking pin yet, my solution was to pull the pin connecting max to the reciever bracket. How many other people have that reciever bracket handy so that they can take off with the trailer? The entire hitch end gets unplugged and tossed into either the vehicle or trailer. Pretty secure and simple I think?

 

[adventureduo]

Yep, with our L&R.. we just yank it and head out to explore. Like said above if someone wants to steal it they'll drag it out by the safety chains.. if they want to get it.

 

[XJBANKER]

This is why I have theft insurance if someone wants it they will get it. This way I am still covered.

 

[StaceyE]

Has any one on here ever had a trailer stolen while out on the trail? Seems to me the more likely scenario would be someone stealing loose stuff off the trailer or out of the tent.

 

[AlexJet]

Has any one on here ever had a trailer stolen while out on the trail? Seems to me the more likely scenario would be someone stealing loose stuff off the trailer or out of the tent.

Sometimes you park the trailer in the camp park and drive the trail. There your trailer is sweet piece.

 

[John E Davies]

I have Max Coupler on my custom trailer and its great for off-road trailer as it can be twisted 360 degrees in all 3 axis.

This is an old thread, but I wanted to correct your statement. There is no way the Max can move 360 degrees in the vertical plane. I don't know of any type other than a pintle that can move much more than 70 degrees down and 140 degrees up, but someone can correct me if this is incorrect.

Anyway, the range is way more than anyone would need....

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[skersfan]

My guess is if you ever go over what it will do, you have a lot more to worry about than the coupler!!!!!

As for being stolen, these couplers and the lock and roll make it a lot harder to do. Most do not have them and have no idea what they are.

I have a brand new Max Coupler thanks to Gabe at SoCal Tear Drops, when the lock and roll, gives up I am will install it. I know it will be much quieter, I just like the ease of the lock and roll on the trail when unhitching and re hitching becomes necessary.

 

[nwoods]

Skersfan, I have an MAX, and I have found it easier just to slide out the entire hitch assembly from the receiver on my truck. Much easier to manipulate the end of the 2" square tube than it is to line up the pin over the joint.

 

[skersfan]

I have seen some real fights with them on less than level ground. At the expo two years ago, on a very slight hill, it took three people over an hour to get one hooked up. Tongue heavy was the real problem, but it is much tougher than the lock and roll. I have been very fortunate with the lock and roll, and mine is still working perfectly. I carry the max in the truck. Actually just looked at it this afternoon. Still all shiney and new! I have put them on several trailers and all seem to be very happy with them.

 

[Hilldweller]

I have seen some real fights with them on less than level ground. At the expo two years ago, on a very slight hill, it took three people over an hour to get one hooked up. Tongue heavy was the real problem, but it is much tougher than the lock and roll. I have been very fortunate with the lock and roll, and mine is still working perfectly. I carry the max in the truck. Actually just looked at it this afternoon. Still all shiney and new! I have put them on several trailers and all seem to be very happy with them.

Yeah, tongue weight is the gremlin.

I got tired of the clunking from my lunette and pintle and re-installed my Max after flipping it around a little. Made the trailer really sit well and towed like a dream.
Then I got to the campsite which had a little decline to it, chocked the trailer, set up a bit, and went to disengage the coupler. I couldn't remove any of the pins, ordinary pins. I had to bang one out.
I put the lunette and pintle back on to leave. The thought of having to line up on a little hill and melting my clutch wasn't appealing.

Is there any mod to the coupler to make it easier to insert?
It tows so much better with the Max that I don't want to use anything else... ...but I gotta do what I gotta do sometimes...

 

[nwoods]

Bill, what I do is leave the entire Max Coupler assembly connected together, attached to the trailer. So I am only removing the one pin at the 2" hitch receiver on the truck, then pulling the entire assembly out. To realign JUST the 2" male end into the hitch receiver is much, MUCH easier for me. I can generally get the tip into the 2" receiver, then bounce, wiggle and jiggle into place. Or occasionally, once the tip is in, just back up the truck a bit further with a steady co-pilot at the helm. Then you only need to slide the hitch pin back in and you are good to go.

 

[Hilldweller]

Bill, what I do is leave the entire Max Coupler assembly connected together, attached to the trailer. So I am only removing the one pin at the 2" hitch receiver on the truck, then pulling the entire assembly out. To realign JUST the 2" male end into the hitch receiver is much, MUCH easier for me. I can generally get the tip into the 2" receiver, then bounce, wiggle and jiggle into place. Or occasionally, once the tip is in, just back up the truck a bit further with a steady co-pilot at the helm. Then you only need to slide the hitch pin back in and you are good to go.

That's my technique too.
I ran into trouble with the slope I was on ---- not easy to move the trailer against gravity. Equally as difficult to go up and down the hill with the manual trans.

I was thinking of beveling the edges of that male end to make it just a tad easier to get in the hole.
...a back-up camera would be a help too.

 

[dstock]

When the Max coupler pin seems tight I have found a slight raising or lowering with the trailer tongue jack makes the pin slide right out with ease. I usually just pull Max Coupler pin and not the one at the receiver of the trailer but imagine it would help with either one.