Maximus 3 Tow Loops

[Twojayhawks]

I'm satisfied with the tie bar being a solution. I'm also satisfied Maximus is very soon to release a frame tie in "bracket" to tie the loops into the actual frame. If you have read all the posts on this thread you'll see you can easily make your own tie bar if you choose to. I too thought about scrapping my tow loops & doing something else but decided to double down instead. I can always punt & go with a traditional base plate but for now sticking with the thicker loops and the tie bar.

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[hugeshocker]

Thanks for your reply.

I apparently have the older 5/8 tow loops. Would this need to be replaced as well as using the tie bar solution?

 

[Twojayhawks]

If your 5/8 loops are pristine no you don't have to replace. My loops had a slight bend & naturally Maximus replaced immediately free of charge. I'm guessing they made a design change & moved to 3/4" & don't make the 5/8" any more. They also sent me a label to send the bent ones back. They have been a pleasure to deal with on this unfortunate issue. Inspect yours carefully to see if they are bent. It may not be much and they would be bent outward if at all. If they are not bent I wouldn't think they would be interested in just switching with 3/4" loops but I don't know that either.

 

[lightsout]

I just spoke with someone at @Maximus-3 They indicated the tow loop failure was when a supplemental braking system either failed or was not used. They have the tie bar and quick disconnect solution, but it is backordered until next week. they did offer a 10% discount for those that purchased the tow loops previously. (This discount seems a bit weak, especially for customers that are now concerned about towing and damage to their jeeps.)

Several questions:

1. Is this tie bar a good solution to the problem, or a band aid?
2. Is the tow loop just generally a bad design and should be scrapped in favor of a more tried and true solution? (opened ended I know, but those that are more engineer oriented, it would be interesting to hear from you.)
3. Does the LOD bumper and their frame tie ins suffer from the same issue?

Thank you.

The Tie Rod is not a bandaid it is a itegral par of any base plate system whereas some like Blue Ox have a bar built in, Roadmaster has a option bar/p[late that ties the tow bar arms. So now if there is any bend it would have to bend both loops vs just one which what was happening pre-tie rod.. The system is still flawed since the loops only bolt to the frame horns but that will soon be a thing of the past with the relwease of the frame tie in bracket which will relive the horns of all the stress.

There is no perfect base plate, even Blue Ox has some that break welds, I just saw a Roadmaster that also cracked a frame horn.

I am with twojayhawks, Maximus has been great to work with and they are not running from the problems and actively improving and making adjustments.

 

[wattyrev]

I just did my first RV trip this weekend, flat towing my Jeep with the Tow loops, the tie rod, and a blue ox tow bar. Seemed to do fine generally. The tie rod did make hooking up to the Jeep more difficult, so I've been pulling out the wrenches to take it apart then put it back together. Haven't had any issues unhooking the Jeep though.

I contacted Maximus and they said they should have the quick release pin ready by the end of this week and available for purchase at $29.

 

[Inthedash]

Good to hear about the quick release pin. Also the tie rod is reverse or left hand threaded on one side so when you twist one direction or or the other both threaded ball joints move either inward or outward together. In other words instead of disassembling the bolts/nuts from the tow bar clevis, you can back off the stop Nuts on each ball joint after disconnecting from vehicle and it can twist free to store a the tow bar and tie rod loose. Not sure which is easier, but you can choose. I think this is possibly a simpler method same results. Not great either way when it raining out and you are trying to get this sorted sorted. Maybe someone is with you can hold the umbrella. ? Maximus-3 sell umbrella package?

 

[lightsout]

I just did my first RV trip this weekend, flat towing my Jeep with the Tow loops, the tie rod, and a blue ox tow bar. Seemed to do fine generally. The tie rod did make hooking up to the Jeep more difficult, so I've been pulling out the wrenches to take it apart then put it back together. Haven't had any issues unhooking the Jeep though.

I contacted Maximus and they said they should have the quick release pin ready by the end of this week and available for purchase at $29.

I found the tie rod made hookup much easier as I can now easily balance both arms using the tie rod as a handle versus one arm on the ground putting a twisting force on the arm I was trying to connect. it has cut the effort and time in half. Same for disconnect. holding the tie rod takes the pressure off of the clevis pins maing the pin removal efforless (no bunding). I could not be more pleased with that.

 

[wattyrev]

I did get the quick release pin in the mail today. Easy swap out for the bolt that originally held on the maximus 3 adapter and the tie rod. Now my tow bar lays flat and I can use the cover that I had ordered originally.

The kit included:
* 1 quick release bolt
* 2 pins (1 extra, I guess)
* 1 regular bolt (the same that came with the tie rod originally)
* 2 nuts
* 2 metal washers

I put the two metal washers on the non-quick-release side between the maximus 3 adapters and the tie bar to compensate for the thickness of the welded nut on the quick release side. Probably not necessary, but I'm not sure what else those washers would be for.

 

[Inthedash]

Excellent. I was on their site today buying a ladder for a rack from them and searched around a bit for this. I did find and purchase the new kit to strengthen the area on the bumper where the tow loops bolt to the “frame”. I did not see anything regarding quick release. Is there a part number or did you make arrangement one to one with them? I may just call to find out before they ship my other items. I feel like they could just send me the quick release only given all the items I have of theirs that I payed for. Including the tie rod. Any advice?

 

[Gaffer]

How much is the quick release kit?

 

[Gaffer]

Finally found the frame kit on their site. It was kind of hidden.
Now for the instructions or a photo write up.
https://maximus-3.com/jl-rubicon-/maximus-3-tow-loop-tie-in-brace-plates

 

[Inthedash]

I sent them an email request for details on frame kit. I’m guessing this fills in the space/void where the gap is, between frame and accessory attachment plate that folks have had crack or split. Making it more solid. We’ll see. I’ll have to remove things at this point to install. I’m waiting to hear back.

 

[wattyrev]

Is there a part number or did you make arrangement one to one with them? I may just call to find out before they ship my other items. I feel like they could just send me the quick release only given all the items I have of theirs that I payed for. Including the tie rod. Any advice?

I wasn't provided with a parts number. I just emailed them about it, and they knew what I was talking about when I mentioned a quick release for the maximus 3 tie rod. I'm not sure if they will end up putting it on their website, or just bundling it with the tie rod by default.

 

[Twojayhawks]

I installed the frame tie in kit this weekend. Install was fine but the drilling proved too much for this 60 year old. The top bolt goes through an existing (small hole that you will be drilling out to 1/2". That wasn't too taxing. The bottom bolt goes through an existing hole (no drilling) and utilized an aluminum spacer to fill the hollow space in the jeep member & gets nutted on the other side. The middle bolt supplied by Maximus means drilling out the old threaded M10 bolt holes to accept their 7/16" bolt. Only problem is the drilling is through way too much material & I wasted a lot of time trying. I ended up just getting IIRC 5/16" bolts that pass through no drilling. If my loops look wanky it's because they are mounted inside the frame instead of outside.

 

[Gaffer]

Did you try using a new cobalt bit to enlarge the middle hole to 1/2"?
Thanks for the photos. Takes a lot of the mystery out of where the pieces go.

Would you mind giving me your opinion on if that would interfere with the installation of the rock hard winch plate? Assuming tow loops are on the outside of the frame rails. Jump to 2:49 on this video. https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-90205.htm

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