Maximus-3 towing kit questions

[DieselDog]

I'm new to Jeeps and flat towing and have spent countless hours reading these threads about it, including the 21 page Maximus-3 tow loop debacle...twice. I am leaning towards buying this tow setup because of its strength as well as its minimal clearance issue with off-roading. Here are a few questions:

Their website states 8 hours of install time and advanced difficulty level, which seems extreme. Their website install instructions PDF only show instructions for their tie-rod install, not the tow loop install, despite the title. I have a factory steel bumper with Warn Zenon winch. For those of you who have installed it, how difficult and time consuming is it?

I'm assuming I will need to run an electrical wiring harness with plug in from the tow vehicle to the jeep. Where do you mount the plug in on the jeep with this tow setup? Most of the other tow base plates allow a plug to be mounted on the face of it.

It appears that their frame tie-in brace set sells separately. Sounds like this is still recommended?

I was looking at the Rock Jock tow plate, but since it's bolted just to the bumper and frame horn, doesn't sound like it's as strong of a setup as needed.

Thanks for the help.

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[Occam'sRazor]

I can't speak to the Maximus part of your project, however, I do have experience with flat towing set up on 2 different JL's.
For the Jeep side of the electrical harness I highly recommend the products from Cool Tech
https://www.cooltechllc.com/2018-je...arness-kit.html#/70-jl_tow_harness_kit-deluxe
If you have led twilights you will also want this:
https://www.cooltechllc.com/towing-...-jl-wrangler-and-gladiator-led-light-fix.html
The RVI battery charger works great as well as the RVI wireless breakaway switch.
You can mount the plug and breakaway anywhere on the bumper you can use an existing bolt.
Here's a picture of my set up:

 

[DieselDog]

I can't speak to the Maximus part of your project, however, I do have experience with flat towing set up on 2 different JL's.
For the Jeep side of the electrical harness I highly recommend the products from Cool Tech
https://www.cooltechllc.com/2018-je...arness-kit.html#/70-jl_tow_harness_kit-deluxe
If you have led twilights you will also want this:
https://www.cooltechllc.com/towing-...-jl-wrangler-and-gladiator-led-light-fix.html
The RVI battery charger works great as well as the RVI wireless breakaway switch.
You can mount the plug and breakaway anywhere on the bumper you can use an existing bolt.
Here's a picture of my set up:

Thank you for the tips. I've since been looking at the websites...shocking how much money can be poured into these Jeeps, but I'm sure I'll be getting most of these items!
You've led me to additional questions for you. Do you use an RVI brake system?
What bumper is that and do you tow from those loops on the bumper?
What is that you have on the end of your winch cable?

 

[Occam'sRazor]

Yes, pricey but...
Yes I use a RVI 3 brake
Bumper is a Next Venture and I do tow from those points, they are a part of the winch tray (all Steel) which bolts directly to the frame. Check them out - good company.
https://nextventuremotorsports.com/.../jl-jt-front-bumper-aluminum-adventure-series
Look at the install videos and you will see how it attaches.
The Aluminum shell is just for bling.
The end of the winch line is Fato 55
Here is a photo on my other JL, same set up

 

[LukeDagny]

I have the factory steel bumper and Maximus 3 tow loops. I installed them, along with their winch plate and warn winch at the same time. It look a lot less than 8 hours. I use a Blue Ox tow bar and Maximus Blue Ox connectors.

I watched a few youtube videos to see how it was done. Its a pretty straight forward bolt-on operation, except for notching the bottom of the bumper. A 4" cutting wheel made quick work of that detail.

I installed a 6 pin socket on the face of my bumper. From the 6 pin, I ran a wire to charge the battery and some more wires to power a 4 pin plug.

For turn signals and brake lights, I bought magnetic LED brake/turn signals at Harbor Freight. I stick them to my rear bumper and plug the cable into the 4 pin plug on the front socket. If the LED light cable was long enough, I could plug it directly in the rear of my tow vehicle. With possible issues of draining the battery, I thought this was a less complicated option.

For a brake unit, I use a Blue Ox Patriot 2019 unit. I get unswitched power from the cigar socket in the rear.

Here's a video posted by a forum member.

 

[DieselDog]

Awesome thanks! For what's being installed, 8 hours seemed a bit much!

 

[LukeDagny]

This is what the 6 pin socket installation looks, along with the 4 pin plug at the rear of the front bumper. You can see the Maximus 3 tow loop peeking out in the first picture.

 

[DieselDog]

Thanks for the wiring plug pics. Did you add the M-3 frame tie in kit to the towing loops? After watching that install video and seeing that there are already several bolts through the frame, I can see where it's probably not required.

 

[LukeDagny]

Thanks for the wiring plug pics. Did you add the M-3 frame tie in kit to the towing loops? After watching that install video and seeing that there are already several bolts through the frame, I can see where it's probably not required.

I rewatched that video and that's the version I installed. I ordered the Maximus 3 tow kit for Blue Ox, and their winch plate. It had the same type of reinforcement as in the video. The tie-in plates are NOT used.

I installed them last Summer. I think the tie rod replaces the tie-in plates. I forget the details, but I did call Maximus 3 before ordering. I have several thousand miles flat towing with Maximus stuff and no signs of problems.

https://www.maximus-3.com/product-page/jljt-towing-kit-w-blue-ox-adapters

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