The saga continues....returned and exchanged the splitter tonight for one just out of the crate and assembled today.  The dumb a$$ pulled it out with the forklift, not attached to a ball but a bar on the back.  I went through the splitter, but being dark I must not have gotten a good look and the black hitch coupler. Got it home, checked all the fluid levels, was about to shut the garage door when I glanced back at the coupler.  It was twisted and mangled.  So now I get to make another trip back out the TSC to get a new coupler.  Good news though, the splitter fired right up and ran great.  Just getting sick of dealing with idiots.