Import problem with varchar(max) field

I'm trying to import some Assessor data from a text file into a table and the field for Legal Description (column 2 in the source text file) in the table is of data type varchar(max) because some of the data goes over the 8K size. I get an error on the first row of importing that refers to column 2 (see 'Initial errors' below). I read the related post and changed the size of input column 2 to 8000 and got this error. Finally I set the size of the of input column 2 to 4000 and it ran. So I'm thinking there is a limit on the size of varchar data that can be imported. Just want to clarify what that limit is and how I might go about importing this data.

Thanks, John

Error with input column 2 set to size of 8000:

Setting Destination Connection (Error)

Messages

Error 0xc0204016: DTS.Pipeline: The "output column "Column 2" (388)" has a length that is not valid. The length must be between 0 and 4000.
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

Exception from HRESULT: 0xC0204016 (Microsoft.SqlServer.DTSPipelineWrap)

Initial errors:

Executing (Error)

Messages

Error 0xc02020a1: Data Flow Task: Data conversion failed. The data conversion for column "Column 2" returned status value 4 and status text "Text was truncated or one or more characters had no match in the target code page.".
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

Error 0xc020902a: Data Flow Task: The "output column "Column 2" (18)" failed because truncation occurred, and the truncation row disposition on "output column "Column 2" (18)" specifies failure on truncation. A truncation error occurred on the specified object of the specified component.
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

Error 0xc0202092: Data Flow Task: An error occurred while processing file "\\Scux00\assrdumps\SQLServerDB\exportsql.txt" on data row 1.
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

Error 0xc0047038: Data Flow Task: The PrimeOutput method on component "Source - exportsql_txt" (1) returned error code 0xC0202092. The component returned a failure code when the pipeline engine called PrimeOutput(). The meaning of the failure code is defined by the component, but the error is fatal and the pipeline stopped executing.
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

Error 0xc0047021: Data Flow Task: Thread "SourceThread0" has exited with error code 0xC0047038.
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

Error 0xc0047039: Data Flow Task: Thread "WorkThread0" received a shutdown signal and is terminating. The user requested a shutdown, or an error in another thread is causing the pipeline to shutdown.
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

Error 0xc0047021: Data Flow Task: Thread "WorkThread0" has exited with error code 0xC0047039.
(SQL Server Import and Export Wizard)

There is a limit on the size of unicode character strings at 4000. Non-unicode character strings have a limit of 8000. Ensure that you don't have type conversions between varchar and nvarchar.|||

I'm trying the SQL Server Import and Export Wizard. I've set the DataType to most of the fields as 'string[DT_STR]' and the Unicode box is unchecked, but when I look at column mappings after clicking 'Edit Mappings', all the columns say they're type nvarchar on the screen and it doesn't appear to be something I can change. If I highlight a column on that screen it shows the setting that I set in the Advanced screen for the text file, ie .. Column 2 string[DT_STR](4000). Since I'm getting the limit of 4k it must be because of this. I'm not sure how to modify it. I'll save the package as a file and open it up in BID Studio ... john