What can a Mojave on 35s NOT do?

[SpeedNeed]

A Mohave on stock wheels will do incredible things.

I think the Red Rock club in Moab has the best rating system. They make specific suggestions about lift kits and tires sizes by trail. When reading the trail ratings, I believe that with a Mohave or a Rubicon, you can consider that you vehicle came with a 2" lift. I have been on trails rated as high as 5 with my Gladiator. We got through without much drama. Well, except for the steep sidehill/downhill section that made me squeal.

Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc. - (rr4w.com)

I like this rating system, thanks for the link!

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[JDChris]

I live in SE MI, own a Mojave that I switched to 35" tires. Last summer, I drove it on a 3,500 mile trip on the Trans-America Trail (almost exclusively dirt roads and trails all the way) to Moab while pulling a small, overland trailer. The Jeep did miraculously well.

In conclusion, there is absolutely nothing, NOTHING, that a Mojave on 35s can't do and look cool while doing it!!!

In SE Michigan too. They do great at Silver Lake. Honestly, I wish I would have gone to 37s and skipped 35s.

 

[GladLad]

Here's my opinion FWIW:

Do nothing​

I have been driving Jeeps since 1983, when I got my first CJ7 (first car too, BTW) and one of the biggest mistakes I see people do (and you've alluded to it) is buy a Jeep, with no experience of what to do with it or how they want to use it, and then start throwing mods at it before they've seen what it can do, how it handles, etc.

I have a little philosophy when I buy my Jeeps; I do very minimal mods until I've worn the first set of tires off. That's partly because I am too lazy to try to sell take off parts but mostly because I want to get the feel of the vehicle, learn how it drives, see where it is lacking before I spend money on the wrong modifications or, at worst, modifications that don't get me what I expected.

In the "before" picture I shared previously, the Gladiator is 8 or 9 months old and still stock. We did many overlanding journeys in that several months to figure out what would make it the rig we enjoyed using. In that picture, we were on the Tabeguache Trail outside of Grand Junction, CO and were really struggling with the suspension, where we hadn't on previous trips with less aggressive trails. By no means was this trail a crawler, it just had a lot of cross axle obstacles that made it very evident that the suspension was not right for the load (BTW, I am currently scaled at just over 200# above GVWR)

IF you do wind up buying a Gladiator, do yourself a favor: hoard your upgrade money like a miser and hold off modding it for six months. Get it out on the trail, load it down (haul a pallet of something for somebody), fill it with all your camping gear and go to the trails even if its just to be on the trails with your typical load. Just avoid the temptation of driving it straight from the dealer's lot to the off-road shop for mods. Figure it out and then build it the way you need it rather than the way you think you need it before knowing you need it that way (<- was that circuitous logic there?).

One other thing you should do: forget you ever heard about this forum. It's dangerous. We will spend your money for you without let or hindrance!!!!

Great point, and is part of why I'm leaning Mojave. So I can do nothing and still get the ride and look I want. Not even sure if I'd run the 33s bald before going 35, but definitely not get them right away. I want to be able to compare in the least.

Thanks for the info and advice, received. Though I do have a list of additions to look into later. Non mechanical stuff as needed like protection, steps, accessories... you know, all the money stealing stuff you warned me about.

Oh, and you mentioned other DDs and shared Wrangler pics. How do you like them compared to JT? I'm 95% JT as I like having a bed and smoother ride. You go with JT for overlanding?

 

[Dryfly24]

They can’t use the front locker… ?

Beat me to it. . . ?

 

[GladLad]

A Gladiator will always make you look COOL! Better question is will you make the gladiator look cool
adding sway disconnects should not affect too much, it may run at full flex.
Will be fine to tackle any trail you choose
I would add max tow regardless. As is and hauling camping gear and what not will help.
The stock fox shocks do not seem to have the best reputation. My rubi shocks needs to have one replaced already and i do not wheel at all (wish i did, someday i will make more time.)
non-lifted rubi should run 35's just fine. Maybe a different offset (but that's for any model) the wider tire may rub at full turn.
My Rubicon creaked and dealer did something. I have never had a car that didnt creek with axle sway bushings. Easy enough to combat.

Anyways valid concerns and questions. I hope my opinion helps. I think they are a solid rig. A vehicle i have been hoping for for along time. I think they came out in a good style period for the brand too. The 07-16 look like Kleenex boxes to me. Would not have made a good truck. The Jl/JT body lines are really nice and all the people i've read about having a Mojave love the ride quality. My Rubi is nice too. IMO

Damn right, it'll make me look cool! Will I make it look cool? Depends on if the doors are off and if my pastey legs have got enough sun yet.

The sway disco question was mostly to ensure going up to 35s wouldn't force me into a lift too. Not that I have plans for any of those yet, but it's good to know.

The creak threads I've seen mention greasing it up, but not all were happy with it returning shortly after. Then others said it never occurred. In the Order/pricing forum section it looks like Rubis aren't coming with Fox anymore. Mojave is, but I haven't heard anything bad other than some creak.

 

[GladLad]

In SE Michigan too. They do great at Silver Lake. Honestly, I wish I would have gone to 37s and skipped 35s.

Hey, another! I'd definitely be taking it to Silver Lake.

Seems like everyone says that about 35s. And while I won't know until I get it and use it for a good while, I'm hoping I won't be the same. I like the idea of not stealing even more mpg, or adding lift needs to a DD.

 

[JDChris]

Hey, another! I'd definitely be taking it to Silver Lake.

Seems like everyone says that about 35s. And while I won't know until I get it and use it for a good while, I'm hoping I won't be the same. I like the idea of not stealing even more mpg, or adding lift needs to a DD.

That's fair. Mine is a daily driver too, but I don't drive it to work. Unless you call driving to DTW once every 1-2 months to fly, commuting. Yay - working from home.

IMO, Gladiators should come with 35s stock. Anything less and they look like they were in a cold body of water and experienced shrinkage (Think of the Seinfeld episode where George shouted "I was in the pool"). 35s look "okay" and to look like an upgrade, you need to go to at least 37s. I came from a JKU with 33s that looked okay and thought 35s on the JT would look good.

I drove mine on the stock 33s for a month or so and went to the 35s and didn't experience a noticeable difference in MPG. Keep in mind, these are Jeeps so fuel efficient is not a word it understands. If you lose 1 - 2 MPG and that is important, reduce your speed by 3-5 mph to get it back.

 

[Andy29847]

Nice link. I knew there had to be something like that at trail heads. Ground clearance numbers estimates would be nice, since some are already higher without lifts. But it's all general and a risk.

Are you in a stock Mojave?

Stock Rubicon - I pull it with my camper. I have been wheeling in wheeling in a lot of spots. The Gladiator has been everywhere my 2004 TJ (33" tires ab 4" lift) had been.

 

[GladLad]

That's fair. Mine is a daily driver too, but I don't drive it to work. Unless you call driving to DTW once every 1-2 months to fly, commuting. Yay - working from home.

IMO, Gladiators should come with 35s stock. Anything less and they look like they were in a cold body of water and experienced shrinkage (Think of the Seinfeld episode where George shouted "I was in the pool"). 35s look "okay" and to look like an upgrade, you need to go to at least 37s. I came from a JKU with 33s that looked okay and thought 35s on the JT would look good.

I drove mine on the stock 33s for a month or so and went to the 35s and didn't experience a noticeable difference in MPG. Keep in mind, these are Jeeps so fuel efficient is not a word it understands. If you lose 1 - 2 MPG and that is important, reduce your speed by 3-5 mph to get it back.

True, as a remote worker I shouldn't care about mpg so much either. We'll see if I can avoid the bad influence you people have.

 

[GladLad]

Stock Rubicon - I pull it with my camper. I have been wheeling in wheeling in a lot of spots. The Gladiator has been everywhere my 2004 TJ (33" tires ab 4" lift) had been.

That's a good comparison since stock moj and rubi are close, but in their lockers and crawl.

 

[HooliganActual]

Oh, and you mentioned other DDs and shared Wrangler pics. How do you like them compared to JT? I'm 95% JT as I like having a bed and smoother ride. You go with JT for overlanding?

The Granite Crystal (Grey) Wrangler is the wife's and the Mojave Sand (Tan) Wrangler is mine. We wheel them pretty aggressively. The wife's is basically stock (it does have 33's and a leveling kit) and mine has a 2.5" AEV lift with 35's (and a bunch of other mods). The wife follows me and my buddy (whose Wrangler is set up similar to mine) everywhere we go with hers being basically stock. If you want to do "stupid stuff", the Wrangler is ready for it; the 2 doors even more so.

My JKUR was set up for overlanding originally:

And I still punished trails with it:

But we decided that we wanted a little more space, not to carry more, rather to not have things packed like a sardine can; so we bought the JTR and moved all of the stuff over to it...and improved many things.

You don't need a super built rig to overland; a stock Jeep of any kind will get you just about anywhere you would want to go. Heck, look at what people used to "overland" in before it became a thing. I overbuilt mine because I wanted to make sure it would get me where I want to go (yeah, that's the Colorado River waaaay down there).

 

[Andy29847]

That's a good comparison since stock moj and rubi are close, but in their lockers and crawl.

I've never had to use the lockers. I ride mostly forest roads and mining trails. Lockers generally start mattering in OHJV parks and on extreme trails. The same for the 4:1 transfer case. FWIW, I wanted a Mohave, but the wife wanted the Rubicon. Happy wife, happy life.

 

[HooliganActual]

well said. I have not added any mods to mine and its been over a year in service for me. I added trail lights on my cowl and some creature comfort adds. I think the way it sits and comes off the lot is more than i will ever need. My next set of tires will be 35's though and maybe a tazer to adjust teh speedo.

Yeah, I do think Jeeps should just come with 35's standard. That's the right size IMHO. I wheel crazy stuff in my Wrangler with 35's...I mean, i'm not racing the Hammers and have no real desire to do buggy trails.

The Tazer is great (but would be unnecessary if they just came with 35's) and has some features I plan to try out next time I'm on the trail. You can do a front wheel brake lock so that you can rear dig. They've also added Trail turn assist (like the new Broncos have) that I'm anxious to play with.

 

[Gvsukids]

They've also added Trail turn assist (like the new Broncos have) that I'm anxious to play with.

 

[GladLad]

The Granite Crystal (Grey) Wrangler is the wife's and the Mojave Sand (Tan) Wrangler is mine. We wheel them pretty aggressively. The wife's is basically stock (it does have 33's and a leveling kit) and mine has a 2.5" AEV lift with 35's (and a bunch of other mods). The wife follows me and my buddy (whose Wrangler is set up similar to mine) everywhere we go with hers being basically stock. If you want to do "stupid stuff", the Wrangler is ready for it; the 2 doors even more so.

My JKUR was set up for overlanding originally:

And I still punished trails with it:

But we decided that we wanted a little more space, not to carry more, rather to not have things packed like a sardine can; so we bought the JTR and moved all of the stuff over to it...and improved many things.

You don't need a super built rig to overland; a stock Jeep of any kind will get you just about anywhere you would want to go. Heck, look at what people used to "overland" in before it became a thing. I overbuilt mine because I wanted to make sure it would get me where I want to go (yeah, that's the Colorado River waaaay down there).

Even though your wife's stock on 33s can follow you just fine, you still got a 2.5" lift and 35s? Take your own advice and leave this money stealing site. I kid, but nice to hear less is still capable.

I considered Wrangler and stupid stuff, but I don't live close enough to do stupid stuff frequently. If I get out to some good sites, maybe I'll convince some 2 door Wrangler having friends to follow and try them out.

I figured JT would be better for camping. More room, towing, rtt behind the removable roof panels, etc.

Nice trips and pics!

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