Potentially joining the Jeep family

[NinjahGoose]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here but would like to get some input on maybe moving to a JT in the next year or so. My main use cases for a vehicle are mild forest trails on occasion, towing the boat to the lakes and 150 miles to the coast, driving on the beach, and the typical Dad duties (aka grocery/target runs, taking to/picking up the toddler from school, Lowes/Home Depot trips).

My 2012 4Runner has been incredible but it's starting to show it's age (170,000 miles). Now that I'm towing a heavier boat (Egret Moccasin 210, about 3000# w/ trailer) than my last poling skiff (East Cape VHP, about 2200# w/ trailer) the lack of power is also pretty obvious. I've been toying with the idea of going EV, all that HP and Torque is enticing, but between the high price and towing range impact the EV trucks are out for the next several years.

Looking at what is coming out that doesn't leave many options that I'm truly interested in. The upcoming JT Mojave 4xe is pretty much leading the pack in what I'm interested in buying. This would be my first Solid Front axle vehicle. When I google towing with the JT I get horror stories, talking about MotorTrend, about death wobble and horrible trailer sway. In theory, towing with the 4xe should be great due to the extra low center of gravity from the HV battery but who knows until it's actually on the road.

I have a buddy with a new JT but he's already lifted his Diesel Rubicon 3" and doesn't tow with it. Does anyone have any experience towing a bay boat or something similar they can share? Has anyone switched from IFS to Solid front axle?

Sponsored

 

[PlayfulBird]

There is no potentially.
There is a yes and do or no.
Personally, I think you either live it and love it. Then you take the crap Jeep and Stellantis are doing, or you don't, in which case take your money and run.
J ust
E mpty
E very
P ocket
which even if you don't mod or off road will eventually be victim to.

Just my 2c

 

[mx5red]

I rented a Winnebago Minnie flx 2100bh prob at least 5000# and towed it up and down desert mountains no problem.

 

[NinjahGoose]

There is no potentially.
There is a yes and do or no.
Personally, I think you either live it and love it. Then you take the crap Jeep and Stellantis are doing, or you don't, in which case take your money and run.
J ust
E mpty
E very
P ocket
which even if you don't mod or off road will eventually be victim to.

Just my 2c

I’m used to being victim to a “needy” hobby.
B reak
O ut
A nother
T housand
I already have accessories bookmarked to buy as soon as I make the purchase.


I have no skin in the Stellantis game, I do really like the 4xe concept and want to see if grow. I’ll only be moving to Jeep when the 4xe comes to the Gladiator. I’m not a fan of how Jeep luxuryfied the GC so that isn’t an option. I’m all for a nicer interior but not everything has to compete with Land Rover.

My main question is if the solid front axle haters have any real bearing. Are there really dead spots in the steering and is death wobble a thing of early 90’s live axle trucks or can it happen in modern vehicles?

 

[ATL_Rubi]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here but would like to get some input on maybe moving to a JT in the next year or so. My main use cases for a vehicle are mild forest trails on occasion, towing the boat to the lakes and 150 miles to the coast, driving on the beach, and the typical Dad duties (aka grocery/target runs, taking to/picking up the toddler from school, Lowes/Home Depot trips).

My 2012 4Runner has been incredible but it's starting to show it's age (170,000 miles). Now that I'm towing a heavier boat (Egret Moccasin 210, about 3000# w/ trailer) than my last poling skiff (East Cape VHP, about 2200# w/ trailer) the lack of power is also pretty obvious. I've been toying with the idea of going EV, all that HP and Torque is enticing, but between the high price and towing range impact the EV trucks are out for the next several years.

Looking at what is coming out that doesn't leave many options that I'm truly interested in. The upcoming JT Mojave 4xe is pretty much leading the pack in what I'm interested in buying. This would be my first Solid Front axle vehicle. When I google towing with the JT I get horror stories, talking about MotorTrend, about death wobble and horrible trailer sway. In theory, towing with the 4xe should be great due to the extra low center of gravity from the HV battery but who knows until it's actually on the road.

I have a buddy with a new JT but he's already lifted his Diesel Rubicon 3" and doesn't tow with it. Does anyone have any experience towing a bay boat or something similar they can share? Has anyone switched from IFS to Solid front axle?

I went from an IFS Jeep Commander to my Previous JK, ride is the largest difference, it's a little more harsh. The Mojave will mask some of this. As a side note, I am not sure if the 4xe variant gladiator is slated to be coming or not.

 

[NinjahGoose]

I went from an IFS Jeep Commander to my Previous JK, ride is the largest difference, it's a little more harsh. The Mojave will mask some of this. As a side note, I am not sure if the 4xe variant gladiator is slated to be coming or not.

Jim Morrison said in an interview to Brad from TrailRecon that all Jeeps will have an electrified option by 2025.

 

[Caveman]

I have a 2020 Sport S (Max Tow), and I tow a Brenderup horse trailer with a single Quarter Horse to and around the mountains of Western N. Carolina fairly regularly. Loaded with the horse, the HT weighs in at about 3300#. I use a WD hitch and trailer brakes, and the rig is stable and confidence-inspiring up to the speeds I'm comfortable traveling at, about 70 mph at the top end. This is a more challenging load than you are thinking about, as the horse is loaded on the left (with the right stall empty), is moving weight, and the weight of the HT w/ horse is carried higher than that of most loaded boat trailers.

 

[mx5red]

I’m used to being victim to a “needy” hobby.
B reak
O ut
A nother
T housand
I already have accessories bookmarked to buy as soon as I make the purchase.


I have no skin in the Stellantis game, I do really like the 4xe concept and want to see if grow. I’ll only be moving to Jeep when the 4xe comes to the Gladiator. I’m not a fan of how Jeep luxuryfied the GC so that isn’t an option. I’m all for a nicer interior but not everything has to compete with Land Rover.

My main question is if the solid front axle haters have any real bearing. Are there really dead spots in the steering and is death wobble a thing of early 90’s live axle trucks or can it happen in modern vehicles?

There’s some variation in steering. My ex-wife’s JLUR had great, direct steering. My gladiator was pretty rubbery. It’s tightened up with new track bar/brace, possibly tightening control arm/steering bolts.. not sure how much the AEV/bilstein steering stabilizer helped also.
But it wasn’t horrendous just noticeably different, and it’s better now and I haven’t even replaced ball joints.
I think it’s overblown, though I’m sure some people had it worse.
And I am super comfortable in my interior with the stereo jamming (just windy on highway) so it’s not as much of a compromise as they were 20+ years ago.
Plus I can’t take a stock 4Runner down a gnarly badge of honor trail!

edit: go test drive and see if they’ll let you drive over some obstacles for giggles.

 

[Jobofly]

i have a 22 JTM and have zero issues with sway when towing my 5000lb travel trailer. To me it is the ultimate dad vehicle. I take it off road but most of my time is driving the kids to sports and running errands. Also it looks badass!

 

[HooliganActual]

Being a Jeep fan, my advice to everyone would be “Buy more Jeeps!”. However, since you are a Toyota owner and likely not averse to Toyotas AND are willing to wait until after 2025 for an electric Gladiator, I’d say wait and see what Toyota does with their new hydrogen engine.

I’m not a huge fan of the electric vehicle agenda but that is primarily because I don’t think it is as sustainable an option as it is made out to be, i.e. the infrastructure is not in place, battery materials shortages, etc. Toyota is the largest automaker in the world and are putting considerable resources behind the hydrogen engine. If Toyota wants to see that platform be successful, it will be and it will blow the electric vehicles out of the water (pun kinda intended).

If you are willing to wait 2 years for a 4XE Gladiator, just keep an eye on what Toyota does in that time; you might have a better option available by then.

 

[cico7]

target runs,

My favorite pass time- running to shoot targets!

 

[ShrimpHappens]

Since no 4xe Gladiator exists, it's pure speculation as to what towing with it will be like.

However, I've towed similar stuff to you. I have a 15ft aluminum fishing boat, and my tournament partner has a 19ft fiberglass bass boat. Obviously he does most of the towing, and we started out in his wife's 2012 4Runner. It did the job fine, but it was work for the 4Runner. He now has an F-150 with the 5.0L V8, and it's effortless for that truck.

I've towed his boat with my Gladiator once or twice, and it's a middle ground between a 4Runner and a full-size truck. The Gladiator is more stable and in control like the F-150, but the gas V6 has to work to keep speed like in the 4Runner.

There's no way to sugarcoat that the ride will be worse with a solid axle vehicle, but the Mojave is said to have the best suspension ever put on a solid-axle Jeep. As for me, I just keep in mind that I bought a Jeep to be a Jeep, and the ride was a tradeoff I'm willing to make.

 

[NinjahGoose]

Being a Jeep fan, my advice to everyone would be “Buy more Jeeps!”. However, since you are a Toyota owner and likely not averse to Toyotas AND are willing to wait until after 2025 for an electric Gladiator, I’d say wait and see what Toyota does with their new hydrogen engine.

I’m not a huge fan of the electric vehicle agenda but that is primarily because I don’t think it is as sustainable an option as it is made out to be, i.e. the infrastructure is not in place, battery materials shortages, etc. Toyota is the largest automaker in the world and are putting considerable resources behind the hydrogen engine. If Toyota wants to see that platform be successful, it will be and it will blow the electric vehicles out of the water (pun kinda intended).

If you are willing to wait 2 years for a 4XE Gladiator, just keep an eye on what Toyota does in that time; you might have a better option available by then.

The Toyota hydrogen engine/fuel cell isn’t viable, nor is the the BMW version, at least for passenger cars. The very limited pumps freeze up constantly and apparently refueling the stations in California is a chore. I would much rather stick with gas until making the jump to EV.

The current battery chemistry isn’t sustainable for vehicles, however, the sodium battery tech is showing real promise to get the cost down and energy capacity up. I’ve driven a Rivian R1T, the power is addicting.

 

[Gvsukids]

There's no way to sugarcoat that the ride will be worse with a solid axle vehicle, but the Mojave is said to have the best suspension ever put on a solid-axle Jeep.

Overland suspension is soft and rides well too.

My main question is if the solid front axle haters have any real bearing. Are there really dead spots in the steering and is death wobble a thing of early 90’s live axle trucks or can it happen in modern vehicles?

Depends. Mine drives excellent, others have had steering issues.

 

[CJ5w4wdSmokyOnMyTail]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here but would like to get some input on maybe moving to a JT in the next year or so. My main use cases for a vehicle are mild forest trails on occasion, towing the boat to the lakes and 150 miles to the coast, driving on the beach, and the typical Dad duties (aka grocery/target runs, taking to/picking up the toddler from school, Lowes/Home Depot trips).

My 2012 4Runner has been incredible but it's starting to show it's age (170,000 miles). Now that I'm towing a heavier boat (Egret Moccasin 210, about 3000# w/ trailer) than my last poling skiff (East Cape VHP, about 2200# w/ trailer) the lack of power is also pretty obvious. I've been toying with the idea of going EV, all that HP and Torque is enticing, but between the high price and towing range impact the EV trucks are out for the next several years.

Looking at what is coming out that doesn't leave many options that I'm truly interested in. The upcoming JT Mojave 4xe is pretty much leading the pack in what I'm interested in buying. This would be my first Solid Front axle vehicle. When I google towing with the JT I get horror stories, talking about MotorTrend, about death wobble and horrible trailer sway. In theory, towing with the 4xe should be great due to the extra low center of gravity from the HV battery but who knows until it's actually on the road.

I have a buddy with a new JT but he's already lifted his Diesel Rubicon 3" and doesn't tow with it. Does anyone have any experience towing a bay boat or something similar they can share? Has anyone switched from IFS to Solid front axle?

I tow a 2,600 pound trailer with my Mojave (it has the tow package) all across the U.S. and it tows great. I forget the trailer is there sometimes. Never towed a boat or anything heavier.

Sponsored