Need your feedback, Manual or Auto, Rubicon or Mojave.

[shootify]

I am about to buy a Gladiator Rubicon 2022 with a manual transmission which I have reserved.
The reason I am going manual is that I am old school and like and enjoy more driving manual than auto, anyways, there are two things i am debating with, right now.
1- I know there is a recall for the clutch on this truck and looks like still after all this time, there is no fix or expected date. Does anyone here know something about this?
2- I just found that the Mojave trim has a better frame (reinforced), suspension, and so. Now I am debating between these two, Rubicon and Mojave, (i dont have plans of doing rock crawling and so.) but I am not able to find a manual transmission Mojave close by, so I am starting to think I should get the AUTO in the Mojave, please share your thoughts.

thanks a lot.

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[ShadowsPapa]

If you like manual, get manual. It will all be ironed out in the end.

If you like Rubicon, get Rubicon. It's best for what it's made for.
Mojave as the "reinforcements" but that won't matter a lick for those who don't jump dunes and fly over something and land in the sand from 10 feet in the air.

My suggestion - test drive a Rubicon, test drive a Mojave. Transmission won't matter - go by feel, appearance, ride and so on. You can test an automatic of each.

They are both fine, each has their place and reason.

Only YOU should decide what's best for you.
Unless you really push it hard, the "reinforced frame" won't necessarily matter to you.
Rubicon has "lockers" front and rear and Mojave - only rear - will that matter? Likely not if you don't get into tough mud or rocky situations.

 

[Jefe1018]

Drive an automatic before you go with the manual would be my advice - both rigs you will love, baby, beat on and mod.

 

[bleda2002]

Do you plan on lifting and bigger tires? Go Rubicon since you are replacing the Mojave suspension anyways. Do you off road over obstacles at lower speeds climbing up things? Go Rubicon. Do you plan on staying basically stock, or small spacer lift and mostly on road? Mojave is better on road. Do you plan on doing high speed desert runs and again mostly stock? Mojave.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Do you plan on lifting and bigger tires? Go Rubicon since you are replacing the Mohave suspension anyways. Do you off road over obstacles at lower speeds climbing up things? Go Rubicon. Do you plan on staying basically stock, or small spacer lift and mostly on road? Mojave is better on road. Do you plan on doing high speed desert runs and again mostly stock? Mojave.

Good point - thanks for adding some things I forgot, "future plans".
Rubicon lends itself a tad bit better to lifts and similar mods.

Again, each has their place.

I made a major major major mistake and drove a Mojave. Sometimes I'm just not very smart.
And even the dealer said - "if someone plans on a lift, I recommend Rubicon" (or Sport/Willys, for example).

They have a really cool Sport Apex version - nicely equipped, modified by Fox. Surprised it's still there.

 

[Marmaduke]

There is a fix and parts available on the clutch since at least December when mine was fixed. Many others have reported fixed too. If the truck is brand new it will have a stop sale w/o the fix applied. If used, I would tell them purchase is dependent on them fixing it.

 

[ErrngeElise]

This is the remedy description for the 2023.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCRIT-23V116-5870.pdf

This was the last update I saw for what order and when to expect a notice to repair.
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCLRPT-23V116-9985.PDF
Jeep seems to be making the repair available in this order, 2023s, 2020, 2021 and then 2022s appear to be last, but I’ve also heard people just requesting it and getting it done. This is just the notification schedule and why a lot of people don’t know there is a repair. I’m in no hurry to have mine repaired.

As for manual vs auto. I had the same dilemma. Ultimately I found a manual I liked but I wouldn’t have regretted an auto too much. The 8 speed is a great trans.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I went automatic because I'm getting older (and so are my KNEES) and I tow, and backing a trailer and parking a trailer in really tight spots, turning one around, just not so easy with the high gear of reverse in a stick. Too much clutch work for me.
So as much as I like a manual - it just doesn't work for me.
You could have never turned and parked my car hauler like I did yesterday with a stick without putting a couple thousand miles of wear on the clutch and taking about 2 years off my knee's life.
These autos are fantastic transmissions.
But I only put out my reasoning, the rest is up to the prospective buyer.

 

[ErrngeElise]

I went automatic because I'm getting older (and so are my KNEES) and I tow, and backing a trailer and parking a trailer in really tight spots, turning one around, just not so easy with the high gear of reverse in a stick. Too much clutch work for me.
So as much as I like a manual - it just doesn't work for me.
You could have never turned and parked my car hauler like I did yesterday with a stick without putting a couple thousand miles of wear on the clutch and taking about 2 years off my knee's life.
These autos are fantastic transmissions.
But I only put out my reasoning, the rest is up to the prospective buyer.

Yea this is actually a key point to remember. I don’t tow anything. If I did, I would definitely get an auto. So if you plan to tow, auto.

 

[Not2Late]

If you drive in any sort of bumper to bumper or slow moving traffic at all, go with the Auto. I had a manual JK and loved it - until I hit the city and traffic. Pain - especially with my older joints these days! But, nothing like rowing through the gears (and control) on the road when you have space!

 

[Lunentucker]

Automatic Mojave, and get the one with automatic 4WD if you're subjected to any winter weather driving.

In addition to the beefed up frame you get:
Steel hood with faux scoop
Reinforced frame
Bolstered seats
Fox 2.5" internal bypass remote reservoir shocks
Wide Dana 44 axles
Cast iron knuckles
2.72:1 low range (up to 50 mph in 4 low)
4.10 gearing
1" taller than Rubicon in stock configuration
Hydraulic jounce bumpers
Strengthened front upper control arms
Strengthened lower control arm mounts
Strenghtened cross members
Reinforced shock towers
Rear track bar has a larger outer diameter, larger bushings, and a higher strength tube
Wheels 7.5 mm shallower backspacing than Rubicon
"Racing grips" steering wheel
Rear locker can run in 4 high in off-road plus mode
Orange things

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Automatic Mojave, and get the one with automatic 4WD if you're subjected to any winter weather driving.

In addition to the beefed up frame you get:
Steel hood with faux scoop
Reinforced frame
Bolstered seats
Fox 2.5" internal bypass remote reservoir shocks
Wide Dana 44 axles
Cast iron knuckles
2.72:1 low range (up to 50 mph in 4 low)
4.10 gearing
1" taller than Rubicon in stock configuration
Hydraulic jounce bumpers
Strengthened front upper control arms
Strengthened lower control arm mounts
Strenghtened cross members
Reinforced shock towers
Rear track bar has a larger outer diameter, larger bushings, and a higher strength tube
Wheels 7.5 mm shallower backspacing than Rubicon
"Racing grips" steering wheel
Rear locker can run in 4 high in off-road plus mode
Orange things

Hey, mods - can I tell this guy to shut up?

?

Just kidding of course.

I want a REAL hood scoop!

What's this "faux" business?

 

[shootify]

Thanks for the replies, I going to test drive the Rubicon with manual and Mojave with auto.
My plan with the Rubicon is just to keep stock as needed., maybe when is time to replace tires, I will go with 35 with no lift, same as for the Mojave.

 

[shootify]

Automatic Mojave, and get the one with automatic 4WD if you're subjected to any winter weather driving.

In addition to the beefed up frame you get:
Steel hood with faux scoop
Reinforced frame
Bolstered seats
Fox 2.5" internal bypass remote reservoir shocks
Wide Dana 44 axles
Cast iron knuckles
2.72:1 low range (up to 50 mph in 4 low)
4.10 gearing
1" taller than Rubicon in stock configuration
Hydraulic jounce bumpers
Strengthened front upper control arms
Strengthened lower control arm mounts
Strenghtened cross members
Reinforced shock towers
Rear track bar has a larger outer diameter, larger bushings, and a higher strength tube
Wheels 7.5 mm shallower backspacing than Rubicon
"Racing grips" steering wheel
Rear locker can run in 4 high in off-road plus mode
Orange things

Rubi is not happy now...

 

[Chaos Theory]

My plan with the Rubicon is just to keep stock as needed., maybe when is time to replace tires, I will go with 35 with no lift, same as for the Mojave.

If I had a nickel for everyone who has said that on this forum... A year later they're driving a mobile Liberace.

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