2022 Gladiator Mojave Travel Trailer towing

[BoomerangJ]

I've read the various threads, but I like to over analyze decisions and have always welcomed forum opinions form people more experienced than I!

Background: 2022 Mojave gas automatic. Stock tires, drivetrain, and suspension. I "guess" my max trailer towing weight is 6,000 pounds. (when I first started this journey I thought it was 7,000 pounds and I see that the Rubicon version is-not sure I understand why it's different-but that's another thread?). What I believe my towing capacities are:
-GCWR-11,450 pounds. Max GTW 6,000 pounds. Max trailer tongue weight-600 pounds.

My use model for the trailer is to drop it at your standard RV parks to get close to things like wineries, fun towns, and other attractions. The other extreme is off grid. A lot of my Gladiator miles are off road. I live part time in Az and there are more trails than I will ever get to experience. My last trip was up the Mogollon Rim and there were a lot of remote off grid camp sites. Easy roads to get there. But a lot of washboard that I think would shake a non off Road trailer apart. I also want to get up to Moab and other fun Jeep off road places. Dis-connect the trailer and go exploring with the Jeep. I have no intention of taking the trailer "rock crawling" but may seek out campsites that are more challenging than the typical fire road.

I like this trailer: https://www.mdcusa.com/product/dealer-xt16hr-island-overland-travel-travel/

It's just the two of us. Close to retirement age, still active hikers. She does prefer a separate shower/dry bath-not the wet bath combo. We both like to be able to get out of bed w/o crawling over each other-it's a middle of the night thing-happens when you get older! This island model looks like it fits the bill. When I thought I had a 7,000 pound tow vehicle I was comfortable with this choice. The trailer specs are:

5,603 curb(dry) weight and 6,147 GVWR. Tongue weight is 458 pounds.

I would try to tow with empty tanks and we don't have a lot of gear. Hiking gear and clothes. But this will push the total load capacity. Now I'm not o comfortable.

I would add an equalizing hitch and the trailer comes with a brake/sway controller. (My other car is GMC 2500 HD diesel-towing machine-but I want my Jeep). But the GMC taught me the value of having an "over capacity" tow vehicle. Rated at #17,500 pounds and I have pulled 15,000 pound loads with no issue in the Texas hill country. This note is just to say I have towing experience and have towed boats, tractors(on trailers) and many other things. The older I am the safer I want to be!!

We'd be driving from the Phoenix area, usually pointed north to higher and cooler spots. Plan to add Star Link and do some work remotely.

My questions to the group are:
>will this trailer be too much of a load for my Jeep? Will it struggle going up the 5% grades. Overheating? By struggle does it drop down to 35-45mph? or just shift down and maintain 60-65? (assume no wind-I know what a headwind can do!)
>Frontal surface area of the trailer? 55 square feet? I guess this is a big drag/fuel milage issue? How noticeable is the drag on a Gladiator drive train?
>What is the difference in rating between the 2022 Mojave/Rubicon? I thought the major suspension components were the same heavy duty axles, brakes, and rear end ratio? But the Rubicon is rated at 7,000. I thought the ratings on my jeep were 7,000-it's in Az and I'm in Texas so I can't go out and double check. And then the 2024 Mojave is rated at 7700 pounds? (auto/gas). I am not seeing anything in the drive train/suspension/engine specs to net out this difference. I'm not trading-but just curious on what I am finding online.
>I was considering a class C and pull the Gladiator. but I want to ease into this RV thing and see if I like it-at a lower cost. Thought a small trailer may be the way. The other option is VRBO's but then I can't "get out there". I like this MDC Trailers but others are on the list. But my parameters are separate shower, walk around bed, and indoor head. And one that is not going to shake apart on the way to the camp site. I had a Class C one time that was a POS. Sold it after 2 months. I like things that work and last.
>I am also only "kinda" thinking of getting a camper top for the GMC truck and tow the Gladiator. But I'd rather have the trailer than the camper top.

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[Jobofly]

I tow a 5500lb travel trailer with my Mojave and have no issues.

 

[Labswine]

I tow an ~5,100 lb (with all we want or need) 27' travel trailer with no issues with an Overland (ordered 5/19, delivered 7/19). A good WDH and brake controller are good. As for anti-sway, I haven't found the need for that extra thing as my WDH does a real good job in that department. I have the BlueOX system fro my WDH.

 

[Josh00333]

see my thread on the OBI 13 similar type trailer mines a pop-up yours is hard side, but a few comments.

Yours is gonna be a lot like the OBI 15 and other similar type of off road trailers. They are tongue light, which means they tow poorly generally over 60 miles an hour if you’re running them without water in the tank.

That gross vehicle weight rating is over your capacity, not by much. More importantly, look at the curb it’s 5600 pounds. no idea what these trailers is 500 pounds of weight becomes payload capacity for the trailer by moving it to the truck but that still not very much payload in the trailer before you’re over your limit.

The biggest problem gladiators have is payload. You need to go away your truck hop in it fuel Google cat scale and go pay 13 bucks to weigh your truck.. your door that says s your payload.

Add in your beer, your wife’s purse dogs six kids 6 quarts of firewood, the kitchen sink and a spare gladiator that everybody seems to carry with them as tools and you can see where this is going.

That is within your towing, barely maybe but I think by the time you add the things you need to add you’re gonna be overpay loaded vehicle weight rating and probably overweight On the hitch.

I run a max tow and a 13 foot version of that trailer and I’m close to my payload close to my hitch weight.

Especially consider these are off-road trailers meant for a little worse roads than normal. I would go conservative on the trailer size and weight wise.

This gets a no vote from me. And I looked at the 15 foot versions that different manufacturers have and decided to go with the 13 foot version for the weight and towing issues.

I've read the various threads, but I like to over analyze decisions and have always welcomed forum opinions form people more experienced than I!

Background: 2022 Mojave gas automatic. Stock tires, drivetrain, and suspension. I "guess" my max trailer towing weight is 6,000 pounds. (when I first started this journey I thought it was 7,000 pounds and I see that the Rubicon version is-not sure I understand why it's different-but that's another thread?). What I believe my towing capacities are:
-GCWR-11,450 pounds. Max GTW 6,000 pounds. Max trailer tongue weight-600 pounds.

My use model for the trailer is to drop it at your standard RV parks to get close to things like wineries, fun towns, and other attractions. The other extreme is off grid. A lot of my Gladiator miles are off road. I live part time in Az and there are more trails than I will ever get to experience. My last trip was up the Mogollon Rim and there were a lot of remote off grid camp sites. Easy roads to get there. But a lot of washboard that I think would shake a non off Road trailer apart. I also want to get up to Moab and other fun Jeep off road places. Dis-connect the trailer and go exploring with the Jeep. I have no intention of taking the trailer "rock crawling" but may seek out campsites that are more challenging than the typical fire road.

I like this trailer: https://www.mdcusa.com/product/dealer-xt16hr-island-overland-travel-travel/

It's just the two of us. Close to retirement age, still active hikers. She does prefer a separate shower/dry bath-not the wet bath combo. We both like to be able to get out of bed w/o crawling over each other-it's a middle of the night thing-happens when you get older! This island model looks like it fits the bill. When I thought I had a 7,000 pound tow vehicle I was comfortable with this choice. The trailer specs are:

5,603 curb(dry) weight and 6,147 GVWR. Tongue weight is 458 pounds.

I would try to tow with empty tanks and we don't have a lot of gear. Hiking gear and clothes. But this will push the total load capacity. Now I'm not o comfortable.

I would add an equalizing hitch and the trailer comes with a brake/sway controller. (My other car is GMC 2500 HD diesel-towing machine-but I want my Jeep). But the GMC taught me the value of having an "over capacity" tow vehicle. Rated at #17,500 pounds and I have pulled 15,000 pound loads with no issue in the Texas hill country. This note is just to say I have towing experience and have towed boats, tractors(on trailers) and many other things. The older I am the safer I want to be!!

We'd be driving from the Phoenix area, usually pointed north to higher and cooler spots. Plan to add Star Link and do some work remotely.

My questions to the group are:
>will this trailer be too much of a load for my Jeep? Will it struggle going up the 5% grades. Overheating? By struggle does it drop down to 35-45mph? or just shift down and maintain 60-65? (assume no wind-I know what a headwind can do!)
>Frontal surface area of the trailer? 55 square feet? I guess this is a big drag/fuel milage issue? How noticeable is the drag on a Gladiator drive train?
>What is the difference in rating between the 2022 Mojave/Rubicon? I thought the major suspension components were the same heavy duty axles, brakes, and rear end ratio? But the Rubicon is rated at 7,000. I thought the ratings on my jeep were 7,000-it's in Az and I'm in Texas so I can't go out and double check. And then the 2024 Mojave is rated at 7700 pounds? (auto/gas). I am not seeing anything in the drive train/suspension/engine specs to net out this difference. I'm not trading-but just curious on what I am finding online.
>I was considering a class C and pull the Gladiator. but I want to ease into this RV thing and see if I like it-at a lower cost. Thought a small trailer may be the way. The other option is VRBO's but then I can't "get out there". I like this MDC Trailers but others are on the list. But my parameters are separate shower, walk around bed, and indoor head. And one that is not going to shake apart on the way to the camp site. I had a Class C one time that was a POS. Sold it after 2 months. I like things that work and last.
>I am also only "kinda" thinking of getting a camper top for the GMC truck and tow the Gladiator. But I'd rather have the trailer than the camper top.

 

[Josh00333]

To add off-road trailers are very difficult to put weight distribution hitches on or sway control because of the type of hitch they use.

In addition, the Mojito does not tow 7700 pounds the only one that that is the max tow package that you can’t get in a Rubicon or a Mojito.

 

[Jaxmax]

It's a NO from me on that trailer , you say you aren't going to carry water , but your plans say you need to have a full water tank load., for some camping. That weight you should have a weight distributing hitch, which really is not an offroad option more so if it has a swivel hitch.
Perhaps getting a lighter one by at least a 1,000 pounds, then things become more doable.Things against the Mojave are softer springs, heavier frame, heavier shocks. I tow a 24' camper 3100 lbs. dry and 4100 GVW, and the Mojave tows it fine, but I have a WDH and also swapped in a set of MaxTow springs with spacers to make the shorter Max Tow springs the same height, big difference doing that.
A lot of guys have bought a Gladiator then go out and buy what they fall in love with at the dealer, then struggle to realize the gladiator is not up to it, guys actually had wife and kids follow in the car trying to get the weight down going camping. Most of those friends of ours have gone onto full size trucks now, and to the man they loved their Gladiator and tried everything.
Trust yourself, you have doubts and so do some of us., keep looking!.....Jack

 

[RJinPV]

That trailer gets a No vote from me. You have to assume you’ll be towing the GVWR of the trailer which is 6147 lbs. This is because you’ll want to load it with all the stuff you want to go camping with: food, chairs, pots and pans, grills, so on and so on. You’ll be near or at the GVWR before you know it. With a Mojave that means you’ll exceed the GCVWR. If you add the weight of the passengers and stuff in your Gladiator you’ll b over the payload rating.
To go to back country camping sites you’ll want to be a lot lighter. I think a trailer with a GVWR of 5000 is the most you’ll want to go with. Give yourself some margin.

 

[BoomerangJ]

Josh-Really like the OB1 trailer. It's now on my list. I read your thread. Lots of discussion about the suspension and adding springs/shocks. Sounds like you started with the Gladiator Sport Max tow and then beefed up the suspension? Not sure I want to mess with the Mojave suspension-or make sure that the mods don't upset how good it is.

 

[Josh00333]

Josh-Really like the OB1 trailer. It's now on my list. I read your thread. Lots of discussion about the suspension and adding springs/shocks. Sounds like you started with the Gladiator Sport Max tow and then beefed up the suspension? Not sure I want to mess with the Mojave suspension-or make sure that the mods don't upset how good it is.

Ya it's all compromises. I went max tow over Rubi or a diesel for payload and towing; then spent twice the delta in price on mods it's the game we play.

That's one reason I went with the AEV overlanding lift kit vs other was for the payload design.

MCD offers a 13' version that's a carbon copy of the OBI 13, there are a few new 2022-23 OBI 13's out there that are steals now but be warned probably no dealer support. There is a 120 page thread on the Expedition forum you can get a LOT of great info on these off-road type trailers and OBI specifically.

https://www.mdcusa.com/product/ausrv-x13-overland-travel-trailer/

https://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/obi-dweller-review-and-discussion.228995/

 

[MTB58]

Some really great information given to the OP.

Definitely a no from me also.

I have a 2023 Max Tow, our trailer weighs 4405 dry and loaded @ 5400. My Gladiator has a 6250 gvwr, and loaded for our current trip to Oregon from Prescott,Az weighed 6195 which includes the
600lb tongue weight. Gross Combined weight between the truck and trailer is 11,100.

The max tow has 4.10's which helps a lot. I have a set of Mojave Wheels and 32.8 tires. The truck tows it fine, however you will not be able to maintain 60-65 mph up the 17 to Flagstaff, or to Payson from Phoenix. Maybe 55 at high rpms.

On our current trip we went over the Blue Diamond pass from Vegas to Pahrump and was at 45 mph for most of the grade. (Steep ass hill). I could have gone a little faster, but it was 103 degrees out and did not want to increase the rpms over 4-4500. Trans never went above 199.
Average speed for the 325 miles was about 55 and mpg was 10.8.

Just my opinion.

 

[PuddleJumper]

I've read the various threads, but I like to over analyze decisions and have always welcomed forum opinions form people more experienced than I!

Background: 2022 Mojave gas automatic. Stock tires, drivetrain, and suspension. I "guess" my max trailer towing weight is 6,000 pounds. (when I first started this journey I thought it was 7,000 pounds and I see that the Rubicon version is-not sure I understand why it's different-but that's another thread?). What I believe my towing capacities are:
-GCWR-11,450 pounds. Max GTW 6,000 pounds. Max trailer tongue weight-600 pounds.

My use model for the trailer is to drop it at your standard RV parks to get close to things like wineries, fun towns, and other attractions. The other extreme is off grid. A lot of my Gladiator miles are off road. I live part time in Az and there are more trails than I will ever get to experience. My last trip was up the Mogollon Rim and there were a lot of remote off grid camp sites. Easy roads to get there. But a lot of washboard that I think would shake a non off Road trailer apart. I also want to get up to Moab and other fun Jeep off road places. Dis-connect the trailer and go exploring with the Jeep. I have no intention of taking the trailer "rock crawling" but may seek out campsites that are more challenging than the typical fire road.

I like this trailer: https://www.mdcusa.com/product/dealer-xt16hr-island-overland-travel-travel/

It's just the two of us. Close to retirement age, still active hikers. She does prefer a separate shower/dry bath-not the wet bath combo. We both like to be able to get out of bed w/o crawling over each other-it's a middle of the night thing-happens when you get older! This island model looks like it fits the bill. When I thought I had a 7,000 pound tow vehicle I was comfortable with this choice. The trailer specs are:

5,603 curb(dry) weight and 6,147 GVWR. Tongue weight is 458 pounds.

I would try to tow with empty tanks and we don't have a lot of gear. Hiking gear and clothes. But this will push the total load capacity. Now I'm not o comfortable.

I would add an equalizing hitch and the trailer comes with a brake/sway controller. (My other car is GMC 2500 HD diesel-towing machine-but I want my Jeep). But the GMC taught me the value of having an "over capacity" tow vehicle. Rated at #17,500 pounds and I have pulled 15,000 pound loads with no issue in the Texas hill country. This note is just to say I have towing experience and have towed boats, tractors(on trailers) and many other things. The older I am the safer I want to be!!

We'd be driving from the Phoenix area, usually pointed north to higher and cooler spots. Plan to add Star Link and do some work remotely.

My questions to the group are:
>will this trailer be too much of a load for my Jeep? Will it struggle going up the 5% grades. Overheating? By struggle does it drop down to 35-45mph? or just shift down and maintain 60-65? (assume no wind-I know what a headwind can do!)
>Frontal surface area of the trailer? 55 square feet? I guess this is a big drag/fuel milage issue? How noticeable is the drag on a Gladiator drive train?
>What is the difference in rating between the 2022 Mojave/Rubicon? I thought the major suspension components were the same heavy duty axles, brakes, and rear end ratio? But the Rubicon is rated at 7,000. I thought the ratings on my jeep were 7,000-it's in Az and I'm in Texas so I can't go out and double check. And then the 2024 Mojave is rated at 7700 pounds? (auto/gas). I am not seeing anything in the drive train/suspension/engine specs to net out this difference. I'm not trading-but just curious on what I am finding online.
>I was considering a class C and pull the Gladiator. but I want to ease into this RV thing and see if I like it-at a lower cost. Thought a small trailer may be the way. The other option is VRBO's but then I can't "get out there". I like this MDC Trailers but others are on the list. But my parameters are separate shower, walk around bed, and indoor head. And one that is not going to shake apart on the way to the camp site. I had a Class C one time that was a POS. Sold it after 2 months. I like things that work and last.
>I am also only "kinda" thinking of getting a camper top for the GMC truck and tow the Gladiator. But I'd rather have the trailer than the camper top.

I have a 22' rubi and a 23' Mojave (pictured above). I got a Nobo 19.3 (pic above) to tow with the rubi. The rubi is bone stock and has 1500 lbs more tow capacity. But hardware difference that matters mechanically is pretty much exactly the same. My rubi was at the dealer and i wasn't gonna miss my trip so i put everything on my Mojave and sent it. granted I have 35s so that didn't help. But it towed 55-60mph steadily the whole way. A couple grades had me in 3rd to hold 45mph. Didn't overheat one bit though. This is definitely on the max end of what you can do with with a gladiator for sure. But the important thing is that it CAN DO IT.

 

[PuddleJumper]

To add off-road trailers are very difficult to put weight distribution hitches on or sway control because of the type of hitch they use.

In addition, the Mojito does not tow 7700 pounds the only one that that is the max tow package that you can’t get in a Rubicon or a Mojito.

Mojito! What trim is that! JK just though that was funny

 

[RacerAV]

I tow my 23' Wolf Pup Black Label just fine, it's about 5k lbs. I did upgrade my springs to some heavier Synergy springs front and rear plus shock brackets (rear). Ride is great, tows great, with my Decked system, steel front bumper and winch, dirt bikes in the bed, or a full trailer and gear... been great.

 

[AdrianVall]

I have a 22' rubi and a 23' Mojave (pictured above). I got a Nobo 19.3 (pic above) to tow with the rubi. The rubi is bone stock and has 1500 lbs more tow capacity. But hardware difference that matters mechanically is pretty much exactly the same. My rubi was at the dealer and i wasn't gonna miss my trip so i put everything on my Mojave and sent it. granted I have 35s so that didn't help. But it towed 55-60mph steadily the whole way. A couple grades had me in 3rd to hold 45mph. Didn't overheat one bit though. This is definitely on the max end of what you can do with with a gladiator for sure. But the important thing is that it CAN DO IT.

I am sooooooooo happy to see this thread. I am looking at the EXACT same trailer, but have been nervous about pulling the trigger since I have a Mojave. If you only had your Mojave and not your Rubicon, would you be content towing the NoBo with your Mojave? Any concerns? Max distance I'd be towing is 200 miles.

 

[PuddleJumper]

I am sooooooooo happy to see this thread. I am looking at the EXACT same trailer, but have been nervous about pulling the trigger since I have a Mojave. If you only had your Mojave and not your Rubicon, would you be content towing the NoBo with your Mojave? Any concerns? Max distance I'd be towing is 200 miles.

I've towed more with the Mojave than the Rubicon at this point. No real difference in performance other than the rubi has smaller tires so it get slightly better mpg. I tow 400-500 miles one way with no issues. Its very slow, which is why I think people really want a bigger truck. Below 65-70 on the interstate can be annoying. But I only need to pull my NOBO maybe 6 times a year. So I'm not gonna buy a fullsize truck just for that.

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