Mojave owners - do you ever wish you had a front locker?

[Stan H]

Confirmation bias? If you use both lockers you might think you NEEDED both lockers. Maybe you did, maybe the rear alone would have worked just the same, maybe the BLD all by itself would have worked? I could use the locker on my concrete driveway and then rave about it's effectiveness.

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[Stan H]

Additionally I have used Just the rear locker many times. When I change my gear oils the front and rear come out looking old at about 40k. Because I use both alot. 4WD is used alot. The terrain here is clay and steep with some areas having rock filled outcroppings. I will say that steering is weirdly limited with front lockers engaged. And it is very difficult to turn around. I am talking a 3 pount turn ending up to be a 5 or 6 point turn. Because ya dont want to overly stress the front joints. Well At least I dont. ( I digress. I have learned when I need lockers and when I dont . Typically deep mud isn't a lone factor it is usually coupled with steep muddy terrain or mud and larger rock mixed terrain.
But I agree dont go 100% until you have tried lesser . It makes sense .

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I will say that steering is weirdly limited with front lockers engaged. And it is very difficult to turn around

Are you serious or being silly?

The wheels on the outside of a turn must make more rotations than the wheels on the inside of a turn. It's not about stressing the joints, although you sure are stressing the shit out of them trying to turn with lockers engaged - at all.

A locker is forcing both the left and right wheels to turn the same amount - it's going to stress things like crazy if you try to turn.

I hope that was a bit of sarcasm or a joke.

 

[Stan H]

Are you serious or being silly?

The wheels on the outside of a turn must make more rotations than the wheels on the inside of a turn. It's not about stressing the joints, although you sure are stressing the shit out of them trying to turn with lockers engaged - at all.

A locker is forcing both the left and right wheels to turn the same amount - it's going to stress things like crazy if you try to turn.

I hope that was a bit of sarcasm or a joke.

Very good Danielson your figuring me out. I actually did that by accident about 4 yrs ago on my own farm. Climbed the 19% grade got to the top of the hill and wanted to be pointed down hill incase I got a deer and forgot they was in went to back up and woe Nelly that didn't go so well I was like what the crap so I pulled back up turned an same thing . Then it dawned on me . Off the lockers went and then I finished my flip around.
( thats how I know cause I was dumb enough I did it early in ownership)

 

[NotSo Bright White]

Nope…I never wished I had a front locker

 

[MT1]

I'm not saying there aren't times where 2 lockers aren't beneficial. My point is they are far more rare than a lot of people think. I've watched countless YouTube videos where they are in 4lo the second tires touch dirt and turning on both lockers the second they see a rock. In reality the slots where the 2nd locker make a difference are incredibly rare. If you don't ever plan on wheeling at any kind of suited and rock crawling is your main use, the Rubicon with 2 lockers is the way to go. Conversely, any Rubicon without at least $2500 in shock upgrades, isn't keeping up in the desert and especially not beyond the 2-5 miles it takes before the stock shocks on the Rubicon are so hot they are no longer damping at all.

And if you never go running on the desert, meh, about the needed upgrades to keep up with a Mojave trim. Pick the tool for the jobs you expect.

 

[Zachanadandy]

And if you never go running on the desert, meh, about the needed upgrades to keep up with a Mojave trim. Pick the tool for the jobs you expect.

The rubicon shocks are under damped everywhere. From trails to street to speed bumps in parking lots. That's why everyone says the mojave rides better...it does. If you're main use is rock crawling, get the rubicon. For trail riding, overlanding, or even the way too common street Jeep the mojave is better.

 

[Stan H]

The rubicon shocks are under damped everywhere. From trails to street to speed bumps in parking lots. That's why everyone says the mojave rides better...it does. If you're main use is rock crawling, get the rubicon. For trail riding, overlanding, or even the way too common street Jeep the mojave is better.

Dont worry I am way above Rubicon grade . I can handle the desert.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Dont worry I am way above Rubicon grade . I can handle the desert.

If you're going to build it, the starting point becomes less important. Of course I'd argue the $2500 in shocks and $700 in hydraulic bump stops you need just to match the stock Mojave suspension would cost far more than adding a front locker to the mojave. Now if it's mostly a crawler the 4-1 transfer case makes a huge difference. In most other terrain the 2.72-1 standard case is plenty and even crawling the mojave has a similar crawl ratio to a TJ or early JK Rubicon.

 

[whiteglad]

Some of the Mojave upgrades would be difficult/expensive/almost impossible to add to another version of the JT. (The last being the frame upgrades). Adding a front locker to the Mojave is relatively easy and has been documented on this forum, if you need it. Ronny Dahl has youtube videos on front vs. rear lockers:
diff lockers, how and when to use
Front Diff Locker vs Rear Diff Locker
8 SITUATIONS NOT TO USE DIFF LOCKERS #difflockers #4wdlockers

 

[Stan H]

Yeah, the locker is a matter of choice..
Have a good Day .

 

[Silverator]

One more question please...
The Rubicon's frame isn't as strong as the Mojave, and it uses aluminium steering knuckles.
How common is it for a Rubicon to damage its frame or break a steering knuckle?
Are these considered weak components of the Rubicon?

Thanks!

No. Not at all.

 

[cb4017]

I've only had my Mojave a little over a month, but probably not.

I had a 21 JT Sport Max Tow which only had a rear LSD. I put a Mopar 2" lift under it and 33" Rubi take-off wheels and tires. It would go anywhere I wanted to go here in the high desert. I do avoid mud if I can help it.

I traded a 3rd Gen Colorado ZR2 for my Mojave. It had lockers at both ends. Other than making sure it worked I never used the front locker and rarely used the rear locker.

I don't think I'll miss a front locker in the Mojave.

 

[ExpoGuy]

Some of the Mojave upgrades would be difficult/expensive/almost impossible to add to another version of the JT. (The last being the frame upgrades). Adding a front locker to the Mojave is relatively easy and has been documented on this forum, if you need it. Ronny Dahl has youtube videos on front vs. rear lockers:
diff lockers, how and when to use
Front Diff Locker vs Rear Diff Locker
8 SITUATIONS NOT TO USE DIFF LOCKERS #difflockers #4wdlockers

Bookmarked for future reference. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ExpoGuy]

I was surfing YT videos looking for Mojave reviews. I came across this Driving Sports video that
shows the Mojave in action. See the rock course at 18:18 ? That's the limit I would take my Mojave on.
Nothing more extreme than that. And the Mojave did just fine.

I think my first mod would be 35" tires. I won't buy right away, as I want to see if Jeep offers
and end of the year deals.

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