2020 Gladiator Mojave Review: For most buyers, the Mojave will make more sense than the Rubicon [Autoblog]

[Bonanza]

The Mojave would probably suit me better - but I don't like the orange accents etc. I would want it to say Rubicon and have all red but have the Mojave build.

The Orange accents are perhaps my favorite part, haha! The red trim inside the Rubicon, specifically the dash, is garish. I absolutely hate it.

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[Kent5]

Yeah, I would expect something like that as a limited model, bundled with more fluff.

Mojave "Hard Rock" edition?

 

[Casique]

You have to understand that most people that buy a/any Jeep, Rubcon, Mojave, etc. Does it for fun/status and commuting reasons only, most will never see offroad duty. So all the specialty ofroad parts matter not, IMO.

 

[jalbrecht55]

Slight apples and oranges comparison but I’ve noticed how many people buy a Tacoma TRD pro and immediately replace the suspension. A TRD pro is pretty much identical to a loaded “off road” model with added fancy shocks, trim bits and a hood scoop. And $5-8k premium.

As someone that aspires to get a base sport and upgrade it with nice affordable take off bits, I’m hopeful the same will hold true on the Mojave....

 

[trust]

The Mojave would probably suit me better - but I don't like the orange accents etc. I would want it to say Rubicon and have all red but have the Mojave build.

Get one in gobi and ill trade you hoods and my red hooks for your orange ones! Dash too if its doable.

 

[steelponycowboy]

Get one in gobi and ill trade you hoods and my red hooks for your orange ones! Dash too if its doable.

Would you trade the hood too ?

 

[steelponycowboy]

After reading 4 pages of comments, I have these thoughts.

1. I know too many people with JKURs having issues with the electronic sway bar disconnect. Once they go bad, you're looking at $1800+ to have it replaced by the dealer IF they can find the part (a few have told me that the dealer could not get the part). Some are putting on standard sway bars with manual disconnects to save money. Have we all gotten too lazy to get out and disconnect manually like we've done for so many years.

2. The Mojave to me is more of an Overland Jeep, the Overland Gladiator is NOT.

3. Of course people are going to switch out the suspensions so they can put 38" tires on it (not me, the suspension should work just fine with 35s)

4. The rear springs aren't quite as robust at the ones on other JTs??? What does that do to towing or cargo capacity and if there is no change should there be? After all the Ford Raptor in all its high speed desert ability has no tow or cargo capacity if I've read right because of its suspension and purpose.

5. I hate the 4:1 transfer case on my Rubicon. I overland and the 4:1 is just too much overkill for my type of off roading. Unless you are going to be doing hard core rock crawling, the standard transfer case has done me well over the years.

 

[Kent5]

After reading 4 pages of comments, I have these thoughts.

1. I know too many people with JKURs having issues with the electronic sway bar disconnect. Once they go bad, you're looking at $1800+ to have it replaced by the dealer IF they can find the part (a few have told me that the dealer could not get the part). Some are putting on standard sway bars with manual disconnects to save money. Have we all gotten too lazy to get out and disconnect manually like we've done for so many years.

2. The Mojave to me is more of an Overland Jeep, the Overland Gladiator is NOT.

3. Of course people are going to switch out the suspensions so they can put 38" tires on it (not me, the suspension should work just fine with 35s)

4. The rear springs aren't quite as robust at the ones on other JTs??? What does that do to towing or cargo capacity and if there is no change should there be? After all the Ford Raptor in all its high speed desert ability has no tow or cargo capacity if I've read right because of its suspension and purpose.

5. I hate the 4:1 transfer case on my Rubicon. I overland and the 4:1 is just too much overkill for my type of off roading. Unless you are going to be doing hard core rock crawling, the standard transfer case has done me well over the years.

Respectfully -- a few questions about your list:
2) Why would an overlander need a high speed suspension like the Mojave? That is really the biggest change from the Mojave from the Overland model. In that same light, why is the Overland model NOT as suitable for an 'overlander' build, while the Mojave is MORE suitable?

I get why you don't like the Rubicon for an overlander (no need for e-disco sway, no need for 4:1 Tcase), but your reasons for thinking the Mojave is well suited for overlanding and the Overland is NOT as well suited -- that's a bit fuzzy. 18 vs 17 wheels isn't a consideration, as many will immediately change those out anyway. Just the Overland name doesn't portray the image, since its more lux oriented? The little chrome pieces on the Overland's grille? If the Mojave's few little frame enhancements are going to make a difference, I'd say the planned build's weight is way too close to structural limits to really serve as a dependable, long-haul overlander.

 

[trust]

Would you trade the hood too ?

Sure I like the Mojave faux scoop better than the Rubicon faux vents... as long as it's a straight swap over and they match

 

[steelponycowboy]

If you ever drove on the washboard roads in Monument Valley to Hunts Mesa or the washboard roads in Death Valley to the Racetrack, you would know why I say that the Mojave is a superior vehicle than the Overland for overland use. I've used my rear locker plenty of times overlanding the 900 miles of the AZ BDR, the UT BDR etc. Overlanding isn't just the simple forest roads that you see Honda Civics on, some of the trails and routes are complex with even some difficult sections.

The Overland is a trim level and wasn't really designed with true overland travel in mind. It is a package to suck the newbie into buying one just like the Sahara which again doesn't have any special off road traits than the Sport does. Some overlanding will require one locker, most will require aftermarket suspension if for nothing more to handle the weight of a fully equipped Wrangler setting off on a 8 day, 900 mile off road trip. Then again, perhaps you've never really done any serious overlanding ?

Due to Covid,, my overlanding will be limited to about 4000 total miles (off road) miles this year, next year it will be over 5000 miles none of which will include the 5 or 6K miles it will take to get to the trailhead each year and back home from the end of the trail. I've been overlanding for 15 years now and think I have the experience of knowing what is the better set up for that type of Jeeping is. My shortest overland trip has been probably 200 miles, the average is about 450-500 miles and the longest so far has been 5500 miles (not counting the nearly 12,000 mile Alaska, Yukon, Alberta, NWT and BC trip in 2011).

 

[steelponycowboy]

If you ever drove on the washboard roads in Monument Valley to Hunts Mesa or the washboard roads in Death Valley to the Racetrack, you would know why I say that the Mojave is a superior vehicle than the Overland for overland use. I've used my rear locker plenty of times overlanding the 900 miles of the AZ BDR, the UT BDR etc. Overlanding isn't just the simple forest roads that you see Honda Civics on, some of the trails and routes are complex with even some difficult sections.

The Overland is a trim level and wasn't really designed with true overland travel in mind. It is a package to suck the newbie into buying one just like the Sahara which again doesn't have any special off road traits than the Sport does. Some overlanding will require one locker, most will require aftermarket suspension if for nothing more to handle the weight of a fully equipped Wrangler setting off on a 8 day, 900 mile off road trip. Then again, perhaps you've never really done any serious overlanding ?

Due to Covid,, my overlanding will be limited to about 4000 total miles (off road) miles this year, next year it will be over 5000 miles none of which will include the 5 or 6K miles it will take to get to the trailhead each year and back home from the end of the trail. I've been overlanding for 15 years now and think I have the experience of knowing what is the better set up for that type of Jeeping is. My shortest overland trip has been probably 200 miles, the average is about 450-500 miles and the longest so far has been 5500 miles (not counting the nearly 12,000 mile Alaska, Yukon, Alberta, NWT and BC trip in 2011).

 

[steelponycowboy]

Perhaps a review from Expedition Portal might help a bit..........

Why The Jeep Gladiator Mojave Is a Middle Finger To The Competition

 

[rorgan]

I'm sure they'll release a Rubicon/Mojave mash up in a few years as a special edition when they're trying to move units. Think Rubi with upgraded frame, knuckles and shocks. As long as it gets the 7k lb tow rating of the Rubi, it'll be the JT to get.

I doubt it will ever have the same tow rating. Mojave has a softer rear suspension. If they stiffen the suspension to increase the tow rating it will lose its desert running capability

 

[steelponycowboy]

This article says 6000lb. I've also seen a 4500lb number in Car and Driver.

Will It Tow? New Jeep Gladiator Mojave Can Off-Road, But Can It Haul 5,000 lbs on a Highway?

In any case, I'm not going to use mine as a desert racer but an overland rig so I am going to replace the springs anyway to compensate for the added weight of a topper, RTT and gear.

 

[MrKnowitall]

3. Of course people are going to switch out the suspensions so they can put 38" tires on it

For all those who just "need" to roll on bigger rubber, a good spacer kit should still work with the Mojave suspension. That's what a lot of ZR2 and TRDBro guys are doing.

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