A Modest Mojave Gladiator For First A Time Jeeper

[Lunentucker]

Someone asked me for a link to my build thread, and I realized I didn't have one. So albeit late, here goes.

2021 Mojave


Me:
Retired Virginian who has long since moved past the youthful desires to push things to and past their limits. Always have had a 4WD for practical reasons, and had one for less practical reasons. It was fun, but stupid expensive. I was attracted to the Gladiators for their looks inside and out, and the obvious unique features of top off and doors off.


The Jeep:
We met on a lot in Raleigh. Mo was parked beside the one I had found online. That was a lesser equipped Rubicon in Gobi, but it had some obvious issues. Excessive poke on aftermarket wheels and holes drilled in the dash for things that had since been removed. Cloth seats.
The Sting Gray Mojave was making it look pretty basic.



As Purchased - (Aftermarket Items Were Installed by Previous Owner)
CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) Mojave @1650 miles.

Factory Options (Ratings 1-5)

Steel Grey Advanced Leather Pkg *****​

Cold Weather Pkg *****​

Safety Group with BSM / Crosspath and Adaptive Cruise Control and Auto Stop ***​

AUX Switches ***​

LED Group *****​

Auto-Dimming Headlights and Mirror ****​

Alpine Stereo with Bluetooth Subwoofer & 8.4 Screen ****​

Locking Under Seat Storage ****​

Freedom Panel Hardtop *****​

Trailer Package *****​

240 AMP Alternator ****​

700 AMP Main Battery ****​

Heavy Duty Engine Cooling ?​

Remote Start **​

Front and Rear Cameras ****​

Mopar Slush Mats ****​

​

​

Aftermarket Added By Previous Owner (Rating 1-5)​

• Line-X *****
• 2" AEV Lift *****
• BAK X4S Revolver Cover ****
• N-Fab Podium Nerf Steps ****
• Bestop Sunrider *****
• 50 Cal Antenna (silly, but I kept it) **

Aftermarket Added By Me (Rating 1-5)​

• Rancho Geometry Correction Brackets *****
• Falcon Nexus 2.2 Adjustable Steering Stabilizer *****
• Teraflex Extended Travel Rear Axle Brackets ****
• Rock Jock carrier Bearing Spacer *****
• Metalcloak Sector Shaft Brace *****
  Metalcoak Rear Swaybar Link Brackets *****
• Desert Does It Seat Jackers (both seats) ******
• CMM Offroad B Pillar Mounts and Mirrors ******
• BFG K02 AT 35/12.5/17 ****
• Paracord Grab Handles by @darksidedesign ******
• ECRI OBD2 Device ****
• Bushwacker Trail Armor Hood Deflector ****
• Redline Tuning Hood Struts *****
• Aries Tube Doors ****
  Hoist-A-Top Lift and Storage *****
• Quardatec Prerunner Light Kit ****
• Tinted Windows *****
• Other odds and ends

The Jeep drove fine on the short city test drive. The drive home was Hellish. It was rainy, windy, and dark. The truck wandered and drifted continuously and it threw CEL two miles from the dealership, but they closed as we left, so I kept going.

The handling issues were paramount, but they have been completely resolved, thanks to these forums and some YouTube sources.
The Rancho brackets and the sector shaft brace mentioned above have been the most effective aftermarket solutions for that.

The CEL (single cylinder misfire) was resolved when I took the Jeep in for an ECM flash and the tech swapped the plugs and coilpack with the adjacent cylinder. It has not misfired or thrown a code since - 25,000 miles.

We've enjoyed the Jeep, and I have learned way more than I ever wanted to, thanks to the incredible brain trust here and a few other resources.

Love the Mojave ride, but not the cold weather shock squeaks. Really my only complaint right now.

Love the top and doors off, but not the work behind swapping in and out.
The Hoist-A-Top lift system has been helpful.

Tweaks & Mods​

• Adjusted Steering Gearbox Preload for Less Free Play in Steering Wheel
• Adjusted Toe to Slightly Out (Toe In VS Toe Out)
• Improved factory rear sway bar link to frame hardware
• Torqued ALL Steering and Suspension Components
• Quieted down the e-brake cables

Gallery


As Purchased

Currently

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[yoda13]

Just curious, why did you add the Rock Jock Carrier bearing spacer? I thought the AEV kit came with that…

 

[MattK]

Just curious, why did you add the Rock Jock Carrier bearing spacer? I thought the AEV kit came with that…

AEV's 2" spacer lift does come with carrier bearing spacer parts, (as does there 2.5" suspension lift). As he bought it used maybe it was missing?

 

[notquiteflotsam]

Nice looking jeep and photos. Sting Gray was my choice but when the Gobi came up I had to grab it. I have the same leather seats and love them. Mine is essentially stock save for some minor items. Right now my wife is using it as her daily since she likes the height to see around while in traffic. I do get it on weekends though Fortunately I haven't had to do any real maintenance on it. Heck even have one more 'complimentary' dealer oil change and tire rotation left with about 23k miles on it. These forums are great for help!

 

[Lunentucker]

AEV's 2" spacer lift does come with carrier bearing spacer parts, (as does there 2.5" suspension lift). As he bought it used maybe it was missing?

Precisely.

 

[Lunentucker]

Nice looking jeep and photos. Sting Gray was my choice but when the Gobi came up I had to grab it. I have the same leather seats and love them. Mine is essentially stock save for some minor items. Right now my wife is using it as her daily since she likes the height to see around while in traffic. I do get it on weekends though Fortunately I haven't had to do any real maintenance on it. Heck even have one more 'complimentary' dealer oil change and tire rotation left with about 23k miles on it. These forums are great for help!

I love the grey for hiding bugs and crud. Best color ever in that regard.

 

[Rogue_One]

That a goooood lookin jeep. Thanks for sharing your build info, it definitely help with my build direction. It has a great stance to it. I will be building those door holders, thanks for sharing.

 

[Lunentucker]

That a goooood lookin jeep. Thanks for sharing your build info, it definitely help with my build direction. It has a great stance to it. I will be building those door holders, thanks for sharing.

Thanks.
I'll save you some looking around. These are good heavy brackets.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0893ZDJDN/

 

[ScottTank]

Good looking Jeep! What black hood guard are you using? I noticed on the Rugged Ridge site it states their hood guard will not fit the 392/Mojave? https://ruggedridge.com/p/body-armor-hood-guard/v/jeep/gladiator/2023/

Great write up on the mod's!!!

 

[Lunentucker]

Good looking Jeep! What black hood guard are you using? I noticed on the Rugged Ridge site it states their hood guard will not fit the 392/Mojave? https://ruggedridge.com/p/body-armor-hood-guard/v/jeep/gladiator/2023/

Great write up on the mod's!!!

Thanks.
It's in the list of Aftermarket Added By Me

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QC8HXMJ/

 

[KevinC]

Love the grey seats, you don't see them to often.

Nice purpose driven build, enjoy it.

 

[Rogue_One]

Thanks.
I'll save you some looking around. These are good heavy brackets.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0893ZDJDN/

Those are good, 350 lb load bearing. I wouldn't ever want to put my doors on something that could break and cost way more down the road. Thanks!

 

[GeneralMaximus]

Nice rig! Sure looks like you are having fun with it too.

Now, without trying to get political, I dont know how anyone puts up with the car tax structure in VA. I think its blatant govt theft and I would probably just ride a horse

 

[notquiteflotsam]

Love the Mojave ride, but not the cold weather shock squeaks. Really my only complaint right now.

I didn’t realize this was a thing. Recently have had some noises from back right when first starting out for the day and it was bothering me. So it’s normal?

 

[Lunentucker]

I didn’t realize this was a thing. Recently have had some noises from back right when first starting out for the day and it was bothering me. So it’s normal?

It's common on the Fox shocks.

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