FIRST TIME JEEP BUYER

[MiklScott108]

Okay folks, so I've never owned a Jeep but I have a buddy who has a 2D Wrangler that I've taken out a few times and loved every minute. I live in an area where we don't have a lot of trails and the ones within an hour are either considered "Easy" (Dirt road, low water crossings, etc.) or "Hard" (Huge mud holes, slick clay mud, etc). Im looking at the Gladiator Mojave or Rubicon, which I know are very different from a 2D Wrangler Sport. Iv'e found two that are a couple hours away that I'm watching. It will 99% of its life be my daily driver but that 1% will be family weekend cruises. I feel like I’m leaning more towards the Mojave, the only reason I consider the Rubicon is the sway bar disconnect which I’ll probably never use, but is that something I’ll wish I had just in case or just go with the Mojave and if I decide I want them I can just install aftermarket manual disconnects? TIA, a very torn Jeep Gladiator Shopper.

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[Maximus Gladius]

I have the rubicon for the lockers. I could care less if the sway bar can disconnect as my off-road wheeling isn’t dependent on needing to flex. My use of the lockers is for road side recoveries where someone needs pulling out of a snow filled ditch in the winter or a spun out vehicle needs help somehow and both lockers are needed and the higher gear ratio in the transfer case makes this thing pull like nobody’s business. Mojave has better shocks. I’m having the Falcon 3.3’s installed next week just in case I see sand dunes in Alberta I can race around on and catch some air! Mojave sits a little higher…not something that’s required for me.

 

[Sweetums]

Okay folks, so I've never owned a Jeep but I have a buddy who has a 2D Wrangler that I've taken out a few times and loved every minute. I live in an area where we don't have a lot of trails and the ones within an hour are either considered "Easy" (Dirt road, low water crossings, etc.) or "Hard" (Huge mud holes, slick clay mud, etc). Im looking at the Gladiator Mojave or Rubicon, which I know are very different from a 2D Wrangler Sport. Iv'e found two that are a couple hours away that I'm watching. It will 99% of its life be my daily driver but that 1% will be family weekend cruises. I feel like I’m leaning more towards the Mojave, the only reason I consider the Rubicon is the sway bar disconnect which I’ll probably never use, but is that something I’ll wish I had just in case or just go with the Mojave and if I decide I want them I can just install aftermarket manual disconnects? TIA, a very torn Jeep Gladiator Shopper.

I have a Rubicon diesel and use the sway bar disconnect on mild roads because it just makes it smoother - however, the computer will reconnect the sway bar at 18 MPH or greater, which is super-annoying. We have manual sway bar links on our LJR, and like that it just does what I tell it. The sway bar links are easy to pop off while airing down. To get them back on you just have to make sure the vehicle is level so they line up.
Disconnecting the swaybar does make a big difference in ride and flex while off road, but it sounds like you are not in an area with a lot of rock crawling, so it seems like the wrong tool for the job.

Since the diesel isn't an option anymore, I'd go with the Mojave for the single rear locker, strengthened chassis, shocks, and steel steering knuckles. You can always add a front locker and disconnectable sway bar links., but I really doubt you will need it given your proposed use case and environment. I live a short drive from Moab, so my environment and driving style is more suited to the Rubicon.

One thing to consider: There are a lot of accessories that do not fit the Mojave package, but work on every other trim. Going with the Mojave will significantly limit some of your modding options.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I went with a sport that was partially built. I have no front sway bar…… kinda. It has the antirock torsion bars instead. My previous Jeep was a rubicon and I loved it. I wanted to build this one myself so I knew exactly what it had on it.

 

[Gvsukids]

a very torn Jeep Gladiator Shopper.

Have you test driven either one?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...adding-lockers-and-swaybar-to-a-mojave.29421/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/modding-a-rubicon-to-ride-like-a-mojave.90765/

 

[Okie Gladiator]

Either way you’re gonna have an awesome Jeep. I encourage you to test drive both if you are able. Best way for you to know for yourself before pulling the trigger. I went with Rubicon because of the rocks and deep mud I deal with. The ride of Mojave felt better on pavement but not so much better that I chose that over what suited me better off-road. Good luck.

 

[SaiintNick]

Don't do it. You will be broke with all the mods you will do. Run away now!!

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Don't do it. You will be broke with all the mods you will do. Run away now!!

But if he runs now he’ll never know the GLORY of the Angry Grill mod!!!!!

 

[SaiintNick]

I went with the Mojave because of the Fox suspension. I can do every trail I want. I live in S Utah and have access to tons of rocks and sand. I would rather go fast on trails which I have and don't regret going with the Mojave.

 

[Stan H]

I have the rubicon for the lockers. I could care less if the sway bar can disconnect as my off-road wheeling isn’t dependent on needing to flex. My use of the lockers is for road side recoveries where someone needs pulling out of a snow filled ditch in the winter or a spun out vehicle needs help somehow and both lockers are needed and the higher gear ratio in the transfer case makes this thing pull like nobody’s business. Mojave has better shocks. I’m having the Falcon 3.3’s installed next week just in case I see sand dunes in Alberta I can race around on and catch some air! Mojave sits a little higher…not something that’s required for me.

Specific to roadside recovery I carry a 15ft eye to eye nylon sling I picked up at HF and it is freaking stout. I once pulled a small stubby freightliner water truck out of a stuck spot 4low with lockers in and in manual first gear . The guy was like will that thing do it ,I said well look like ypu was coming close with my help it will get ypu over the breakpoint . Sure enough it did I only pulled him like 15 ft but hey that was asking alot of a little truck . The lockers are so freaking good

 

[Stan H]

I went with a sport that was partially built. I have no front sway bar…… kinda. It has the antirock torsion bars instead. My previous Jeep was a rubicon and I loved it. I wanted to build this one myself so I knew exactly what it had on it.

That is the beauty of these truck essentially any model can be made into whatever version you want @ShadowsPapa has acquired a automatic disconnecting swaybar set up and he has a beautiful green Mojave but it just made sense for him to save himself a step by installing one. Dont know if He did it yet but I am sure he will soon.

 

[MiklScott108]

Have you test driven either one?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...adding-lockers-and-swaybar-to-a-mojave.29421/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/modding-a-rubicon-to-ride-like-a-mojave.90765/

I haven't. I'm hoping I can find two local to me that are the same trim this weekend so I can at least get some seat time and feel how they ride. Means I'll end up spending 3 hours at a dealership with them trying to get me to buy it but oh well. Lol.

 

[MiklScott108]

But if he runs now he’ll never know the GLORY of the Angry Grill mod!!!!!

Haha. The angry grill will not be making an appearance on this one! I'm more into the stock+ kind of look than the rage monster look.

 

[MiklScott108]

These are the two I'm looking at for what it's worth. I'm not a fan of the wheel/tire package on the Rubicon but that can be changed.

2021 Mojave
https://www.germainvwofwesterville....tor-mojave-4wd-4d-crew-cab-1c6jjteg9ml551046/

2020 Rubicon
https://www.germainford.com/invento...r-crew-cab-short-bed-truck-1c6jjtbg1ll101166/

 

[MiklScott108]

One thing to consider: There are a lot of accessories that do not fit the Mojave package, but work on every other trim. Going with the Mojave will significantly limit some of your modding options.

In what area is it limited? I'm not doing anything major when it comes to modification. Only thing I may do down the line would be a little bit of a lift just to level it out and give some more height. (Going from a RAM 2500 to a Gladiator is gonna make me feel like the small guy on the road. Lol.)

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