The Duck of Earl
Well-Known Member
This is an interesting thread to me, as I have pinged back and forth between preference for the Sport S Max Tow and the Mojave. Not interested in a full blown build and not a lot of hard-core off roading for me, and I do plan to check most every box, making the price points close enough to ponder a bit more.
I have done a couple different test drives in both, and while the Mojave's suspension felt great cruising on the highway and over train tracks and speed bumps, I did notice the 'wallowy' turn-in. I thought some of that may have been due to the mud terrains (vs the all terrain option), but it drove quite a bit different than a Sport S or Overland for sure.
Every truck I have ever had (or driven) had at least some axle wrap when unloaded and driving at speed over frost heaves or expansion joints when hit at an angle. Interesting that the Mojave suspension is compliant enough to tone it down if not eliminate it, but if you hit the same situation under max payload I wonder if that might manifest into different issues vs the Sport S likely just settling down.
I definitely felt like I could tell the difference between an Overland and a regular Sport S vs a Max Tow with the different gearing and handling (almost a bit 'sportier', but just in that it was more tightly wound/communicative). The Mojave was different enough feeling all around that it was more of different truck all together than just comparing perceived subtle differences, but I can't help but seem to recall that the Max Tow felt 'quicker' off the line and around town even though they had the same gears.
The issue I still struggle with is tires. There seems to be a strong opinion of a few on this forum that if you aren't going up to 37s, all you should ever NEED is the 4.10s. Since I have not driven a Gladiator with 34s/35s with the 4.10s, I can't argue from personal experience that I disagree - but I can not see how 4.56s (or even 4.88s really) would not be beneficial and without many (if any) negatives if you are upgrading tires from stock (and particularly greater than 33s). There are enough examples and write-ups on this forum of how changing out the smallish hi-way / fake all terrains that come on the Sport S Max Tow to a 34/35 can effect the driving experience. I guess if just sticking with Mojave sized takeoffs, maybe the change would not be perceptible to most, especially since that's all the Rubi and Mojave come with anyway.
To me the Mojave all terrains are most likely big-enough to not bother with changing out for the life of the tire, I can't say the same with the Max Tow. But for the Max Tow, even if you go with a Mojave sized 33 (let alone a larger 33" to 35" tire), you probably should at least add on some spacers/levelers to get to the same ride height / wheel spacing the Rubi/Mohave come stock, and then you are really starting to get to $1,500+labor (unless you found some take-off deals) eroding a bit into the approx. $5,000 price difference between a loaded up Sport S Max Tow and similarly spec'd Mojave.
I have done a couple different test drives in both, and while the Mojave's suspension felt great cruising on the highway and over train tracks and speed bumps, I did notice the 'wallowy' turn-in. I thought some of that may have been due to the mud terrains (vs the all terrain option), but it drove quite a bit different than a Sport S or Overland for sure.
Every truck I have ever had (or driven) had at least some axle wrap when unloaded and driving at speed over frost heaves or expansion joints when hit at an angle. Interesting that the Mojave suspension is compliant enough to tone it down if not eliminate it, but if you hit the same situation under max payload I wonder if that might manifest into different issues vs the Sport S likely just settling down.
I definitely felt like I could tell the difference between an Overland and a regular Sport S vs a Max Tow with the different gearing and handling (almost a bit 'sportier', but just in that it was more tightly wound/communicative). The Mojave was different enough feeling all around that it was more of different truck all together than just comparing perceived subtle differences, but I can't help but seem to recall that the Max Tow felt 'quicker' off the line and around town even though they had the same gears.
The issue I still struggle with is tires. There seems to be a strong opinion of a few on this forum that if you aren't going up to 37s, all you should ever NEED is the 4.10s. Since I have not driven a Gladiator with 34s/35s with the 4.10s, I can't argue from personal experience that I disagree - but I can not see how 4.56s (or even 4.88s really) would not be beneficial and without many (if any) negatives if you are upgrading tires from stock (and particularly greater than 33s). There are enough examples and write-ups on this forum of how changing out the smallish hi-way / fake all terrains that come on the Sport S Max Tow to a 34/35 can effect the driving experience. I guess if just sticking with Mojave sized takeoffs, maybe the change would not be perceptible to most, especially since that's all the Rubi and Mojave come with anyway.
To me the Mojave all terrains are most likely big-enough to not bother with changing out for the life of the tire, I can't say the same with the Max Tow. But for the Max Tow, even if you go with a Mojave sized 33 (let alone a larger 33" to 35" tire), you probably should at least add on some spacers/levelers to get to the same ride height / wheel spacing the Rubi/Mohave come stock, and then you are really starting to get to $1,500+labor (unless you found some take-off deals) eroding a bit into the approx. $5,000 price difference between a loaded up Sport S Max Tow and similarly spec'd Mojave.
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