Gladiator Mojave Design/selection Criteria

[Moe-Jave]

Steel hood with faux scoop,
reinforced frame
bolstered seats
Fox 2.5" internal bypass remote reservoir shocks
wide Dana 44 axles
cast iron knuckles
2.72:1 low range (up to 50 mph in 4 low)
4.10 gearing
1" taller than Rubicon in stock configuration
hydraulic jounce bumpers
strengthened front upper control arms
strengthened lower control arm mounts
strenghtened cross members
reinforced shock towers
rear track bar has a larger outer diameter, larger bushings, and a higher strength tube
wheels 7.5 mm shallower backspacing than Rubicon
"racing grips" steering wheel
rear locker can run in 4 high in off-road plus mode
orange things

Very nice summary! Sweet ride! I am pretty sure you are not in the desert, however.

All those are great upgrades, and I’m still left wondering if there are some under-documented tweaks to the engine/engine management for “hot weather survival”…

Anyhow, I saw references to using some RAM truck parts and specifically referenced to the rear-end. Something about a 1.25 ton axle tube. Any know about that?

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[Lunentucker]

Very nice summary! Sweet ride! I am pretty sure you are not in the desert, however.

Never in the desert, but often in the dessert.

 

[Max-t]

Well I’m The desert. I Mojave the Mojave. The thing soaks up the highway, which we have in massive abundance in the west, and the sandy trails. The rubicon may have that super low ratio… but 2:72 is still pretty low. I’ve gotten it through “the squeeze” in stock format… those with wheel spacers are often ass out.
That said… like most gladiator owners… I have no skid plate paint left. But (knock on wood) the factory sliders are holding up well. Which is good as when I tried to take off a body mount bolt it started “popping” and wiggling so I tightened it up never to touch again.

problem arises when you’re cruisin. Those shocks don’t really come alive till you get some good reps under them. So ya feel like driving 45+ mph on park trails. It can handle it fine, but the temptation to do so is a bit dangerous with occasional pedestrians and dirt bikers. But when the guide says it’s a 3 hour trail… I’m done under 2 it seems. Getting behind others in Tacomas or rubicons feels like getting behind a tractor on the highway. Amazing what springs and shocks can do.

I wonder what the 37s on Mojave crowd is like. Unlike what someone else was saying…. Unsprung weight is incredibly important to the suspension operation. If I go larger it’ll be with light weight wheels and tires.

 

[Moe-Jave]

Well I’m The desert. I Mojave the Mojave. The thing soaks up the highway, which we have in massive abundance in the west, and the sandy trails. The rubicon may have that super low ratio… but 2:72 is still pretty low. I’ve gotten it through “the squeeze” in stock format… those with wheel spacers are often ass out.
That said… like most gladiator owners… I have no skid plate paint left. But (knock on wood) the factory sliders are holding up well. Which is good as when I tried to take off a body mount bolt it started “popping” and wiggling so I tightened it up never to touch again.

problem arises when you’re cruisin. Those shocks don’t really come alive till you get some good reps under them. So ya feel like driving 45+ mph on park trails. It can handle it fine, but the temptation to do so is a bit dangerous with occasional pedestrians and dirt bikers. But when the guide says it’s a 3 hour trail… I’m done under 2 it seems. Getting behind others in Tacomas or rubicons feels like getting behind a tractor on the highway. Amazing what springs and shocks can do.

I wonder what the 37s on Mojave crowd is like. Unlike what someone else was saying…. Unsprung weight is incredibly important to the suspension operation. If I go larger it’ll be with light weight wheels and tires.

Nicely said. I'm a fan of all deserts and spent plenty of time in the Mojave and Death Valley (and Twenty-Nine Palms!)...

Man, I completely get how you mean re: suspension. This is the reason I have a Mojave. Of all the YouTube videos out there, only Savage Geese ("Suspension Is Everything") captured how I feel about driving this thing on regular roads too.

Savage Geese - Suspension Is Everything
*edit fix link

So, you brought something up that I want to explore. It is not controversial to say unsprung weight is important in building a high performance suspension, and if I go with bigger tires, I want to keep weight down. I'm also concerned about reducing suspension travel. Speaking of that, I have not seen any solid numbers. That seems so odd. On my Bronco, they were proud to tell you all about it. I've seen aftermarket claims, but not our factory numbers on the Mojave. Any know for sure? Even the know-it-all sales guy was stumped (not hard, of course). How much travel does the Mojave have in stock form?!

For those that have gone with 35s on stock wheels and remained otherwise stock, are you sure you have not reduced your suspension travel? I get that saying 35s "fit" can mean different things to different people, but I don't want to compromise what is most important to me here with my new rig. I want to be able to stuff my wheels without any issues or limiting suspension travel. On my JK, I had about 12" of travel with King by-pass shocks and coil-overs (TeraFlex "Low Center of Gravity" build) with 35s and had to use limiting straps. I'm not ready for that...yet...

 

[Max-t]

Well some in the crowd believe when you’re doing solid axle, nothing can improve suspension performance or hinder it.
I disagree. If you’re driving a rubicon on rocks…. Put 400lb tires on. No big deal. If your suspension is articulating at speed. Every pound matters a lot.

I used to do some light racing and joyriding of small cars. Losing 10 lbs per corner was like a full suspension upgrade.

a buddy of mine, who is a serious racer shopped for the lightest wheel and tire combo he could find for his JL after feeling that some Trx takeoffs ruined his ride.

 

[Moe-Jave]

Well some in the crowd believe when you’re doing solid axle, nothing can improve suspension performance or hinder it.
I disagree. If you’re driving a rubicon on rocks…. Put 400lb tires on. No big deal. If your suspension is articulating at speed. Every pound matters a lot.

I used to do some light racing and joyriding of small cars. Losing 10 lbs per corner was like a full suspension upgrade.

Okay, I'm sure I don't want to get into that discussion...

...this thing is so different than any of my other Wranglers, and it is the suspension. One thing I did not like about my IFS rigs is that they are definitely not as durable (but definitely handle better in every way except extreme articulation). You don't worry about tearing CV boots here! So many awful photos of that in the Raptor forum!

Okay, how much travel does a Mojave have in stock form?

 

[Max-t]

Okay, I'm sure I don't want to get into that discussion...

...this thing is so different than any of my other Wranglers, and it is the suspension. One thing I did not like about my IFS rigs is that they are definitely not as durable (but definitely handle better in every way except extreme articulation). You don't worry about tearing CV boots here! So many awful photos of that in the Raptor forum!

Okay, how much travel does a Mojave have in stock form?

suspension travel? not nearly enough. But the po of mine put a heavy front bumper and winch. I have used the winch, but it’s 200lbs out front my suspension has to contend with. Waiting for a good deal on an MP concepts or something.

IFS…. I helped a tundra out of the way this weekend cuz he hit a rock going a few mph and turned his tie rod into a U shape on a single lane (pin striping the whole way type narrow) road. It still drove a bit. But the kids were afraid to move it. They were also allergic to shirts.

huge tires…tiny little tie rod. \ /

 

[ecidiego]

I'm out in Anza all the time during desert season @Max-t !

 

[ecidiego]

Apex AutoLYNX were a game changer for my Mojave. Just remember to reconnect when you start hauling ass and need to turn....

 

[Max-t]

I'm out in Anza all the time during desert season @Max-t !

What’s desert season? It’s a million degrees already yea? and all winter it was flooded out. Kinda lame. I picked the thing up in “winter” and everything was closed. But it was a very mild spring and I’ve been going out multiple times a week.
Took my wife to grapevine canyon road to give her the opportunity to drive the Mojave off road. Might hit up mud caves tomorrow. Or I might go out 8 and hit some abandoned rail tracks. Or go down to Mexico.
I did Los Pinos ohv and valley loop last Saturday. Los pinos loop is a solid 5/10 difficulty counter clockwise and I went through it with no more damage than pinstriping…. It would be a bit harder clockwise as it’s up all the water fall type obstacles. Funny thing is, bear valley was not much harder than a dirt road but was rated the same in the apps.
It was a long day.

Palomar divide is one of those Mojave roads. You want to tear through it at 45+. But then there’s always someone in a non Mojave putt-putting along . Or oncomming dirt bikes.

nate Harrison grade is another one you can go up like pikes peak. Just mind your brake temps on the way down . Lusardi truck trail and Santa ysabel are also fun quickies. As is oriflame.
Black canyon road is a fun way to get between Ramona and 76.

 

[Max-t]

Apex AutoLYNX were a game changer for my Mojave. Just remember to reconnect when you start hauling ass and need to turn....

Yea I am always thinking about doing that. But it has t come up as a problem yet. Oh yea… and needing to cut on my axles doesn’t fill me with glee.

Jeeze just looked em up. For that price… do they install themselves? Are they Bluetooth compatible? That’s a lot of endlink.

 

[ecidiego]

For me it's 'when less than 105F'

Love it out there....

 

[ecidiego]

Yea I am always thinking about doing that. But it has t come up as a problem yet. Oh yea… and needing to cut on my axles doesn’t fill me with glee.

They're 100% bolt on. No cutting. Remove stock sway bar end links, install Apex, done.

 

[Max-t]

For me it's 'when less than 105F'

Love it out there....

that does look fun. Too bad it’s like a 4 hour round trip to anywhere out here.

Yea I’m not from the west. Other than wheeling I find the desert/ SoCal…. Well. Let’s just say, I’m waiting for my in-laws to die so I can move the eff east of the Mississippi or back to Hawaii. I am SO sick of beige and burning sun.

Further I’ve developed my first allergy at almost 50. It’s miserable and it’s the desert. If I go east escondido I need drugs. Went out Saturday and I’m still all bleary eyed and sinus funky. Think I need a serious interior cleaning of jeep. I opened the windows while I was out and got desert in my truck.

 

[ecidiego]

Yea I’m not from the west. Other than wheeling I find the desert/ SoCal…. Well. Let’s just say, I’m waiting for my in-laws to die so I can move the eff east of the Mississippi or back to Hawaii. I am SO sick of beige and burning sun.

Further I’ve developed my first allergy at almost 50. It’s miserable and it’s the desert. If I go east escondido I need drugs. Went out Saturday and I’m still all bleary eyed and sinus funky. Think I need a serious interior cleaning of jeep. I opened the windows while I was out and got desert in my truck.

My wife is from the bay area. She's totally allergic to east county where we live. I was born and raised here..... doesn't phase me luckily. She's on Allegra year round.

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