Gladiator Mojave Design/selection Criteria

[Moe-Jave]

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. \ /

Yep, I am trying to avoid all that mass up front with a heavy bumper and winch...

That MP Concepts is nice. I want something shorter to mid-sized and prefer aluminum. The list of wants is bad already…it never ends!

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[Max-t]

i wonder what it’s like through local born eyes. I make sure my wife is aware I’m ready to move daily. Now my kid is starting “school” here….

 

[ecidiego]

Yep, I am trying to avoid all that mass up front with a heavy bumper and winch...

That MP Concepts is nice. I want something shorter to mid-sized and prefer aluminum. The list of wants is bad already…it never ends!

There's a cheap Chinese knockoff cast of the OEM steel but in aluminum. Takes some work to get it right but might be a good option. OEM looks the best.

 

[legacy_etu]

Honestly while I love the look of the hood on the Mojave I wish it was aluminum. In the desert you want a light vehicle. I was shocked the first time I lifted the hood on a Mojave after just moments earlier opening the hood on a non Mojave trim. Huge difference in weight right there.

 

[Choatecav]

Not enough can be said about the suspension. Living in Tennessee, I don't see much "desert" action but I'll never forget my first trip to Nashville in it in the Spring of the year. Winter potholes on the interstates are horrible and I remember hitting some of those and cringing just before as I expected the same jolt as in my previous vehicle. It was like I ran over a cotton ball, ha.

Well, maybe that's an exaggeration but comparatively speaking it was amazing.

 

[Moe-Jave]

Not enough can be said about the suspension. Living in Tennessee, I don't see much "desert" action but I'll never forget my first trip to Nashville in it in the Spring of the year. Winter potholes on the interstates are horrible and I remember hitting some of those and cringing just before as I expected the same jolt as in my previous vehicle. It was like I ran over a cotton ball, ha.

Well, maybe that's an exaggeration but comparatively speaking it was amazing.

Oh yeah, that is big part of the appeal on a rig like this for normal road duty too. I think roads everywhere are worse now, and it is pleasant to just roll over potholes. The difference is profound.

While I've had rigs like this before, never without some pretty expensive/extensive modifications. It is nice to have a "stock" vehicle like this. I wonder how long I can resist that...

 

[whiteglad]

I added 101 lb to the front of my Mojave with the Arcus bumper and HF 12k winch with steel cable. The front dropped 3/8 inch at the front of the fenders.

 

[Moe-Jave]

I added 101 lb to the front of my Mojave with the Arcus bumper and HF 12k winch with steel cable. The front dropped 3/8 inch at the front of the fenders.

Thank you, that is good to know and does not surprise me.

For now, I carry the typical load of shovels, a come-along style hand winch, recovery straps, a couple extra pulleys, and a small portable electric winch. It adds up too, but I can keep that weight more or less "over the axles"...

 

[firemedic2714]

The best trim depends on your geographic location. I have no use for high speed 4 Low or long travel shocks here in the midwest. I do however use my front locker, steel rear bumper, rear bed rock sliders, 4.10 transfer case ratio, and sway bar disconnect every time I wheel over Missouri granite at a snail's pace. I've had a Mojave twice as a loaner when my JTR was being repaired. I didn't notice that much of a difference in ride quality. Not enough to give up my Rubicon. I do know that the back corners of my bed would be torn up and my plastic rear bumper would have been replaced by now if I had a Mojave.

 

[ecidiego]

The best trim depends on your geographic location. I have no use for high speed 4 Low or long travel shocks here in the midwest. I do however use my front locker, steel rear bumper, rear bed rock sliders, 4.10 transfer case ratio, and sway bar disconnect every time I wheel over Missouri granite at a snail's pace. I've had a Mojave twice as a loaner when my JTR was being repaired. I didn't notice that much of a difference in ride quality. Not enough to give up my Rubicon. I do know that the back corners of my bed would be torn up and my plastic rear bumper would have been replaced by now if I had a Mojave.

I just bolted the Rubicon rear bumper assembly onto my Mojave. Scored it local for $250. Win win.

 

[Max-t]

. I didn't notice that much of a difference in ride quality. Not enough to give up my Rubicon. I do know that the back corners of my bed would be torn up and my plastic rear bumper would have been replaced by now if I had a Mojave.

I think it would depend a lot on your road and driving style if you’d notice. I know when I’m out with my friend in his JLU he can’t keep up.
im surprised you couldnt high speed in the mid west. But it’s big. Maybe you’re in some not flat part of it.
I was expecting to smash my bed, I have an aftermarket bumper and can’t fit the bed protectors. But there’s so little room between the bumper and the tire, it’s got to be pretty special to hit the bed before the bumper. It could happen. More so if you know you’ve got rails. But I’ve been sliding off a bunch of stuff and just hanging up on my trailer hitch before anything else.

as for the “high speed low range”. It’s still a lower range than any other vehicle out there besides the rubicon. In my jkr i was always shifting in and out of low. It was just too low 99% of the time. I can idle over stuff in my 6 speed with a 2.72 t case.

 

[firemedic2714]

I think it would depend a lot on your road and driving style if you’d notice. I know when I’m out with my friend in his JLU he can’t keep up.
im surprised you couldnt high speed in the mid west. But it’s big. Maybe you’re in some not flat part of it.
I was expecting to smash my bed, I have an aftermarket bumper and can’t fit the bed protectors. But there’s so little room between the bumper and the tire, it’s got to be pretty special to hit the bed before the bumper. It could happen. More so if you know you’ve got rails. But I’ve been sliding off a bunch of stuff and just hanging up on my trailer hitch before anything else.

as for the “high speed low range”. It’s still a lower range than any other vehicle out there besides the rubicon. In my jkr i was always shifting in and out of low. It was just too low 99% of the time. I can idle over stuff in my 6 speed with a 2.72 t case.

There are a few off-road parks near me with rolling hills and sand dunes, but there's usually way more side by sides present than I'm comfortable with.

Yes, I love the manual trans. while wheeling. 4L is like off-road cruise control in all six gears.

 

[Max-t]

Yes, I love the manual trans. while wheeling. 4L is like off-road cruise control in all six gears.

I think I’ve read that the people with PRND have some electronic version of manual crawling now. But yea. With rubicon it’s crawling in like any gear… with Mojave it’s just first… maybe second.
Though yesterday I was at an ohv park went up a super steep like… I wonder if the sump is picking up oil steep , obstacle and decided since I was alone , I shouldn’t assume I have break over clearance, much less know which way to turn… so I just dropped it in reverse, let off the clutch and brake and let it back itself down….. so slow I ended up goosing the gas to get it over with.

 

[Gvsukids]

I think I’ve read that the people with PRND have some electronic version of manual crawling now.

Duck mode has always been available on the auto.

 

[Max-t]

Duck mode has always been available on the auto.

Firstly… nuh uh
Ive only owned one automatic and that was not an option (it was a free jeep, don’t judge me).
HDC is what? 2008 + rubicons? Doesn’t matter apparently it’s usisally overlooked.
Secondly. We were talking about uphill. Downhill flatways whatever. Does HDC do that now?
Don’t you have some sort of throttle setting. Thing on the prndy rubicons as of a couple years ago
how well does HDC work? Can you let it crawl you off a shelf or whatever? I don’t know the new million speed automatic ratios

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