IFS Jeep bombing through the desert

[Zachanadandy]

Jeep could make an amazing IFS platform that can do well offroad. But at this point Stellantis and Jeep just aren't pushing the envelope and aren't innovating. Ford, on the other hand, is cementing their place with win after win after win, and to me that's a lot more impressive that relying on 1940s WW2 film to sell products.

Watching these IFS trucks get through rocks is great.

A bronco IFS has more in common with a Honda civic than an ultra 4 car. That is why they've always got a tire in the air and the tie rods fold up in the rocks. If you look at how close together the a arm mounts are on an ultra 4 car, you'll quickly realize that building a production vehicle that meets crash test/safety standards is far from easy with IFS that actually does well in the rocks. None of the IFS Jeep competitors are even close. I'll keep my solid axle thanks.

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[406to417]

I'm very happy that my Mojave has a solid front axle but I could definitely see how some Mojave owners would want IFS.

 

[piroman683]

For those not familiar with my build, I have 18in of rear wheel travel and 12 in the front (soon to be 12.5, but only because the front trac bar puts it into suspension bind before I reach max droop.

I have lots of videos of small/meduim whoops at 60 mph, as well as large jumps (Barstow, Giant Rock, and Johnson vallye). I used to run fox 3.0 internal bypasses in the front, but the DSC's (when tuned correctly) provide more wheel travel and work great. For the rear I ran Fox 3.0 external bypass (originally for the raptor) which allowed for 16in of travel, but then I designed and build my own rear shocks, and tested them in Baja, and passed raptors in the whoops on day 1. You can get 18in of travel with fox 2.5 DSC (the longest ones with 13in of shock travel)

The JT is absolutely capable of high speed and rock crawling in the same suspension package without needing to run a coilover + shock on every corner.





I am also the only producer of properly designed springs that allow for this amount of wheel travel. (specifically for the rear). Happy to help people spec and design out their suspension and answer any questions.

 

[Cadguy]

You can obviously see in the OP's post, in the video that it is a stadium chassis, independent suspension with a Jeep body on it...

 

[addy003]

Zachanadany,
I like what you're doing with your Mojave. It sounds like you have a 3 1/2" spring lift and probably stock shocks, presumably with shock extension brackets. And you also have geometry correction brackets; what brand? What tire size are you running? Have you done anything to the stock bumpstops, track bars, control arms? How much up travel do you have at ride height? How much shock travel do you have? Any thought about trussing the axles? I realize the Mojave front axle has tube wall thickness that is 43% greater than a Rubicon (10 mm instead of 7 mm), and that it has cast iron knuckles instead of aluminum. Just wondering about any plans to strengthen the axles, brakes, or anything else. Thanks.

"To better cope with the rigors of pounding through unforgiving terrain at speed, the Mojave front axle required an increase in axle tube wall thickness to 10mm, which is thicker than the Rubicon technically required. So, Rubicon can thank Mojave for its 10mm axle tube wall thickness. Rubicon features lighter weight-saving aluminum knuckles, but Mojave needed high-strength cast iron knuckles to better survive impacts at high speed and other rigors of desert prerunning."

The knuckles, front locker, and option to run 3.73 gears on a Rubicon are only difference in the axles that I've seen.

 

[WambliSka]

I’m sure some folks find doing 50mph on desert roads interesting. Not at ALL why I bought my Mojave. The roads I go on are way too pretty to rush through them.

All I need from my Mojave is to give me a better ride than my old Overland on the local washboard roads so common in the SW and it is well over 100% better doing that. My wife doesn’t need to double up on the sorts bras when she comes out with me anymore. And second, to be off-road capable enough to get me through the spots I call the “SUV Barriers” so I can get away from most folks.

Actually with factory suspension, rear lockers and the new 35s it can EASILY leave all soccer mom vehicles and most other Jeeps on the other side of those spots. So WIN! No drama, theatrics or extreme driving. Just miles of gorgeous landscape for the wife, dog and I.

My Red Heeler’s “dog park” is miles of no fences, leashes or even other dogs

 

[WambliSka]

And frankly, after almost 30 years of running Jeeps I still find that most folks build jeeps that “can” but then they personally “don’t”. One of life’s big mysteries °IIIIIII°

 

[OffAxis2021]

IDK… this Mojave seems to do well. It has an AEV lift too (only).

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I may go 30 if I really NEED to move. Beyond that it kinda defeats the purpose of being out there for me.

“Cool!!! Look at that Joshua Tree!!”
“Where?!”
“100 yards back there, Ricky Bobby.”

I am planning on building for comfort for those times I just want to get through the wash onto the next obstacle though. Not blasting, just moving “expeditiously”.

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