Less than glowing endorsement

[studiodfw]

I should have included as different and as a 4th model. I just have it in my head it won't be around long. But yeah...as of today...4 models.

As a former dealer, I can assure you that a manufacturer does not spend the kind of R&D money that Jeep spent to develop the Mojave to simply abandon it without abhorrently bad sales figures or fatal flaws in design. It may evolve over time but this is certainly the beginning of a new Desert Rated line of Jeeps and Jeep features. It is the Alpha not the Omega.

Also, some of you Rubi owners are a bit touchy about no longer being the unquestioned Alpha in the room in regards to top tier model. They are both excellent Jeeps and it is a wonderful thing to have options that make a vehicle more aptly suited to your individual needs. Further, why crap on someone else’s model at all? I’ve been a part of tens of thousands of car deals and every buyer has their own budget, needs and wants. I’m glad you enjoy you Rubicon but making someone feel bad for buying an Overland or any other model seems petty and small.

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[ACAD_Cowboy]

I dunno there... the rubicon is a very capable stock from the showroom vehicle for what it does. The mohave seems to be likewise. I don't see it as the rubicon had an abdication of power, more like the formation of the eastern and westen roman empires.

For my needs, 4:1 reduction and lockers are important and worth more than long stroke hydraulicly buffered suspension. But I also don't have nearly unlimited access to sand to the horizon and high speeds. I'm sure to a guy living out near 4 corners my forests and nor'easter blizzards as equally unrealistic to equip for.

And to return to my main point, I'm happy to see some press that isn't a fawning sock puppet of FCA media relations. I would rather hear some bad things about a vehicle that be force fed a river of how great it is. Imagine how it feels the first time you stuff the rock track into low 1st gear with the lockers in; you have heard for years how amazing it is and how it is The Ultimate Setup... and now it won't steer for shit and does just about nothing because you are going so slow at WOT... you're all well WTF until you learn to use it for what it is and don't try to use it for what it isn't. And yeah, I stuff it in low and use 5th and 6th on the beach so I don't dig and just cruise along like a boss at 10mph. At the guy in the yj on 40's with about a foot and a half of travel blazes right past me and we wave and keep it moving.

 

[DanW]

I had a Gladiator Mojave as a loaner for 4 days while my JLUR got the clutch recall completed. It had the best driving feel, overall, that I´ve ever experienced in a Jeep. I absolutely loved it. In fact, I loved the suspension enough that if I could afford a Gladiator in addition to my JLUR, I would seriously consider the Mojave. I´d also seriously consider leaving it stock.

I´m a BIG fan of what they´ve done here, and I never even drove it on gravel, let alone off-road. I did drive it down a very rough road, though, and it really shined there. But I liked the way it drove on the streets and highway, as well. From my limited experience, which was to drive it about 220 miles, they nailed it. The one I drove is at York Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Plainfield, IN. It is a beauty, in Sting Gray, and is available for a lucky owner. They also had a gorgeous red Gladiator Rubicon, too.

 

[MoparToYou]

I've owned Jeeps for decades. I've also desert raced dirt bikes, ATVs, and UTVs for decades. So a "Desert Rated" Jeep got my attention. I owned a 2019 JL Rubicon, so I didn't need a new Jeep. Then I saw a Mojave at the local Jeep dealership, and took it for a test drive. The suspension was fantastic, and was way way way better than my JL Rubicon. I bought the Mojave, and have enjoyed driving it more than any other Jeep I have owned. Every time I drive it I can't help but thinking "this Jeep sure rides nice".

Having said that though, The Mojave is no Raptor. The Mojave is actually narrow enough to fit down a trail without getting horribly brush scratched. The Mojave is the width of a Jeep. The Raptor is the width of a dually pickup truck. And that makes a big difference in being able to go offroading in a variety of terrains.

I really enjoy driving my Mojave, and although it rides fantastic for a Jeep, it isn't a machine I would blast through the desert at wide open throttle in. I have another machine for super high speed desert fun (see picture). The last week I owned my JL Rubicon I drove a nearby desert race course. I had my wife with me, so I slowed down for the rough stuff, so she wouldn't complain. It took 30 minutes to get to the first stop point, which overlooks a lake. I did the same course in the UTV in my picture the next weekend, and it took 5 minutes to get to the same overlook, LOL. With the power and suspension on that toy you really don't have to slow down for anything. It doesn't matter what is in the way, because the suspension just eats it up. All you have to do is concentrate on keeping it on the road, and keep the throttle down, and the suspension does the rest.

For me the Mojave is a perfect match. I can even use it to tow the real desert toys.

 

[studiodfw]

In response to the article... I am a Mojave owner and I am currently in the middle of a 5k mile, month long overlanding trip across
the Western half of the US.

I have spent considerable time behind the wheel of both Raptors and nearly every model of Jeep. The Mojave is not a Raptor, not even close. The Mojave is not perfect... but I love it and for my needs it is as good as it gets for now.

The Raptor is amazing, maybe my favorite production vehicle ever made. It is a wonderful blend of off and on road prowess. It is luxurious and tough. It is quick, smooth and capable. In fact I considered buying one instead of Gladiator but... the Raptor is also not a Jeep. First of all it is a minimum of 10k-20k more expensive. Second, it is an outgoing generation model that is still selling at or above MSRP at most dealers. I personally will not buy an outgoing model vehicle, I have seen too many times how the book values are depreciated once the new model arrives. Third, it is not a Jeep. It is too wide for many trails, too heavy for some situations and most definitely not a blow off the tops and doors, hose it out, go anywhere Jeep. They are two totally different vehicles and to compare them apples to apples is probably unfair to both.

I have said many times since I purchased the Mojave that it is two cylinders short of perfect. It is the best riding Jeep I have ever driven, on or off road. On my current trip I have towed my overland trailer nearly 3k miles, done rocky/muddy trails and countless miles of washboard roads. The Mojave has absolutely crushed all of It. This suspension just EATS corrugated roads, even while towing. On road it is poised, balanced and smooth. Steering is tighter and more responsive than my previous Jeep. Also, I love the security that the strengthened frame gives me while towing. I am yet to run any dunes or sand but will on the back half of my trip.

In conclusion, there is no perfect vehicle, there will always be give and take. However, from my experience the Mojave is a really great, well rounded option for buyers in this segment. I feel like it will become a very popular option in the overlanding community over time.

 

[studiodfw]

I've owned Jeeps for decades. I've also desert raced dirt bikes, ATVs, and UTVs for decades. So a "Desert Rated" Jeep got my attention. I owned a 2019 JL Rubicon, so I didn't need a new Jeep. Then I saw a Mojave at the local Jeep dealership, and took it for a test drive. The suspension was fantastic, and was way way way better than my JL Rubicon. I bought the Mojave, and have enjoyed driving it more than any other Jeep I have owned. Every time I drive it I can't help but thinking "this Jeep sure rides nice".

Having said that though, The Mojave is no Raptor. The Mojave is actually narrow enough to fit down a trail without getting horribly brush scratched. The Mojave is the width of a Jeep. The Raptor is the width of a dually pickup truck. And that makes a big difference in being able to go offroading in a variety of terrains.

I really enjoy driving my Mojave, and although it rides fantastic for a Jeep, it isn't a machine I would blast through the desert at wide open throttle in. I have another machine for super high speed desert fun (see picture). The last week I owned my JL Rubicon I drove a nearby desert race course. I had my wife with me, so I slowed down for the rough stuff, so she wouldn't complain. It took 30 minutes to get to the first stop point, which overlooks a lake. I did the same course in the UTV in my picture the next weekend, and it took 5 minutes to get to the same overlook, LOL. With the power and suspension on that toy you really don't have to slow down for anything. It doesn't matter what is in the way, because the suspension just eats it up. All you have to do is concentrate on keeping it on the road, and keep the throttle down, and the suspension does the rest.

For me the Mojave is a perfect match. I can even use it to tow the real desert toys.

Great response, totally agree. Bad ass rig btw!

 

[wvyankee2]

Now when the Mojave gets the Hemi..................

 

[DAVECS1]

Now when the Mojave gets the Hemi..................

I am a die hard V8 Junky and the new Gen Hemi is one of my favorites. After supercharging the 3.6L, I am thinking, that would be the smart money for a high-power variant jeep. They have a supercharger program that has put out some amazing hardware for the SRT hemis. I think it would be easy to bring the 3.6 into the fold. It is already an award winning engine. You will save weight, maintain payload, and Offroad capability. It may just eek in some crash worthiness too. Roots blowers have proven to be 100k reliable. Look at the GTP. Mojave package with 2 inch lift, fox remote resi shocks, Ram ZF 8 speed with auto 4wd, And an upgraded steering package with possible adjustable steering damper. That would be segment game changer. Do some shoots of it running side by side with the TRX, and then disappearing through a couple of tight rocks or trees were the guerilla trucks cannot go!

 

[BLK HOLE]

As a former dealer, I can assure you that a manufacturer does not spend the kind of R&D money that Jeep spent to develop the Mojave to simply abandon it without abhorrently bad sales figures or fatal flaws in design. It may evolve over time but this is certainly the beginning of a new Desert Rated line of Jeeps and Jeep features. It is the Alpha not the Omega.

Also, some of you Rubi owners are a bit touchy about no longer being the unquestioned Alpha in the room in regards to top tier model. They are both excellent Jeeps and it is a wonderful thing to have options that make a vehicle more aptly suited to your individual needs. Further, why crap on someone else’s model at all? I’ve been a part of tens of thousands of car deals and every buyer has their own budget, needs and wants. I’m glad you enjoy you Rubicon but making someone feel bad for buying an Overland or any other model seems petty and small.

Rubicon is still the top model. That said I don’t care. That’s just my view on the models. I didn’t make anyone feel bad - just stated the truth. Overlands are loaded Sport models. That’s not an insult nor is it a secret. Wasn’t intended to hurt feelings - I was just saying there are too many models IMO.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

The Overland represents the Sahara to the Gladiator line and if anything the Mojave is somewhat like the Willys in that regard just a bit more plush.

It's not like the Mojave is going to seize the throne and the Rubicon will be no more. It occupies a niche in the line up not well served by any of the others and is part of an expanding market segment where you can spend as little or as much as you want to play, it runs from a little used 250 dirtbike to quads to side by sides to jeeps to trucks to raptors to real trophy buggies and trucks and there is no limit to the ways to play or the money to spend.

To be honest though this thread lost the plot a while ago as everyone seems to have leapt in to white knight the Mojave when the reality is it's not setup for real true high speed desert driving, not in the least. Oh but it's smaller for tight trails; where exactly are tight trails in the Altar? The axles and frame is so robust; because its a pig with limited suspension travel compared to trucks that can fly and remember when the raptor debuted and ::big shocker:: they were destroying frames and front ends from jumping wrong. My point is its designed to go into the desert but its not trying to eat the raptors lunch, more like trying to get and keep a seat at the cool kids table.

Where did the skepticism go? Did we all somehow forget how to question or is that now grounds for being called a radical socialist? The author prints some bad(ish) press about how the whole gladiator family has some on highway manners issues and the ::gasp:: has the temerity to say the raptor is better at doing what ford dumped hundres of thousands to possibly millions of dollars into doing and ::double gasp:: it does it better than the Mojave... and the crowd goes wild! So it can't fly, it can glide and it can't do 70 on sand but it can do 50... I would personally prefer that Jeep make a concerted effort to stop the endless whinging about steering being wonky than to spend that money and effort in matching the raptor

 

[Tacobuster]

For all its capability, the Gladiator is too sloppy and unexciting in daily driving to justify its stratospheric as-tested price.

I fixed it for them.

They could employ half of america to keep up with demand if they dropped the price to 20k.

Its barely a step above a tractor and i still love it.

 

[studiodfw]

Rubicon is still the top model.

Based on what? Certainly not MSRP, which is what manufacturers / dealers base the phrase “top of the line” on.

Manufacturers make different models to fit different needs, wants and budgets (which is also not a secret) and thus sell more vehicles. Just because certain models don’t fit your needs or wants doesn’t mean you should minimize someone else’s vehicle of choice by saying it shouldn’t even exist. Once upon a time Henry Ford made a lot money by only selling Model T’s in black. Today’s consumers want choices and ways to express their individuality, which is one of the reasons Jeeps are so widely popular, their ability to be customized.

You may not have meant it to be insulting but it is certainly not the coolest thing you could say. Maybe just stick to enjoying your vehicle and letting everybody else enjoy theirs.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

To @Tacobuster 's point, forbes who is not known to be a fawning sycophantic fan boiz kinda magazine has pointed out that the price is high relative to deliverables and especially so when compared across brands.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danrot...reviewlong-on-character-shorter-on-value/amp/

Though to be fair for the amount of money on the table, it is hard to to say if a top tier gladiator needs more performance, more luxury or more uniqueness to justify the dollars spent. It really is because 60k buys a lot of truck from anyone.

 

[studiodfw]

The Overland represents the Sahara to the Gladiator line and if anything the Mojave is somewhat like the Willys in that regard just a bit more plush.

The Willy’s, really? This makes zero sense.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

Oh I'm sorry, is there another model that's most of a rubicon suspension without the transfer case and electronics?

Key term was "somewhat like"

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