To Mojave, or Not to Mojave...

[j.o.y.ride]

How is this even a question? Lose what you put in and pay $10k more? $10k buys a lot of parts on top of what you already have.

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[SloW8]

For the OP, keep what you have and keep going. I debated for a long time between the Mojave and Rubicon. Same price but they are willing to deal more on the Rubicon. In the end, orange is far superior to red every time.

 

[Jaxmax]

I just ordered a Mojave 2021, did better on pricing listed at $56K got for $52K, you did better when buying the sport though, my Mojave won't arrive until mid Sept.-Oct. and will get any deals (probaly none)at the time of arrival as there are none now on Mojaves. The time to decide between sport Max , Rubicon or Mojave was when buying the truck, and even then you would not have gotten as much off probably. You built what works for you i assume you are using it, and you will want to add new wheels and tires, warn winch, front bumper for winch, shaft brace, front locker, to the Mojave, and leather seats and LED lights if not on your Mojave on the lot.
For me surffishing the east coast beaches, and towing a boat and camper, 33" tires are better for towing, AT tires are better then MT for beach, front locker and bar disconnect are just things to wear out as not needed, rear locker working in 4H up to 55 is also nice, and I just like the damn hood scoop which will be functional sometime. The only thing the Mojave has over it's Rubicon sister that can't really be added is a beefed up frame which for rock crawling probaly doesn't matter and could be worse if frame is to stiff, save your money and stay the course , nice ride my friend!....Jack "An Orange Guy!"

 

[Kevin_delarbre]

The only thing the Mojave offers is the reinforced frame. You can get iron steering knuckles and reservoir shocks

Where can you get the cast iron knuckles? I've been looking.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Where can you get the cast iron knuckles? I've been looking.

I have seen a few folks online run upgraded ones, one was a cast iron. Cant recall who made them. But if Jeep can get them so can we

 

[Andtros]

I thought about the Mojave before ordering my rubicon-my drawback was the engine- it seems that jeep did their homework when engineering the suspension. I primarily go out into the desert, but the lack of power is what I was concerning.

With that said, I wonder how long it will be till our gladiators have a v8 option.

 

[Bonanza]

OP, I have the same -same- thought. I’m frustrated with the lack of locker options and began debating. But I think I need to exercise patience and enjoy what I have and build it. If I got the Mohave, and the newness wore off, the regret would take its place. Especially when they release whatever new model in a year or two and I’ll want that too.

 

[kickingaz]

Thank you everyone for your input. To be clear, there was not a Mojave option when I bought the Max Tow. I am at a point now that I either have to add lockers, gears, and shocks at a cost of about $6,000 (or more), or trade up to a Mojave. I am not certain I would do wheels again as I would not be rock crawling the Mojave, but would do 35" tires and winch. I don't believe I would do any sort of lift or tires larger than 35" as it would lose the ability to do higher speeds in the desert. The first dealer I visited "really wants" my Gladiator (his words) and offered me $42K whether I buy something else from him or not.

 

[DougM55]

If you’re like me it’s already too late once you ask the question. Trade it in or sell it. Order what you want. Life is short.

 

[eternus]

I am tossing around a decision and thought I would get the opinions of some of the most knowledgable Gladiator people there are. I took delivery of my Gladiator Max Tow Sport S on February 1st of this year. My intention was to make it rock crawler capable like my last Rubicon JKU was. The next week when I was at the King of the Hammers, Jeep released the Mojave. Knowing that the Gladiator will not be able to do the extreme rack crawling that my JKU did, I immediately thought the Mojave was a great concept with a rear locker and the suspension. My Max Tow stickers for $45,175 and I paid $37,947 after a $2,000 rebate. Since them I put about $10K into mine making the following mods:

• Rubicon Springs and Rubicon Fox Shocks
• Rubicon LED Painted Fenders
• Dirty Life 17x9 Roadkill Beadlock Wheels(5)
• Patagonia 39x13.50R17 Tires (5)
• Warn VR EVO 12-S Winch (Synthetic Line)
• Crawler Conceptz Bumper, Fairlead and Skidplate
• Rubicon Express 2” Level Kit with Shock Extensions
• Rubicon Rock Rails and Bed Guards
• Jeep LED Foglamps
• Jeep LED Headlamps
• Katzkin Leather Interior
• Synergy Sector Shaft Brace
• Jeep Rubicon Hood
• Poison Spyder Functional Hood Louvers

I have an opportunity to trade my Gladiator for $41,000 for a 2020 Mojave with a $53,770 sticker and a $51,432 sales price. If you were in my shoes, would you finish the build on the Sport S I have (front and rear lockers, gears, Fox or King shocks) or buy the Mojave and add 35" tires? I wouldn't plan on listing the Mojave because that would ruin the desert runner ability of the vehicle. Below is a recent photo of the Sport S right now.

Thanks!

It really sounds like you just want to spend money, just to spend it. A bird in the hand, all that...

Unless you want the reinforced frame, you can do anything to the Sport S that is available on the Mojave.

That being said, the Mojave really is more of a "speed" Gladiator so I feel like 39" tires defeat the purpose. If you're just going to turn the Mojave into a crawler... definitely stay with what you already have, the work is done (or almost done.)

 

[eternus]

Thank you everyone for your input. To be clear, there was not a Mojave option when I bought the Max Tow. I am at a point now that I either have to add lockers, gears, and shocks at a cost of about $6,000 (or more), or trade up to a Mojave. I am not certain I would do wheels again as I would not be rock crawling the Mojave, but would do 35" tires and winch. I don't believe I would do any sort of lift or tires larger than 35" as it would lose the ability to do higher speeds in the desert. The first dealer I visited "really wants" my Gladiator (his words) and offered me $42K whether I buy something else from him or not.

Ok, just responded to your original post but see some more specifics. I am not a fan of losing that immediate equity of your new purchase... but if you're financially able to just make the switch sans new debt, go for it. I'm a fan of the Mojave over the Rubicon personally... if I wanted to crawl I'd keep my JKU for the shorter wheelbase. If I go Mojave it will be explicitly to avoid having to do all of the modifications aftermarket by myself and just get the fun vehicle I want off the showroom floor.

I'm on the fence between Max Tow + Teraflex's RT suspension and new wheel/tires. or a stock Mojave My build doesn't really care about the rear locker, the LSD and BLD would handle all of my needs.

Truly I wish they would have revealed the Gladiator PHEV at Easter Safari this year... I keep "waiting a year" for the next drivetrain option they mention.

 

[Jaxmax]

So Kickingaz, what didja do?

 

[kickingaz]

So Kickingaz, what didja do?

I was able to test drive a Mojave on Sunday albeit all on-road driving. There is really no difference on-road so that was no real help. I am leaning towards keeping the Max Tow I have and putting in the lockers and better suspension. The dealer says he really wants to purchase my Gladiator whether I buy a vehicle or not so I guess the only deciding factor is if he offers more than $42K I might reconsider it.

 

[Bonanza]

I was able to test drive a Mojave on Sunday albeit all on-road driving. There is really no difference on-road so that was no real help. I am leaning towards keeping the Max Tow I have and putting in the lockers and better suspension. The dealer says he really wants to purchase my Gladiator whether I buy a vehicle or not so I guess the only deciding factor is if he offers more than $42K I might reconsider it.

Keep in mind whatever they decide to give you, you're going to be paying tax, delivery, doc fees, etc. again. That adds up to quite a bit at the end of the line. I'm literally in your SAME thought process. But to tide me over, I'm getting rubicon fenders (ebay), the front grill trim blackout $50, and slowly building it up. Here's my math personally:

53k for Rubicon I wanted.
43k flat for sport S MaxT.

Both had premium audio, hardtop. I got a bedliner, headliner I wouldn't have gotten with the Rubi. They refused to negotiate on the Rubicon (socal), but assume they went down to 50k. So, 7k difference. On either vehicle, I required 37s to wheel, sliders (rubi rails won't cut it), wheels, and a lift. So $4k additional on either, so that isn't in the calculus.

$7k hard cash difference, best case scenario, $10k realistic. The rubcion differences:

Transfer case
Seat stitching/embroidery
red interior trim, red instrument gauge color
tire fill alert
lockers F&R
auto disconnect sway bar
Offroad+ button
fenders
rear steel bumper/bed sliders
black grill inserts
Vented hood/decal on hood
Fox Shocks

Mohave Differences:
Very nice shocks
hydro bumps
steering wheel
bolstered seats
hood
iron knuckle
frame reinforce
skid up front
rear locker
fenders

The realistic question here is whether all of that, installed, is worth $7k. To me, it simply isn't. For those who can't install their own lockers, the answer might very well be different. Life is a lot better with a full blown mechanic's shop in the family. If I wasn't able to install things easily myself, that $7k doesn't go nearly as far...

 

[WhatExit?]

beefy trans mount , beefy motor mounts , beefy shock mounts

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