Trim Levels, is it worth it?

[WXman]

If you're serious about a gasoline engine, the Mojave is the only trim to buy. The reasons are numerous. Strongest frame, tallest ride height, best suspension, widest track of any Gladiator, we could go on all day.

If you want a diesel engine then Mojave goes out the window.

It became simple to decide for me very quickly. I ordered an Overland EcoDiesel.

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[DocMike]

I have a sport S. I love it. The only mod I wish I had was the electronic sway bar disconnect. No matter what you do, pop for the aux switches.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

No issues with my Overland. It will handle a lot. Lower gear ratio would be nice, but that can be done. I don't NEED all of those other things 90% of the time, so why spend more and have something that I might use - MAYBE.
By looking, most of the time people don't really know what I have unless they really figure out the fenders, etc. because mine sits higher, has the steel bumper, etc. but is comfortable as heck on cross-country drives. My wife even likes it when we drive it out and about. I had no problem sitting and driving it for 8 hours almost straight through.
On the other hand - I doubt I have any trouble at all with it taking it places off-road either.

It's pretty much all a matter of your actual NEED vs. WANT, what's more important to YOU. No one can tell you what to buy, only what they PERSONALLY see as advantages or disadvantages.
Resale later? Meh - around here it doesn't make a pile cow crap bit of difference. They all resell about the same here. Even trade-ins aren't that much different as I've found when asking. It just didn't seem to matter to any of the dealers I talked to. They typically modify them for appearance and golly-gee factor anyway when they stick them on the lot.

 

[kevman65]

Really boils down to what you want, what you can afford, and what you can put up with.

Max tow, Mojave, Rubicon all have the wider axle. Mojave gets a wider "stance" because they changed the offset on the wheels.

Rubicon gets the lockers, electronic swaybar disconnect, and the lower geared transfer case.

Mojave gets the beefed up frame, cast iron knuckles, and upgraded shocks.

Max tow gets heavier payload/tow rating due to being lighter in weight.

 

[Jaxmax]

All the guys that think Mojaves are only to run on dunes, should not pay so much attention to the marketing, sort of like the 392 wrangler is made to do circles as that is all the adds for it, the Mojave is a step down from the Rubicon for hardcore offroading, the Sport Max Tow excells at towing with standard tires and suspension, and is perfect start for building a offfoad Jeep. The Mojave probably can run on the dunes, it does well surf fishing but there is no flying around allowed, the Mojave is a great all around truck which most people will not exceed it’s capability, has the rear locker, bit of lift, big tires ,wide stance and a smooth riding suspenson, I can tell you it can drive across the cornfields across the rows at speed goose hunting, loves speed bumps and railroad crossings, and does what I expect well. I believe it will be a short lived trim unless the v-8 is put in it.

 

[bastage]

Honestly I break it down into 3 places

Dont wanna mod but still wanna go offroad = Rubicon/Mojave (whichever suits your off-roading more)
Wanna Mod, but dont wanna do a full axle swap = Sport S w/ Max Tow
Wanna Mod, Will do the axle swap or just wanna drive it stock = Sport S/Overland

I went with the Max Tow option myself. To do over again I would of bought the cheapest Sport S with black seats & 8.4" radio. Then swapped in D60's. For the cost of fully upgrading the Max Tow axles (ARB lockers with 35 spline RCV's up front & 35 spline dutchman's in the rear along with the regear) is not far off from the cost of just doing D60's. I doubt the D60's are a ton stronger either though. Keeping the FAD helps a bit with mileage too. Also if I was overlanding I would go diesel (actually I would anyway, just because of the improved range).

Edit: Actually come to think of it I seem to remember all the diesel models getting the wide axles. If thats the case then it basically gives you the same advantage of the Max Tow if your eventually going to regear either way.

 

[Papa Jawa]

I’d go Mojave so that you don’t have to regear on 35s when you put them on. Plus it has wider axles for more tire clearance if/when you decide to go for 37s.

Yeah, he could go 35’s right off the lot, with a Mojave and be done.

I have the Mojave, I absolutely love it. Not for the creature comforts, mine has most. I like the Mojave because it is fun to drive, I like the floaty front end. It is a beast, and is a more capable vehicle than I am a driver. Locking rear, 2.7 transfer case, amazing suspension, just fun.

My wife has a JLR and when we wheel together mine is smoother on the trails. The fox shocks soak up the terrain. However, when things get tight and steep, the Rubi just kills it.

I’m lazy and knew the Mojave was better built than any combo I could put together, and was more readyto go off-road on day one than I was.

 

[Papa Jawa]

If you're serious about a gasoline engine, the Mojave is the only trim to buy. The reasons are numerous. Strongest frame, tallest ride height, best suspension, widest track of any Gladiator, we could go on all day.

If you want a diesel engine then Mojave goes out the window.

It became simple to decide for me very quickly. I ordered an Overland EcoDiesel.

It was simple for me too, I bought the Mojave! ???

The cool thing is your Jeep is yours and my Jeep is mine, and they’re all freaking sweet!
See you on the trails!

 

[Sazabi19]

Just keep in mind that there are threads on here talking about the Mojave squatting with a few hundred lbs in the bed for overlanding and whatnot (think pop-up tent and support structure for it). If that's something you're worried about you may want to think about it. The Mojave has the softest suspension and gives a nice ride (I hear) while unloaded. I have a Sport S with Max Tow and it's my DD and have 0 problems with it. That's with me coming from a very quiet premium car. The only thing I wish mine had is some quick discos, but that's like $150, no big deal. I also kept my tire stock, no need for clown shoes on my truck. It has taken offroading very well so far, no serious rock crawling though.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just keep in mind that there are threads on here talking about the Mojave squatting with a few hundred lbs in the bed for overlanding and whatnot (think pop-up tent and support structure for it). If that's something you're worried about you may want to think about it. The Mojave has the softest suspension and gives a nice ride (I hear) while unloaded. I have a Sport S with Max Tow and it's my DD and have 0 problems with it. That's with me coming from a very quiet premium car. The only thing I wish mine had is some quick discos, but that's like $150, no big deal. I also kept my tire stock, no need for clown shoes on my truck. It has taken offroading very well so far, no serious rock crawling though.

I had 1800 pounds on my truck (with added max tow springs) and it sat about level.
The nice thing about these is you can buy whatever and mod it to fit your final wants.
Because so many are making changes, just looking in this FORUM and not even on fakebook or CL, I can find multiple sets of differentials if I wanted a wider stance and even free gears if I wanted the 4.10 ratio. I'd still have my comfort, and all the nice that Overland comes with. You can buy parts and mod these like they were Lego toys. No big deal at all. So much is modular.
If I put a pair of Rubicon differentials under it, or even Sport S Max Tow differentials, what then is the big deal? I bet by this time I could do all that and still be under the cost of what a Rubicon would have been - but have the dash and stuff I preferred.

Buy what you like, shop for a deal or bargain, and build it as you like. I know people here build houses that way. Buy the land, put up a nice pole building, live in that and over the course of two years they buy and stash the lumber, next thing you know, there's a huge beautiful house on it - one they could not have done trying to buy it all at once on their budget - and they made it their own.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have a sport S. I love it. The only mod I wish I had was the electronic sway bar disconnect. No matter what you do, pop for the aux switches.

I wish I had done that - I thought about it and then talked myself out of it trying to save money. Then later my wife asks "well, why didn't you get that if you want it?" I should know by now......... Always take her vehicle shopping and you'll get more than you would have otherwise.

 

[Sazabi19]

I had 1800 pounds on my truck (with added max tow springs) and it sat about level.
The nice thing about these is you can buy whatever and mod it to fit your final wants.
Because so many are making changes, just looking in this FORUM and not even on fakebook or CL, I can find multiple sets of differentials if I wanted a wider stance and even free gears if I wanted the 4.10 ratio. I'd still have my comfort, and all the nice that Overland comes with. You can buy parts and mod these like they were Lego toys. No big deal at all. So much is modular.
If I put a pair of Rubicon differentials under it, or even Sport S Max Tow differentials, what then is the big deal? I bet by this time I could do all that and still be under the cost of what a Rubicon would have been - but have the dash and stuff I preferred.

Buy what you like, shop for a deal or bargain, and build it as you like. I know people here build houses that way. Buy the land, put up a nice pole building, live in that and over the course of two years they buy and stash the lumber, next thing you know, there's a huge beautiful house on it - one they could not have done trying to buy it all at once on their budget - and they made it their own.

That's fine if he wants to change out springs or suspension parts, was just trying to give him something to think about as others didn't think about it before they got theirs. Not trying to dissuade him.

 

[Hamandcamo]

I went with a base sport manual. I didnt care about the technology packages. The Mojave was tempting, but I didnt find that the value was there when I started listing the pros that mattered to me. The locker, reinforced frame, and cast iron knuckles were all that mattered to me. The coils you can get take offs, and Im sure theyll have adapters for the remote resevior shocks soon.

If you dont mind diy/sweat equity projects and have the means, the base manny/max tow seems to make the most sense if you're overlanding. A small lift, tires, locker, skids, and regearing will put your total cost at around 40k (35k truck + 5k in mods). Will you be rock crawling? No. But you would probably be able to do 6.5/10 rated trails. Ie what 90% of the overland trails are anyways. That extra 10% is going to cost you significant money that isn't worth it imo.

 

[Gladman]

You an get a Sport S, Max Tow and add everything to it to make it as luxurious as an overland.

Then you are starting out with the good axels and differential.

One other thing I would say everyone should get is the automatic 4wdtransfer case option. If you live anywhere that it snows, this is a no brainer. Its super easy in the winter to go from a clean dry road that will cause axel bind in 4H to a parking lot that is covered in snow. Nothing is better than Auto in the days following snowfall. Its like $600

If you decide on the Mojave, I'd strongly recommend against getting it with the MT (mud) tires. They are much louder on the road than the AT tires that come standard. Also all the Willy's versions come with mud tires.

Axle

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You an get a Sport S, Max Tow and add everything to it to make it as luxurious as an overland.

Then you are starting out with the good axels and differential.

One other thing I would say everyone should get is the automatic 4wdtransfer case option. If you live anywhere that it snows, this is a no brainer. Its super easy in the winter to go from a clean dry road that will cause axel bind in 4H to a parking lot that is covered in snow. Nothing is better than Auto in the days following snowfall. Its like $600

If you decide on the Mojave, I'd strongly recommend against getting it with the MT (mud) tires. They are much louder on the road than the AT tires that come standard. Also all the Willy's versions come with mud tires.

A year or so ago you could not. You were stuck not being able to get most things the Overland had. I had configured a nice Sport S max tow - then my wife came to pick a color, etc. and finalize things. She started asking about the dash, the radio, passive entry and a host of other things and the dealer said - well, can't do that, you have to go Overland to get any of that. It's changed since then, but you could NOT get body color fenders, could not get body color roof, and the other stuff I mentioned. Wasn't possible. Mother MOPAR keeps changing things and today you can get close to Overland with a Sport, but not a year or so ago.

If I were buying today I'd absolutely get the newly offered transfer case. No question about it. I've owned a lot of vehicles, Jeep and Ford and Chevy with a mix of different transfer cases and the thing I dislike most about what I had as far as drivetrain (aside from the 3.73 ratio) is the transfer case. In Iowa, it's crazy. In a mile you may shift in and out of 4H 3 different times. On a trip to the closest town I counted having to shift 6 times between home and that town. And sometimes are upon that black ice or bad spot before you can reach and shift.

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