Why Mojave?

[StormnNJ]

I see it as giving up the sway bar disconnect, front locker, steel rear bumper, rear bed rock rails and 1,000 lbs in towing

I have also never seen a desert or a beach I could drive on in my life but I don’t go rock climbing either.

How much have you used these Rubicon options? Does it warrant having them with the intent I may use that some day?

I went with Mojave since I don't rock crawl and ride quality in the Mojave was wife approved. Go with what suits your actual driving habits and uses rather than hypothetical situations or popular opinion.

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[tom.mary.glad]

so you've already listed most of the larger benefits of the Mojave. There are a LOT of other little pieces all over the truck like reinforced motor and transmission mounts, but frankly they are too numerous and too individually inconsequential for me to memorize or bother looking up again.

First things first, do you use the extra 1000lbs in towing or ever intend to? if yes, you can't switch. If no, forget about it.

As for what sold most of us on the mojave:
covering the suspension changes as "better shocks" is pretty reductive. The suspension is noticeably better for fast offroad driving, and a large majority agree it's also the superior on-road suspension setup in the gladiator as well. Even if you don't have plans for blasting around off-road, your mojave suspension will eat speed bumps.
The bolstered seats make a larger difference in comfort than you'd imagine without having test driven them (i went from a willys for 6 months to a mojave for the past year+ and it makes a difference, trust me).
The lack of a sway bar disconnect does suck, but the OEM one reconnects itself at 25mph so if you wanted to use your Mojave for what it was meant for you'd need an aftermarket SBD anyway. I recommend Apex autoLYNX. i routinely hit 30+ and would be annoyed if my swaybar kept coming back together when i needed that softness while i was hitting ruts the hardest.
cool hood (can we just be honest and admit the completely functionless hood was a part of our decision making process Mojave people? We don't need to dance around it, we can be honest that cool looking things look cool)

Honestly, i have very little interest in changing your mind. I just think you should test drive one, and see if the truck itself changes your mind. If not, that's cool. Rubicons are a blast. But so are Mojaves.

While you're out testing driving though, see if you can't find a Freedom Maxtow to put around in. That's a really cool build that I feel doens't get enough love.

I have an Oscar Mike Edition Sport MaxTow. Not sure if its the same as Freedom Maxtow.
I love it but the suspension is quite stiff. Mine is still stock and I haven't done any wheeling yet - except an Offroad 101 class.

 

[Gvsukids]

I wanted to ultimately have a good winch and a moderate 2” lift. Nothing crazy. I struggled to compare the Mojave and the Rubicon trims.

Right or wrong, at the time (and before I joined the Forum) I concluded that the winch needed a steel bumper, and that winch-bumper combo needed spacers to correct the resulting front end sag. Adding another 2” of spacers to get the lift seemed like a crazy big stack of spacers, so I resigned myself to getting a “real” lift with longer shocks. At that point the Mojave didn’t compare well to the Rubicon.

Was I wrong?

No, but you could've modified a plastic bumper for a winch.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...stic-bumper-with-the-mopar-steel-bumper.32427

I have an Oscar Mike Edition Sport MaxTow. Not sure if its the same as Freedom Maxtow.
I love it but the suspension is quite stiff. Mine is still stock and I haven't done any wheeling yet - except an Offroad 101 class.

Yes, it's the same model.

 

[joeym7]

Well, if you don't rock climb and have no access to desert/beach or anyplace that you can drive fast and "bumpy" you don't need a Rubi or a MO or probably any jeep. That is the best trade you can make! And if you still want a (second) Jeep, go for the the entry model as it will meet all your needs.

 

[Minty JL]

I own both a Rubicon and Mojave......................Mojave all day long. If you were spending 90% offroad and rock crawling, yeah you be giving something up. But lets be honest, that's not the case.

Go drive a Mojave and be honest with yourself.

I had my JT out last weekend, there was not a single thing on the course I could not either get over or around...........the driver mod usually beats the false sense of security with certain features ie front locker and sway bars disconnect.........easy to add disconnectable endlinks

Just my opinion, take it for what its worth. Cheers!

 

[Sandevino]

Mojave has 2 different trucks, you choose from what they offer to fit whatever your needs are.

I sort of disagree with your statement - Jeeps are like AR15's, you can do so many changes to them to fit practically whatever you want to do with them. I think you pick the one that best fits your needs and build from there.

You sort of disagree then validate my sentiment.

In my opinion the best trim level HANDS DOWN is the one you can afford.

 

[MikeSalt]

I test drove a rubicon and a Mojave on the beach (I’m surprised the salesman let me take the on the beach) the Mojave floated on top of the sand and was a much better ride going over the deep ruts.

 

[Brojave22]

Not sure which woods or beach you’re running 60mph on. A video of you hitting 60mph on the beach or in the woods is now has my interest.

I thought of it when i posted it this, when i get a chance I might but you know that phone wont be bouncing around like a rubicons would be lol my mojave is butter at high speed

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

I currently own a 21 Rubicon and I love it but am considering buying a new one when the interior refresh comes out. I really don’t want to buy the same exact truck so considering a Mojave but am not seeing the benefits over a Rubicon for the same price. I’m hoping someone can convince me. I see it as giving up the sway bar disconnect, front locker, steel rear bumper, rear bed rock rails and 1,000 lbs in towing for better shocks, steel steering knuckles, more bolsters in the seats / steering wheel, being able to drive faster in 4WD and 1” higher in the front. Just seems like not a fair trade off to me which is the conclusion I came to when buying my current truck but would like to try something new. I have also never seen a desert or a beach I could drive on in my life but I don’t go rock climbing either.

You have a 21 Rubicon (it's mid 23 now) and are considering getting a new Gladiator? Maybe a Mojave? All I can say is the Rubicon you been there and done that and if you want something else, verity is the spice of life. Have fun.

 

[Sandevino]

I thought of it when i posted it this, when i get a chance I might but you know that phone wont be bouncing around like a rubicons would be lol my mojave is butter at high speed

Oh humor us and show us what we’re missing…lol

 

[legacy_etu]

I test drove a rubicon and a Mojave on the beach (I’m surprised the salesman let me take the on the beach) the Mojave floated on top of the sand and was a much better ride going over the deep ruts.

Wow, that is very surprising he let you test drive on a beach. Very cool of him. I hope you kept it out of the tide zone.

Reminds me of my test drive of my Supra. I had made an appointment to drive the car since they had to pull it off the showroom floor. I showed up with my son. The salesmen says “ I suppose you want your son to go” ? Since it was a two seater that meant he’d have to stay behind. I said “yup, that’s right”. He threw me the keys and said “ have fun”.

 

[OffAxis2021]

The Mojave does not need any extra clearance for the shocks. I can only assume that the different offset was to increase track width.

I run JL Rubicon wheels & tires on my Mojave in the winter, and there is still plenty of clearance to the shocks.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/jeep-jt-gladiator-mojave-vs-gladiator-rubicon-whats-difference/

 

[ecidiego]

https://www.motortrend.com/features/jeep-jt-gladiator-mojave-vs-gladiator-rubicon-whats-difference/

I hate that article. They just made random stuff up. Example:

"Unlike Rubicon, the all-steel bumpers aren't an option, but Mojave does come standard with the "Max Tow" cooling package that features a larger fan for cooler engine temps when punishing the Gladiator Mojave off-road in the summer"

What? Mojave comes with the same base 600w cooling fan a stripped Sport has. You can option the Tow Package to get the 850w fan, but you certainly cannot get the Max Tow package.

 

[OffAxis2021]

Bottom line is just this…

The Mojave is BUILT FOR high(er) speed desert running. That does not mean and/or include slow-ass rock crawling, towing your $100K Airstream, etc.

I get why some/a lot/seemingly most want to add all the extra weight of steel this and that, big wide tires, etc. but that defeats it’s actual intended purpose, which the added weight is not at all beneficial for. More of a hindrance.

The following YouTube video screenshot… he had interior mounted cameras and the landing was SMOOTH AF. Try that in your STOCK Rubicon and other.

 

[OffAxis2021]

I hate that article. They just made random stuff up. Example:

"Unlike Rubicon, the all-steel bumpers aren't an option, but Mojave does come standard with the "Max Tow" cooling package that features a larger fan for cooler engine temps when punishing the Gladiator Mojave off-road in the summer"

What? Mojave comes with the same bass 600w cooling fan a stripped Sport has. You can option the Tow Package to get the 850w fan, but you certainly cannot get the Max Tow package.

Admitting the article is old and the Mojave was new… I also questioned some of their content in said article, but my self-ordered 2022 Mojave is my first ever Jeep and I make no claim to know an abundant amount about Jeeps in particular. No, not a city slicker gone country either. Hah!
Have always owned 4x4s.
Never a single car (coupe/sedan).

Besides… a Mojave most definitely must fit 2 more ducks across the dash. You know… higher hood cowl.

???

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