Why Mojave?

[JarHeadLV]

From all this debating, just pick the Jeep that works best for you and enjoy it, then have fun down the "rabbit hole" (as I am) upgrading it!!!!

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[Eeeckman]

I struggled a little with this decision too; but looked at my driving habits and things I want to do with this jeep pickup, and the Mojave just fits better into my habits and wants.
1. I drive mostly forest roads, not into serious rocks, etc, so the Mojave's ability to drive at speed over rough terrain, and all the reinforcements to do so appealed to me.
2. Both Wrangler Rubicons I had with the Electronic front sway bar disconnect had problems with water intrusion into the connector causing errors and in one instance left me stranded on an exposed snowy ridge in 30 mph winds and low 30 temps until I disconnected the swaybar wiring. I stopped to run my dog in the snow and when we tried to leave, I got a Christmas tree dashboard of lights and no start. Loys of cursing and troubleshooting later, I remembered the swaybar error a few days before. Pulling the cable got rid of the dashboard lights and let the jeep start. Driving in heavy rains and slushy snow would trigger the problem in two jeeps, so that was not on my shopping list.
3. I figure I can add a limited slip or locker to my Mojave in the future easy enough and have the benefits of both without the essay bar woes.

Ran through Moab's easy trails and loved how my stock Mojave performed!

Good luck!

 

[DirkG]

Orange > Red

 

[RubiAR]

I lived in NM for 5 years. If I was still out there and not climbing thru woodland rocky ORV parks, then a Mojave would have been the option for me. I used to love blasting thru the arroyos (dry sand creek/riverbeds) in my Ram 2500 Cummins at 45-50 mph. Yeah, it was a heavy recovery truck, but with the extra torque in the sand, it made a lot of trail-riders scratch their heads. But it's also why I replaced engine mounts at 85K

 

[jac04]

Exactly, I never understood why the Mojave trim doesn’t get the aluminum hood since weight is your enemy in desert running plus the extra cost of the aluminum is better absorbed in the pricing structure of the upper level trims.

That's a good question. I wonder if it has anything to do with the shape of the Mojave hood and potential stamping/manufacturing limitations with aluminum.

 

[legacy_etu]

That's a good question. I wonder if it has anything to do with the shape of the Mojave hood and potential stamping/manufacturing limitations with aluminum.

That’s a great thought. It’s possible that‘s the reason. …..although I wouldn’t think the geometry there is that radical.

 

[jav_eee]

nah i don't believe you. too smooth. Or maybe your washboard roads arent like my washboard roads. This looks like a regular gravel path to me.

 

[MikeSalt]

I’m on the beach 4-5 times a week, surf fishing and of all the jeeps I’ve owned the Mojave is the best in the sand.

 

[ecidiego]

I’m on the beach 4-5 times a week, surf fishing and of all the jeeps I’ve owned the Mojave is the best in the sand.

The cracked windshield really makes for an authentic Jeep experience

 

[Jaxmax]

Always amazes me what people drive out onto the beach, most everything you towed should not have been there, no air out of their tires, two wheel drive, and the white ford truck wow! We have towed a few people in our many years on the beach, but nothing like what you are doing, best tow was two really old ladies driving a Cadillac Eldorado, front wheel drive out to the the point on Cape Hatterass. Nice ladies and we were shocked how far they got, they had no idea that they were driving out to the ocean. Nicest ladies ever.....Jack

 

[legacy_etu]

Always amazes me what people drive out onto the beach, most everything you towed should not have been there, no air out of their tires, two wheel drive, and the white ford truck wow! We have towed a few people in our many years on the beach, but nothing like what you are doing, best tow was two really old ladies driving a Cadillac Eldorado, front wheel drive out to the the point on Cape Hatterass. Nice ladies and we were shocked how far they got, they had no idea that they were driving out to the ocean. Nicest ladies ever.....Jack

Not sure I would have helped the guy driving the Carolina squat mobile. Oh brother ……..and what was the mustang lady thinking?

 

[Zachanadandy]

For your use I'd say sport s with max tow makes the most sense, but that wasn't your question. As others have stated, you use the mojave where it shines every single day. At speed? Check. Bumps and massive potholes? Check. I agree with the comment that the sway bar disconnect is useful for comfort on tires dirt roads, but with the vastly superior shocks, softer springs, hydraulic bump stops, and softer sway bars of the mojave I find it rides better than a disconnected Rubicon in those conditions even if you don't add a sway bar disconnect. As for the 4-1 transfer case, it's not a have in case you need it option. There's no scenario that extra gearing will get you out of that the standard tcase won't. Sure it's better for slow speed control when you're crawling all day but the standard case will never stop you from completing a trail or obstacle. In my experience the front locker is kind of the same. Sure there might be a difficult line where it makes the difference in a particular obstacle, but as far as situations where you need it? Once you're in deep enough to be truly stuck where the rear locker and bld aren't enough to get you out the front locker doesn't help. Deep snow or mud where there's 0 traction and your frame deep still call for a recovery. The only thing the extra locker does is keep all 4 tires with no traction spinning at the same speed. The mojave with a winch added will get you through far more than a front locker and sway bar disconnect could ever hope to. Now if it comes to big rocks the rubicon is vastly superior but just about every where else the mojave wins. I find the gladiator is too long for the big rocks anyway which is why the wife's daily is a JLUR on 39s with full belly skids and I bought the mojave.

 

[Zachanadandy]

You can only hang so far until front lockers are needed. We'll catch you on the way back down though... =o)

I'd say show we the spot your Rubicon will go that the mojave won't, but that would mean I'd have to drive slow as hell all day following you out there just to show you your locker isn't as needed as you think. BUMP IT or JUMP IT

 

[GI Grandpa]

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.

As a daily driver, the Mojave is hard to beat...but I also have an '02 TJ that I wheel so I didn't need or want a Rubicon

 

[KevinC]

I’m on the beach 4-5 times a week, surf fishing and of all the jeeps I’ve owned the Mojave is the best in the sand.

I've been on St. Augustine Beach many times and can relate. I commend you for spending dawn till dusk pulling people out. When I have the opportunity to visit and drive out on the beach, I'm not going to spend the day pulling stupidity out of the sand. Sorry, not what I came to the beach for.

Your JT seems to be set up just for that. Nice build.

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