Crashnburn80's Supercharged Gladiator Mojave Build

You definitely won't have any problems with the DD SS3s, I've had them on for almost a month now of winter in the Canadian Rockies through some serious snow storms. Never a problem with icing as long as you leave them on. They cool off pretty quick when powered down though and I'm not sure how they are about actually melting an existing buildup.

 

The Rubicons are awesome. The Mojave has a 1" factory lift and longer travel suspension with ridiculous Fox suspension, so I probably won't be adding any significant suspension upgrades other than a 1/2" spacer required to clear the skid package I want (requires 1.5" lift). But I've got plenty of other items planned out.

 

The Pros are a carry over from my Tacoma. Great lights and they do run hot so snow shouldn't be an issue, but LEDs are not like halogen, they do require more time to get hot. I'm looking forward to installing the SS3 Max lights once I get the new yellow lenses. Those things can boil water.

 

How were the headlights over the weekend?

 

Following this. Googling the DD SS3 MAX SAE Fogs brought me here on TW and then onto this thread. Can't wait to see pics and reviews on light output of the MAX on the Jeep.

 

The heated lights did their job in the snowy conditions, though the truck was caked in so much filth from the passes performance didn't seem great. Also frustrating is the Morimoto 9" to 7" conversion kit allows only one axis adjustment for aiming, down left and up right. I knew my driver headlight was aimed too far right, but that is what I had to do to get the cut off up where it is supposed to be but that meant at 100'+ I had a combined one hot spot on the right instead of two. Immensely frustrating. I overnighted the JW Speaker 9" to 7" mounts and they were identical to the Morimotos. So headlight aiming still needs work. The J3s also support DRL but the way I have them setup that doesn't appear to be working, also annoying. I didn't hook up the built in signal function, and maybe that needs to be done for DRL.

I've got them in clear 6000k tested here: Diode Dynamics SS3 Max

Waiting on the latest selective yellow optics for install on the Mojave.

 

I find the rear shocks are improperly valved. There is way too much schwiggle in a corner with any type of undulation. I am thinking about the Metal Cloak 2.5” lift with King resi’s. But, I’m not supposed to “modify” this work truck. Point of reference; the Tacoma was originally supposed to be a “work” truck and we all know how that’s turned out...

 

Unsure if it is the shocks or the unsprung weight ratio. The Rubi and Mojave have the all new ultra heavy 10mm thick axle wall axles, specifically designed for high speed jumping and extra rock durability. It rides no where near as smooth as the Tacoma when the axles hit a bump. I haven't driven the Mojave vs Rubi to compare though.

 

I drove a Mojave and I bought the Rubicon. The Mojave didn’t have the same “schwiggle” that the Rubicon does. It’s definitely in the valving. That issue aside, I’ve fallen head over heels for this truck. Maybe that’s because I never drive my Tacoma anymore...

 

Beautiful rig! Those are some "light weight" 35's

This will be another clean build, no doubt!

 

It's a cold, fast, crazy world out there if you know the right places to go... #jeep

 

The JT seems to get weekly over the air software updates. They should really rename the downloads to something different than 'PopupMessages'.


Apparently the truck also will inform me of state issued weather advisories on startup.

 

Surprising isn’t it? Annoying it can be. Especially when you are stuck on a closed interstate due to inclement weather. It’s like salt in the eye...

 

I came across these heated headlights while looking at stop/turn/tail lighting for my camper...

H4 plug, automatic heater, polycarbonate housing and lens with UV protection…

https://www.maxxima.com/products/pr...p-HIGHLOW-BEAM-with-MaxxHeat-Heated-Lens.html

 

Interesting find. I had not seen those. Unique design with what appears to a reflector up top and projectors on the bottom. Wish they would give performance specs. So far the only heated 7" round lights I've found are the Truck-lite/Rigid, JW Speaker J2 and J3. I'm a big fan of the 4600k color temp on the J3s though.

 

Man, you are not helping at all. I'm in the middle of an "I want something new" episode and already started my wish list for staying satisfied and keeping and improving my 2017 OR Double Cab. I've been following the release of the Gladiator since, well, before it was really even a concept!

I had been watching for the "perfectly" equipped JT Rubicon to show up on a local dealer's lot for the opportunity at a better deal, and there's been a couple close calls, but nothing to quite make me say goodbye to the Tacoma yet.

Please post some more pictures of your Mow Jave with the 35s. I was already trying to pick out a lightweight 37, but figured out that those don't exist!

 

Jeep's extensive al le carte options certainly making finding the right combination a challenge, which is why I custom ordered mine. You do end up paying more that way, but also get exactly what you want and don't end up having expensive options that you don't.

The Mojave comes with a 1" front lift, which looks good with the 35s. I'd like to add .05" front and rear to use the high clearance full underbelly skids and hopefully stay at a 35" tire. 37s get heavy fast. Adding a small lift to the high clearance fender trucks quickly makes 35s seem small, kinda ridiculous how large the tires can get really quick in lifting. Trying to strike the balance of larger without paying a significant performance tax. The 35x11.5r17 AT3s weight the exact same amount as the stock 33s, the 35x12.5s are only 2lbs more. So far pretty happy with the setup.

I do need to get some more pics up. I can't believe I didn't take any when we were out in the snow in Chelan for 5 days around new years.

 

Did you consider the 6 speed manual at all? The Gladiator I test drove with the 8 speed auto this summer was very impressive, even in manual mode, but the enthusiast side of me still feels the need to row my own.

And I guess nothing ugly with reliability on the 21s yet, right?

 

I did not consider the manual. I used to be strictly a manual guy for nearly 20 years, my last 2nd Gen was the first truck that I had a manual option where I willingly chose auto. Commuting in traffic (pre-covid anyway), having a kid in the back and even wheeling in some technical stuff, the auto is just easier. And while it used to seem like you were making a sacrifice getting the auto (5spd auto vs 6spd manual) the auto now has more gears with 8spds. The 8spd transmission is just fantastic. There is always a perfect gear, shifts are subtle and smooth and quick with no haunting, the close gearings downshifting for power isn't nearly as dramatic as even the spacing in the 2nd Gen 5spd. Manual mode works great too. It is the first auto transmission I really enjoy driving. Very minor point, but auto also allows factory remote start which I like. Being able to remote start the truck via satellite from your phone regardless of proximity is pretty slick.

My truck is a 21. With the 3.6L, the drivetrain and electronics are pretty much all 2018 Wrangler (minus the HD axles on the Rubi/Mojave JT). The 3.6L V6 is a solid tried and true award winning powerplant that is entering it 10th year of duty under the Chrysler umbrella, so there shouldn't any surprises there. The ZF 8HP 8spd transmission is a very well respected unit used by many brands, only thing that makes me slightly nervous is Chrysler/FIAT built them domestically under license rather than purchasing them from ZF. So for the most part, much of the vehicle on the JL platform has been in production for a few years now. Really the biggest changes for 2021 were the Mojave features added at the end of 2020.

Here is Engineering Explained's review of the ZF 8HP. They refer to it as the worlds best automatic transmission.
https://youtu.be/u0BZhs4Ugag