When most people think of the desert, the idea of spending a considerable amount of time there might seem unappealing to say the least. With scorching temperatures, an arid atmosphere, and miles upon miles of sand, dunes, and dust, the average person might not be interested in choosing it for a vacation spot. Of course, for the individual who embraces off-roading as a lifestyle and not just a hobby, the desert presents a wealth of excitement and challenges. However, as with any passion and pursuit, any experienced off-roader will tell you that having the right equipment is essential before any endeavor can be successfully undertaken.
Just as it has for several decades, the Jeep brand gives drivers a chance to follow the path less traveled and steer clear of the pavement. Jeep has been synonymous with high adventure and defying convention for years, and the Jeep Gladiator Mojave has successfully shifted the paradigm when it comes to presenting adventurers with the ideal desert vehicle. If you consider yourself a devotee of the path less traveled and conquering the desert is on your agenda, you might want to consider finding a Jeep Gladiator for sale. Your off-roading adventures will never be the same again.
What Is the Jeep Gladiator?
The Jeep Gladiator is what happens when you turn a Jeep Wrangler into an off-road pickup truck. With its five-foot bed for payload and a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs when properly equipped, Jeep has pulled out all the stops to give drivers one of the most versatile and capable vehicles to ever roll off the assembly line. Underneath the hood rests a beefy 3.6L V6. This engine propels the Gladiator forward with 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Alternatively, it can be equipped with a 3.0L EcoDiesel generating 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque.
Always a brand that understands each driver is different in their individual tastes, Jeep equips the Gladiator with either a six-speed manual transmission or, for those who are more at ease with an automatic, an eight-speed automatic gearbox. With its elevated ground clearance that goes past eleven inches, the Gladiator is designed for the purpose of making road obstacles a worry of the past. However, the Mojave trim stands out as the only Jeep model to wear the new Desert Rated badge and is upgraded to handle the rigors of the desert.
A Real “Shock” to the System
Anyone who’s tangled with the desert sands will tell you that there’s much more needed for a successful excursion than just a capable powertrain. Because you’re traversing grounds that are the complete opposite of smooth pavement, suspension and handling are both essential. For the Gladiator Mojave, it begins with the shocks. This model doesn’t have just any standard set of shock absorbers; its shocks are built by a company that is well-versed in extremes.
Fox is known to build shocks that are made to absorb the rough and tumble world that off-roading takes place in, which is why it has been chosen to equip models like the Ford Raptor and Toyota 4Runner. These shocks, paired with the 33-inch tires that come with Gladiator Mojave, ensure that you’ll have a smooth ride, even when the terrain is less than hospitable. If you happen to discover an oasis in the middle of the desert, you’ll have no trouble crossing it, thanks to the Gladiator’s ability to ford up to 31.5 inches of water.
You Deserve a “Break.”
An experienced off-roader knows that it’s not just a few attributes that make a vehicle effective when it’s traveling off of the beaten path. Having brakes that are functioning properly and allow for increased performance is all part of the game of off-roading. Jeep understands this concept all too well and equips the Gladiator Mojave with four-wheel disc brakes with ferritic nitrocarburized discs to ensure that you have the ability to cease forward momentum when the situation calls for it. For maximum traction, the Gladiator is also equipped with a Tru-Lok rear differential.
This differential allows you to maintain traction on trails and terrains that might not be suited for other vehicles without relying on brake-based traction control. Unlike other Jeep models, the Gladiator Mojave allows you to lock the rear differential when in 4HI to maximize control during high-speed desert running. If you’re planning on conquering any sand dunes, you’ll have a unique advantage. The Mojave also includes an Off Road+ mode that adjusts vehicle settings to optimize off-road performance at the touch of a button.
The High-End of Off-Roading Technology
In recent years, Jeep has been making great strides in the technological field when it comes to outfitting its vehicles with the very best. Because Jeep has a long-standing reputation for being the brand that most off-roaders trust, it’s only natural that it would make a considerable effort to adapt technology to aid in the pursuit of following the path less traveled. Access to these features is made possible through the vehicle’s UConnect software.
While still possessing the tech features that you would expect, such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to a variety of apps, there’s much more that can allow the Gladiator to thrive in off-road situations. Among these is the collaboration with GPS company TomTom to provide navigation that stays up to date with changes such as road closings to allow you complete oversight regarding where you decide to travel. This feature, known as MOTA (Maps Over the Air), is far and away the most advanced navigation system in the industry and essential for any adventurer to utilize when on the road.
If you’re a driver who would much rather listen to some righteous jams as opposed to the terrain under your tires or the roar of the engine, you’ll be able to set the playlist of your dreams. The Gladiator Mojave, aside from being the undisputed master of off-roading, also features a high-end stereo system. This takes the form of nine Alpine speakers and an amplifier with 552 watts of earth-shaking power, all controlled from a standard 8.4-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect 4C NAV infotainment software.
Doors? What Doors?
The Jeep Gladiator has sometimes been described as the world’s “first open-air pickup truck.” Because it combines the attributes of the Wrangler with the bed of a pickup, the Gladiator allows the driver to remove not only the top but the doors as well to transform the vehicle into an instant dune buggy with a few minor adjustments. You can even add a Mopar Door-Off Mirror Kit that lets you keep your side mirrors even when you leave the doors at home. However, depending on which desert you decide to explore, you might want to consider leaving the doors on to avoid getting too much sand in your cabin.
The Ultimate Off-Roading Experience Has Arrived
With a truly unique design that’s engineered for versatility and features that are meant to cater to drivers who favor traveling off the beaten path, there’s no denying that the Jeep Gladiator is the ultimate off-roading vehicle. For years, many have sought a truck that’s perfectly formulated for the adventures that take place off the pavement and away from civilization, and the Gladiator fits this description all too perfectly. There are plenty of vehicles that have the capacity to travel off-road, but there’s only one Gladiator. From the desert dunes to the frozen tundra, the only difficulty you’ll experience is deciding which terrain you’ll want to tame first.
