The Jeep Gladiator is fairly new on the market, but it seems to have made a big splash with many consumers. One of the top trim levels is the Jeep Gladiator Mojave, which is one of Jeep’s dedicated off-roading models, and it seems to perform well. 

However, MotorTrend pointed out in one of their reviews it has one serious problem with it due to a missing feature. Let’s see what they had to say about its performance, and what feature they feel is missing. 

How well does the Jeep Gladiator Mojave perform?

The Jeep Gladiator Mojave is meant for off-roading adventures. It can go just about anywhere you want to take it, just like its sibling, the Rubicon. The major difference between the two is the fact that the Mojave takes rough surfaces quicker than the Rubicon can because of its upgraded suspension. It’s built to take more abuse. 

The Mojave trim comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Paired with it is your choice of an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. 

Either of these combinations help the Gladiator get an 8.6-second acceleration time for a 0-to-60 mph run. Fuel economy is pretty good for an off-roading vehicle. When you’re zipping around the city, the Mojave can get 17 mpg. But when you take it out on the highway, you can get 22 mpg instead. 

With an off-road suspension, the Mojave configuration has a 1,200-lb payload capacity. The towing capacity also takes a bit of a hit. The Mojave tows 6,000 pounds, which is 1,600 pounds lower than a non off-roading vehicle would pull. 

What’s missing from the Jeep Gladiator Mojave trim that affects its performance?

The Jeep Gladiator Mojave trim has no tow-mode selector feature with it. While some vehicles can get by without one, this one appears that it can’t. MotorTrend reviewers found that it fell short of expectations and even became dangerous at some points. 

When they took it for a test run, they hooked it up to a 23-foot Airstream trailer, which weighed 5,200 lbs. On paper, the Mojave trim should’ve handled this with no problem. But when the reviewers took it out on the road, the Gladiator couldn’t keep the trailer under control. 

If the ride was smooth on a straight road surface, there weren’t any issues. The second they reached rough patches or curvy areas, the trailer would start straying behind the truck. Gusts of wind didn’t help either, because it would cause the Airstream to sway back and forth, nearly hitting vehicles coming in the opposite lane. 

Could it be fixed?

MotorTrend analyzed the situation to determine if there was a solution to towing this trailer safely. One thing they did notice was that the only way the truck would get it together and keep the trailer from wandering around was the truck’s trailer sway control feature. 

Once it got bad enough, the program would trigger and the trailer would temporarily right itself. But that makes for a dangerous situation while waiting for this feature to kick in. 

Another thing they questioned was the new trailer brake controller, which their tester truck didn’t come with. The reviewers wondered if this would’ve made a difference. They ended up shooting that theory down, because they had a diesel-powered Gladiator hooked up to the same Airstream trailer, and it didn’t make any difference in that situation. 

The only fix they could come up with, besides offering a tow-mode selector, is to be sure to use a weight-distributing hitch. At least when you haul larger trailers.

The Jeep Gladiator Mojave trim performs well in every aspect except towing larger and heavier items. For the bigger items, consider using a weight-distributing hitch to help keep your haul under control.