BORN 2 RUN

JEEP’S PICK-UP HAS ARRIVED DOWN UNDER BUT ONE MODEL WE WON’T BE GETTING IS THE GLADIATOR MOJAVE. WE TEST THE ‘DESERT RATED’ JT IN THE DUNES.

- CHRIS COLLARD

THE JEEP Wrangler has set the bar in the off-road world for decades, and its reputation as a capable trail rig is undisputed. But when the Gladiator JT debuted in 2019, the brand’s first pickup in nearly 30 years, it rattled the industry, receiving praise and persecution. The cynics cited its length, wheelbase and reduced breakover angle simply didn’t fit the bill for serious fourwheeling. But for truck guys like me, a Jeep pickup was long overdue. Comfortable seating for four adults, live axles, a nimble suspension, vetted drivetrain, and room for heaps of gear … what’s not to love?

While the Rubicon model is crafted for the rock-crawling crowd and the Overland is ideal for adventure seekers, the seven-slot powers-that-be realised the JT might be the perfect platform for dust-loving dirt aficionados that like to go fast in the desert. Enter the ‘Desert Rated’ Gladiator Mojave.

Having spent thousands of hours in various Jeeps on a multitude of continents and terrains, I was curious as to what differentiated the Mojave from the masses. And what is ‘Desert Rated’ all about? To settle the discussion, fellow journalist Ned Bacon and I borrowed a Mojave for a multiday, 800km evaluation through the deserts of Northern Nevada. Between us we’ve raced the Baja and Mexican 1000, tested shocks and suspension systems, crossed the world’s seven continents by four-wheel drive, and have a pretty good feel for what works and what doesn’t. But let’s first examine the platform.