Top recommended performance upgrades for the Jeep Gladiator Mojave?

Question

honestly im kinda fed up with how sluggish my mojave feels lately like i spent all this money for the desert rated badge but trying to pass anyone on the highway here in arizona is a total nightmare. it just hunts for gears constantly and feels so heavy. i got a big trip coming up in about three weeks to the dunes and i really need to wake this thing up before then. i have about 2k saved up to throw at it but im not sure if i should go with a tuner or maybe a cold air intake or what. what are the actual best performance upgrades you guys recommend for a mojave that actually make a difference?

Dread_sint_ikot · Accepted Answer

Jumping in here because I totally feel your pain... mine felt like a turtle on the I-17 before I messed with it. I ended up pretty satisfied after doing a few things that actually made a difference for me.

Mopar Cold Air Intake System for 3.6L Jeep Gladiator

Pros: It sounds way meaner and feels a tiny bit more responsive when you step on it.
Cons: Not a massive horsepower jump, mostly just helps the engine breathe better.

Revolution Gear and Axle 4.88 Ring and Pinion Kit

Pros: This is the real deal. Stops the gear hunting completely and makes passing super easy.
Cons: Pricey for labor, but fits your 2k budget if you shop around. Honestly im happy I went this route. The intake is cool for the sound, but those 4.88 gears are what actually fixed the sluggishness for my dune trips. It just pulls so much harder now... definitely worth looking into before your trip.

xokttshurg · Answer

If you are worried about keeping things reliable for that big trip, i would be careful about going too extreme. Arizona heat is brutal on these engines and adding too much complexity can backfire when you're miles from nowhere. For a $2k budget, i think you should look at the MagnaFlow Street Series Cat-Back Performance Exhaust System for Jeep Gladiator JT. It helps with backpressure and actually lets the 3.6 breathe a bit better when you are high in the rev range trying to pass people on the freeway. It is a solid, well-built part that wont give you many headaches. Another decent option is the Superchips Flashpaq F5 Performance Tuner for 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator. Unlike simple throttle boosters, this actually lets you adjust for your tire size and run a performance tune for higher octane fuel. Just keep in mind that flashing the PCM can sometimes lead to warranty issues if something goes wrong, so definitely weigh that risk before you pull the trigger. Since you have a desert trip coming up, honestly just making sure your fluids are fresh is huge. I usually run Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 0W-20 Motor Oil because it handles the heat fairly well. Dont expect these mods to make it feel like a Hemi, but it should feel a bit more responsive and less like it is struggling against its own weight.

vuxnzkolwz · Answer

Saw this earlier but just now getting a chance to reply... ngl it is pretty disappointing how these trucks feel when you actually try to pass someone on the highway. I totally agree that the heat is a massive factor for these engines. One thing to keep in mind is that the Mojave cooling system is decent but it still heat soaks fast in the dunes, which makes the sluggishness even worse. Just make sure whatever you do keeps the reliability high for that trip. Really hope you get it figured out soon though.