...for a 5' 5" wife

First post! Thanks for an awesome XJ site everyone! This is the only question that I haven't been able to find an answer to so far just by searching and reading. Lots of great information here!

I payed off my wife's Patriot a few weeks ago and we're waiting for the title to arrive. As soon as the title gets here, should be sometime this week, we're selling the Patriot and buying a XJ. I'm wanting to go with a 4-4.5" lift and 33's, but I'm not sure if that's going to make it too tall for my wife to get into without having to "climb". As long as she can tip-toe to get a leg and cheek on the seat in order to slide in, that's fine, but if I lift it so high that she has to use the steering wheel and top of the XJ to pull herself up/in, I'm going to be in trouble.

What do you guys think? Should I keep it down around 3" and 31's, or can I get away with 4-4.5" and 33's without her having trouble getting in? Btw, this will be her grocery getter/DD. I'll only take it out on the weekends for off-roading, camping, hunting, that sort of stuff.

 

This is a hard question to answer over the internet because everybody is different. Find somebody with a lifted Cherokee and ask if your wife can get in to see how it feels.

I'm 6'0" and when I was at 3" on 31s my butt was perfect level with the seat. Now at 6" and 35s I have to hop a bit, but I got used to it. I always get a kick out of watching people pull their pants up higher too swing their leg in but if the wife isn't happy than you have problems haha.

 

my wife is nearly 5'5", and she pissed and moaned when I put a 2" lift and 30" tires on my Patriot. when I sold it and got an XJ, put a 3.5" lift and 31" tires on it, I ended up buying her a different car... (paid cash for a ford freestyle) Just so I didn't have to hear about it... It was easier on me.

Lifted patriot:



Lifted XJ:





My salvation:

 

she wont be wearing skirts again, getting into a lifted xj.

 

I'm 6'4" and have a 6.5" on 35's and I have to do the "tip-toe to get a leg and cheek on the seat in order to slide in"

By the way, I picked up my rig for a song because it was the PO's wife's DD, and she got fed up with climbing in and out of it.

 

I have a 7.5 inch lift and the 4 foot 8 inch girlfriend just jumps right in.

It depends on her physical stamina and agility.

 

The other question is:

Do you/will you have kids in car seats? having a lifted vehicle makes the task of getting them in and out a PITA, and that was my wife's main complaint. Getting in and out was an issue, but not one that I had to hear about too often, it was mainly getting the kids in and out, especially the infant car carrier.

I do not recommend getting a toy and making your wife drive it as a daily driver... been there, done that, glad Its not the situation anymore.

 

XJinTX, welcome! Question is: How long do you want to stay married? Seriously, you've been given some sound advice and I can only reiterate it. If I were you, I would take my wife around and find XJ's of various heights and let your wife decide for herself. It will be the best single indicator of whether or not you've made a wise decision. I'd think the last thing you want to do is misspend your hard-earned money and as another member pointed out he picked up an XJ for a song and dance. Now I'd be willing to bet that that PO didn't think about his wife's needs/expectations before he bought it and then he had to sell it at a loss. At best he broke even.

My wife is 5'6" and while she loves riding in mine once she's in it, she's not real fond of getting in it. Good luck!

Btw, who are you kidding that you'll only drive it on the weekends, etc? Lol!

 

My wife is 5'1" not any problems getting into my XJ at 4.5"+ on 33's and on the 35's on beadlocks, BTW she is 58 yrs old also.

 

Our youngest is 19, so we won't have to worry about getting kids in and out of it. That's a good point though, I hadn't thought about that.

It's going to be a balancing act trying to make it better than average capability-wise and keeping it semi-comfortable as a daily driver for the wife. She actually likes lifted trucks so she's excited to get another XJ. I bought her an '86 back in the early 90's. Can't remember for the life of me what I had done to the suspension back then, except that it was just enough lift for 31's and rode like a freight train. The ride never bothered her and she never had any trouble getting into it, so I should be safe with 31's and a 3" lift. But, I really think a 4-1/2" lift with 33's would be perfect!

I don't know anyone with a lifted XJ to checkout so I'm out of luck there. When we get our XJ I'll just jack it up to the height it would be at with a 4-1/2" lift and 33's, put jack stands under it and see if she has any trouble getting in and out.


My wife is 50 so that's promising, thanks Fred/N0AZZ! I'm not giving up on 4-1/2" and 33's yet!

 

I had a 4.5 lift in the old renix xj and I was single then. I dated a couple ladies and it was funny watching them try and jump in the jeep. They all tried to play it cool like it wasn't a struggle to get in there with skinny jeans or a dress on. On my new rig I'm going with a 5.5 lift but I do plan to put some rock sliders with tube steps on it to make things easier for my lady and my rocker panels.

 

I wish we had a variety of XJ's around that I could take her to see. I've been showing her a lot of the pictures of rigs on here so I'm starting to get an idea of what she likes, but for finding out how high I'll be able to go with the lift without spending any money first, we don't have a whole lot of options.

I hear you about the weekends only. If it turns out to be as nice as I'm hoping, my next problem will be figuring out a way to steal it from her.

 

I've seen a few rock sliders with a small nerf bar that might work as a step. It's hard to tell from pictures, but that might work for us. I'll have to take a closer look at that.

 

If you don't mind me asking, where are you in Texas? If you're reasonably close you can use mine as a "test case" for her. It would be a start.

 

This is more or less what I'm going for. You got the main slider protecting the rockers for wheeling and the tubes give you that step. Also makes it easier to access the roof and or roof rack if you end up getting one.