'00xj

Just bought a 2000 sport; any idea what I should do with it?
Don't know too much about what to do, or what's out there for xj's.
Finally got one.

4 door
180, 000 miles, motor will be rebuilt by next week.
Class 3 trailer hitch.
Want a good "road machine lift"; 2 - 3.5 inches or less for 30 or 31 inch tires.
Want 'er to be solid and safe (family).
She'll haul a '63 Avion 20ft travel trailer (shaped like an aluminum grape; thought about making "woody" panels for the '00 xj)
medium fern green - body and paint excellent

Bought on-line, friend I trust checked it out, once engine rebuilt, he and his wife will drive it 1/2 way to Colorado, we'll meet them there.

Wondering what would make it a stout little traveling vehicle to take on vacation, to check out the parks, etc?

Less worried about the budget than doing it right; wife and kids guy.

I'd appreciate your thoughts...

Thanks!

Skreed

Keeping it under 3.5 inch lift sound right for what you want to do. If you buy a lift kit and your hauling all that weight I would suggest getting full replacement leaf packs for the rear springs.

'00xj

Excellent! Thanks.

Will replace leafs. Is there anything I'd wanna make sure goes in when I do? Wondering what else I'll need to change...

a1racer

my best mod is my hella e-code headlights. that way you can see at night.

a1racer

oh and welcome to the forum

'00xj

Thanks!

Cute kid!

FlexdXJ

If you plan on Wheeling it i Would say make sure it has recovery points up front and some armor(trust me Armor is good)!

'00xj

Great!

Recovery points?

Like tow hooks...?

What kind of armor would you suggest?

Like to protect the lower body panels, front end. Probably the underneath. Wondering also, have you ever seen anything that protects those flat sides from parking lot dings? I always tell my wife those dings are good theft proofing, but seems like Cherokees are magnets for them.

a1racer

thanks he only looks cute. he just turned 3 and is a tiny terror. and lift armor and recovery are good places to start

FlexdXJ

Yeah front tow hooks.

I have the C4x4 ones
http://custom4x4fabrication.com/recovery.html

and JCR stage 2 rails. They are a great product and can take a hit. They are good for keeping car doors from hitting yours. They make a good pivot point to get around trees too. It doesn't do anything to them but scrape the paint off and rustoleum is cheap enough that I don't mind.
http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/...egory_Code=XJS

I also have a factory front skid plate and a rusty's t-case skid.

'00xj

Any particular products that would make a good lift? Rubicon Express lift looked good with the full leafs; would I need to change out anything else underneath if I went with the Super-Ride version?

'00xj

Awesome. Thanks greatly.

FlexdXJ

Not a problem man! Enjoy your new Cherokee or as we refer to them XJ! Also keep a good eye on that cylinder head its the 0331 casting and some of them are prone to cracking. If it pops a head gasket go ahead and replace it with an 03 and up 0331 head(revised casting) or an older head for the 95~ years.

Rubican express is good stuff and usually nets about an inch taller than it says so a 3.5 would get around 4.5-5 inches then you would need a slip yoke eliminator(SYE). If you want a great Ride go with Old Man Emu. Check out www.dpgoff-road.com for their kits and Check out www.naxja.org for even more XJ info.

'00xj

Nice to know! I'll keep an eye on that cylinder head. On the DPG site I saw that Advance Adapters HD SYE and CV Driveshaft Combination for $489. Would those parts compensate for the angle change? Between the Rubicon Express lift and those parts, would that complete the lift, or are there other parts that would have to be changed?

'00xj

If I'm towing, are the XJ's factory brakes enough, or should I put in something different? I'm guessing if I can stop it, and steer it, we're much more likely to walk away from it. I am thinking I'd like to put on a taller, but not necessarily wider tire.