All stock, looking to lift. Suggestions please!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: Longview, TX
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Another thing to really consider while researching, what kind of wheeling are you planning on? Will it be a daily driver? How much are you willing to continually upgrade?
Reading through dozens of these threads, and seeing what guys were doing for the type of wheeling we have in my area really helped me. It could turn out that a 6" lift will be too tall for you if most of the trails have off camber routes. It may be that 6" is perfect for the deep mud you have. Just saying that I wish I had done more research ahead of time, I have almost replaced most of the lift "kit" I bought on a whim. Not to mention, I have spent 4x what I thought I would and I will double that before I'm done.
Good luck! It will become an addiction real quick!
Reading through dozens of these threads, and seeing what guys were doing for the type of wheeling we have in my area really helped me. It could turn out that a 6" lift will be too tall for you if most of the trails have off camber routes. It may be that 6" is perfect for the deep mud you have. Just saying that I wish I had done more research ahead of time, I have almost replaced most of the lift "kit" I bought on a whim. Not to mention, I have spent 4x what I thought I would and I will double that before I'm done.
Good luck! It will become an addiction real quick!
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Let me elaborate on this a little bit for clarification.
You can run 6" of lift on shorts arm (short arms simply means that the control arms are longer than stock control arms) but the ride will feel like you're constantly riding over a rumble strip.
The closer to vertical the control arms are the harsher the ride. They actually make "control arm drop brackets" that drop the stock location down to make the control arms more horizontal, and some people like them, but to each their own.
Long arms offer the arms to be longer (via a crossmember mounted across the jeep about half way back.) while being more horizontal. This makes the ride smoother.
One downside to this though is if you're constantly wheeling rocks, you're going to be beating the hell out of them.
tldr; everything has their advantages and their disadvantages.
You can run 6" of lift on shorts arm (short arms simply means that the control arms are longer than stock control arms) but the ride will feel like you're constantly riding over a rumble strip.
The closer to vertical the control arms are the harsher the ride. They actually make "control arm drop brackets" that drop the stock location down to make the control arms more horizontal, and some people like them, but to each their own.
Long arms offer the arms to be longer (via a crossmember mounted across the jeep about half way back.) while being more horizontal. This makes the ride smoother.
One downside to this though is if you're constantly wheeling rocks, you're going to be beating the hell out of them.
tldr; everything has their advantages and their disadvantages.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 378
Likes: 1
From: spring grove il
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Word of advice from someone thats at 6.5"s with long arms. I have over 10k in mine after building it and chaseing down weak links. Its still is a pain to dd and I think its too tall on the trails. Im actually looking to lower it. BUT IT LOOKS COOL
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
OK, so I figured out what im going with. What do you think about this? http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merch...egory_Code=PFX
I might be able to fit 35's for now or maybe bigger, and regear later down the road.
I might be able to fit 35's for now or maybe bigger, and regear later down the road.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
OK, so I figured out what im going with. What do you think about this? http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merch...egory_Code=PFX
I might be able to fit 35's for now or maybe bigger, and regear later down the road.
I might be able to fit 35's for now or maybe bigger, and regear later down the road.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
My advice would be go and find someone with a Cherokee and this much lift and take it for a drive. Whats seems great on the internet may not be great in real life.
It all depends what you want out of your jeep? Rock Crawler, Overlander, Mud bogger?
I recently had the chance to purchase a Cherokee on a 7.5" lift with 35" tires. Everything was done right. In fact it is heavily featured in the book on how to build XJs. It was awesome and the price was right!!!
And then I drove it. Knowing that the Jeep has to be my daily driver it wasn't an option. I have since reconsidered my plans for my XJ and am going to be trying to go with as low a lift as possible to get the tire size I want. You would me amazed where a properly setup vehicle with smaller tires and lift can go.
It all depends what you want out of your jeep? Rock Crawler, Overlander, Mud bogger?
I recently had the chance to purchase a Cherokee on a 7.5" lift with 35" tires. Everything was done right. In fact it is heavily featured in the book on how to build XJs. It was awesome and the price was right!!!
And then I drove it. Knowing that the Jeep has to be my daily driver it wasn't an option. I have since reconsidered my plans for my XJ and am going to be trying to go with as low a lift as possible to get the tire size I want. You would me amazed where a properly setup vehicle with smaller tires and lift can go.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 378
Likes: 1
From: spring grove il
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Nope mines 7" and doesn't clear the door at my house. Il be selling the coils and springs ect. to get you to 7" next week
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
OK, so I figured out what im going with. What do you think about this? http://www.ironrockoffroad.com/Merch...egory_Code=PFX
I might be able to fit 35's for now or maybe bigger, and regear later down the road.
I might be able to fit 35's for now or maybe bigger, and regear later down the road.
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 0
From: S.Jersey
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I have a 4.5 and 33s. mixed iro and rc. I love it. But I DD mine and I still have to re-gear. Your gonna hate 8" if you are DD. jmo.
I'm not lashing out at you...but,...
over 4.5 and 35s it starts to get really expensive.
with 35's comes axle upgrades. rear upgrades. do you even know what diffs your running. Dude.. you are gonna break so much ****... you really should research.
I'm not lashing out at you...but,...
over 4.5 and 35s it starts to get really expensive.
with 35's comes axle upgrades. rear upgrades. do you even know what diffs your running. Dude.. you are gonna break so much ****... you really should research.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I dont like the look of the 3" lift and 35s with hacked fenders. Might as well just unbolt the fenders and cut the whole rear quarters out and slap on 35s with no lift......will look just as good.......
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Maybe you aren't ready for big tires. Do 3" of lift and 31s. Wheel that for a while, then upgrade. If you are really opposed to the trimmed look there are some aftermarket fender flares that enlarge your wheel wells substantially. These http://notchcustoms.com/shop/x-max-fender-flares/ would allow some big tires on small lift and still look like stock flares. Just another option.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 11
From: London Ontario Canada
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Maybe you aren't ready for big tires. Do 3" of lift and 31s. Wheel that for a while, then upgrade. If you are really opposed to the trimmed look there are some aftermarket fender flares that enlarge your wheel wells substantially. These http://notchcustoms.com/shop/x-max-fender-flares/ would allow some big tires on small lift and still look like stock flares. Just another option.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know where my fender flares are coming from now!!
I wanted to keep mine as stock looking as possible. This is it!
Thank you!!!
