New to forum and have new project
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 554
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I am looking at this lift from Rusty's.... It is pretty complete... You could upgrade the shocks and get front swaybar disconnects... Ive been looking at 3-4 inch lifts, and I am pretty sure that Im getting this one.... http://www.rustysoffroad.com/jeep-su...anced-kit.html
Seasoned Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
Thank god.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 554
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I think tire discounters will be installing it, but if I can get them to let me help ill take as many pics as I can.
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
OP...I have your original post below, with my responses in red. There has been some other good responses here as well, take them into consideration as well.
I am absolutely new to this forum and absolutely new to Jeeps, altogether!! Sorry for the long post……we have lots of thoughts and ideas we want to move on. Any pics you can point us to in regards to our questions are greatly appreciated! A picture is worth 1000 words, or so they say!!
We have already searched the forums, but would end up spending days looking through everything. I don’t have the time, so I thought I would make my first post to troll for some info.
I just bought my 15 year old a 2000 XJ. He turns 16 in a couple of months and we want to work together to get some custom upgrades done this spring/summer……..nothing too extreme, but I want quality and not half-assed. His goal isn’t crazy off-road…..just more cool looks and mildly functional if he wants to off-road. We have some budget to play and here are our priorities………….stuff at the top is highest priority.
Lift. Biggest thing here is that I want quality and I don’t want to have to guess on what “extras” I might need outside of the basic package…..i.e. brake line extensions, SYE, etc. My goal would be one complete kit, all inclusive. Who is a quality kit, but maybe not the most expensive? We are thinking a 4” lift, plus or minus, to accommodate 31” to 33” tires.
Here's a kit that has most everything you'll need, it's a long arm kit and will ride much better than a short arm lift due to geometry angles...both on and off road. Pound for pound, one of the most reasonably priced kits on the market, and Frank is awesome to deal with, I highly recommend him, excellent customer service...
http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...-NP231J-T-case
Wheels/tires. He wants custom wheels/tires. We are thinking 31”,32”, or 33”. What brand of wheels and tires is OK without breaking the bank? We would need new wheels all around, including spare. I have seen online packages for like $1000 for a set of 4 but have also seen nearly $1000 per wheel (YIKES!!!!). Here are some critical questions I have on wheels/tires….
Well, when it comes to wheels and tires, there's a ton to consider, and you'll get many opinions here...
• What rim diameters are OK?
I'd stick with 15's, but you could go up to 17's...there might be issues with certain tires and costs depending on rim size, which is why I suggest sticking with 15's. Know a guy with 16's that had a dickens of a time finding good tires at a reasonable price...he ended up paying alot more for his tires than he would have liked due to his choice in rim size. Every situation varies though, find a reputable tire shop, and shop for your wheels and tires at the same time. Yes it will be expensive for a set of four tires, with wheels, mounted and balanced...also, keep your eyes peeled on CL for wheels, there's some good deals to be had if you're patient...
• What other rims would work on the XJ? Are other Jeep rims interchangeable?.....what about other non-jeep vehicle wheels?
Anything with a 5 x 4.5 pattern will fit, but be sure the back spacing will work for your application...
• What off-sets or other rim/wheel dimension restrictions should I be aware of?
Back spacing and/or offset...
• If you have pictures of your set-ups, we would love to see them to help us make some choices. If you post, please explain details to help us make some decisions.
Front fenders/quarter panels and fender flairs. Driver-side fender/quarter panel is jacked up and interferes with the driver door. The other side has some ripples in it. I can try to bang out the damage and straighten things. With the prices I see online, though, I wonder if buying after-market replacements might be just easier and have a better result than my hack-job.
• Who sells reasonably priced after-market fenders?
• He wants fender flairs…….prefers the flat-type flaps. What would you recommend? Again, budget is a consideration.
There's a ton of DIY options for this, the aftermarket for this is expensive, and limited. Search and you'll find some options, you need to do the legwork on some things, LOL
Spare tire carrier option. Bumper or roof. I see a lot of roof racks with spare tires/wheels on them. Not sure if that is cheaper than a bumper with wheel carrier option. Where should I look for these options and who makes reasonably good/reasonably priced equipment?
Personally I would never put a spare on the roof...but that's me. If you're going to do a roof basket, it is a cheaper option than a bumper setup. You can also get a trailer hitch tire carrier. Again, you'll need to do some searching.
Bumpers/Winch. This is absolutely the lowest priority at this time. It is something that he wants at some point, but it may be a year or more before we get here. Any suggestions at this time would be appreciated so we can see what things look like and understand what the cost would be.
I would reconsider this being your lowest priority, only because it will be safer and more easily recovered in a bad situation. Also, decent bumpers are going to be much cheaper than wheels and tires, and definitely cheaper than lifting. Check out some local fab shops in your area, you can sometimes get a great looking quality bumper made for much cheaper, and customized to what YOU want, over a lot of aftermarket choices. Not saying there arent cheaper aftermarket ones out there, but some of them, you're paying for the name.
I also suggest tackling one area at a time, and do your searching when you're ready to tackle the job. It can be overwhelming for sure. Just chip away at it little by little, you'll get there.
Also, kudos for you doing this with your son. I will never forget the automotive projects I had with my pops, I learned a ton, and got to spend quality time with my old man.
GOOD LUCK. Keep us posted on your progress...
We have already searched the forums, but would end up spending days looking through everything. I don’t have the time, so I thought I would make my first post to troll for some info.
I just bought my 15 year old a 2000 XJ. He turns 16 in a couple of months and we want to work together to get some custom upgrades done this spring/summer……..nothing too extreme, but I want quality and not half-assed. His goal isn’t crazy off-road…..just more cool looks and mildly functional if he wants to off-road. We have some budget to play and here are our priorities………….stuff at the top is highest priority.
Lift. Biggest thing here is that I want quality and I don’t want to have to guess on what “extras” I might need outside of the basic package…..i.e. brake line extensions, SYE, etc. My goal would be one complete kit, all inclusive. Who is a quality kit, but maybe not the most expensive? We are thinking a 4” lift, plus or minus, to accommodate 31” to 33” tires.
Here's a kit that has most everything you'll need, it's a long arm kit and will ride much better than a short arm lift due to geometry angles...both on and off road. Pound for pound, one of the most reasonably priced kits on the market, and Frank is awesome to deal with, I highly recommend him, excellent customer service...
http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...-NP231J-T-case
Wheels/tires. He wants custom wheels/tires. We are thinking 31”,32”, or 33”. What brand of wheels and tires is OK without breaking the bank? We would need new wheels all around, including spare. I have seen online packages for like $1000 for a set of 4 but have also seen nearly $1000 per wheel (YIKES!!!!). Here are some critical questions I have on wheels/tires….
Well, when it comes to wheels and tires, there's a ton to consider, and you'll get many opinions here...
• What rim diameters are OK?
I'd stick with 15's, but you could go up to 17's...there might be issues with certain tires and costs depending on rim size, which is why I suggest sticking with 15's. Know a guy with 16's that had a dickens of a time finding good tires at a reasonable price...he ended up paying alot more for his tires than he would have liked due to his choice in rim size. Every situation varies though, find a reputable tire shop, and shop for your wheels and tires at the same time. Yes it will be expensive for a set of four tires, with wheels, mounted and balanced...also, keep your eyes peeled on CL for wheels, there's some good deals to be had if you're patient...
• What other rims would work on the XJ? Are other Jeep rims interchangeable?.....what about other non-jeep vehicle wheels?
Anything with a 5 x 4.5 pattern will fit, but be sure the back spacing will work for your application...
• What off-sets or other rim/wheel dimension restrictions should I be aware of?
Back spacing and/or offset...
• If you have pictures of your set-ups, we would love to see them to help us make some choices. If you post, please explain details to help us make some decisions.
Front fenders/quarter panels and fender flairs. Driver-side fender/quarter panel is jacked up and interferes with the driver door. The other side has some ripples in it. I can try to bang out the damage and straighten things. With the prices I see online, though, I wonder if buying after-market replacements might be just easier and have a better result than my hack-job.
• Who sells reasonably priced after-market fenders?
• He wants fender flairs…….prefers the flat-type flaps. What would you recommend? Again, budget is a consideration.
There's a ton of DIY options for this, the aftermarket for this is expensive, and limited. Search and you'll find some options, you need to do the legwork on some things, LOL
Spare tire carrier option. Bumper or roof. I see a lot of roof racks with spare tires/wheels on them. Not sure if that is cheaper than a bumper with wheel carrier option. Where should I look for these options and who makes reasonably good/reasonably priced equipment?
Personally I would never put a spare on the roof...but that's me. If you're going to do a roof basket, it is a cheaper option than a bumper setup. You can also get a trailer hitch tire carrier. Again, you'll need to do some searching.
Bumpers/Winch. This is absolutely the lowest priority at this time. It is something that he wants at some point, but it may be a year or more before we get here. Any suggestions at this time would be appreciated so we can see what things look like and understand what the cost would be.
I would reconsider this being your lowest priority, only because it will be safer and more easily recovered in a bad situation. Also, decent bumpers are going to be much cheaper than wheels and tires, and definitely cheaper than lifting. Check out some local fab shops in your area, you can sometimes get a great looking quality bumper made for much cheaper, and customized to what YOU want, over a lot of aftermarket choices. Not saying there arent cheaper aftermarket ones out there, but some of them, you're paying for the name.
I also suggest tackling one area at a time, and do your searching when you're ready to tackle the job. It can be overwhelming for sure. Just chip away at it little by little, you'll get there.
Also, kudos for you doing this with your son. I will never forget the automotive projects I had with my pops, I learned a ton, and got to spend quality time with my old man.
GOOD LUCK. Keep us posted on your progress...
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Arvada, CO
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l
::CF Administrator::
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 1
From: Missoula, MT
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Golen 4.6 Stroker, AFE Headers, 62mm TB, 24 LB Injectors, Brown Dog kit, HF Cat, 3" Exhaust
Heres a few links for you to check out while your browsing...
List of lift kits out there:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/je...mpanies-76868/
Pictures of what it looks like with what lift/tire:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/xj...up-thread-260/
And another one just about do/dont.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/co...heeling-11829/
As far as safety goes, It comes up frequently when dads are talking about building a lifted rig for their kid. I got my licence at 15 and my first vehicle was a 4" lifted XJ "Wagoneer" that my dad had built years before. I never got I a wreck but I did end up
destroying the Jeep. I took it across a river that was flowing fast with snow melt (cold). Cold water cracked my engine block.
My dad got over it pretty quickly and I was soon building another one. He ended up buying a JK and because of the Jeeps, we call each other about twice a week and go wheeling as frequently as possible together. Most of my buddies lost contact for the most part with their families while in the Army but my dad and I always talk jeeps. It also spread... my uncle has a lifted JK, Grandfather has a lifted TJ, sister has a lifted Liberty.
My point is that it has been a great bonding project/hobby and I have owned a lifted XJ ever since... quite a few of them. Plenty of speeding tickets and stuff but never a wreck! (got clipped by a truck once... his fault). Hopefully it is for you too and good luck!
List of lift kits out there:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/je...mpanies-76868/
Pictures of what it looks like with what lift/tire:
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/xj...up-thread-260/
And another one just about do/dont.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/co...heeling-11829/
As far as safety goes, It comes up frequently when dads are talking about building a lifted rig for their kid. I got my licence at 15 and my first vehicle was a 4" lifted XJ "Wagoneer" that my dad had built years before. I never got I a wreck but I did end up
destroying the Jeep. I took it across a river that was flowing fast with snow melt (cold). Cold water cracked my engine block.
My dad got over it pretty quickly and I was soon building another one. He ended up buying a JK and because of the Jeeps, we call each other about twice a week and go wheeling as frequently as possible together. Most of my buddies lost contact for the most part with their families while in the Army but my dad and I always talk jeeps. It also spread... my uncle has a lifted JK, Grandfather has a lifted TJ, sister has a lifted Liberty.
My point is that it has been a great bonding project/hobby and I have owned a lifted XJ ever since... quite a few of them. Plenty of speeding tickets and stuff but never a wreck! (got clipped by a truck once... his fault). Hopefully it is for you too and good luck!
Last edited by Ianf406; Mar 8, 2015 at 10:36 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,029
Likes: 35
From: Colorado
Year: 1991 2-Door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter
Father/son project.
Wow, olive, my first post and I get a response like this?!?! I hope the rest of the forum members don't greet a newbie like this. If so, I'll go elsewhere. Why don't you let me be the judge of my son's maturity and skills.......and decide what we are willing to beat up or not. Your "observation" IS only an opinion. I suggest keeping that opinion to yourself.
Anyone else have a constructive response for me?
Anyone else have a constructive response for me?
Now for my advice on a lift. If money doesn't play as much a roll as it did for me, I would go with the advice most are giving you. Go with an OME 2"-3" lift. We went with R.E. budget lift. and as it was adequate. It rides pretty rough. I would also suggest adding a steering box brace to your to do list. As even just going up to 30" tires like we did the frame rail cracked with the added stress of tires and wheeling. I purchased a MORE brace for my XJ and it's pure beef. (most are of the same design). We still need one for my son's replacement XJ as we retired his first due to the crack. (could have fixed it but I am not the one driving it and want him to be in something that I won't worry about).
Man I envy you right now as (3 years later) my son is now way to busy with College, Work and is girl friend for us to get together like we first did. Have as much fun as you can, while you can it goes by so fast!!!