Don't Lift Your Jeep Until You Watch This Video...

In this video I talk about some things that you should know if you are planning on lifting your Jeep Cherokee XJ. My Jeep Cherokee XJ has a 3 inch lift and 31 inch mud tires for context.
Thanks for watching!
0:00 Intro
0:49 Lift Kit Overview
1:31 Wheels and Tires Overview
2:24 Why I Lifted it
3:34 Future Plans
3:49 First Impressions
4:40 Reasons for my First Impressions
6:59 Conclusion
7:46 Outro
8:24 Snow Storm Video Highlights

[@aidanmakinster922]

Awesome video man! Thanks! I'm hoping to go 3.5" lift and 31s on my 99 this summer. This video is exactly what I was looking for

[@KCars]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@tommie_6621]

Really nice job. I have a ‘99, 4 liter, straight 6 cylinder. It Isn’t lifted, but I thinking about it. 2.5” though. Thanks for making the video, and advice. And thanks to everyone that commented.

[@lovethesmellofracefuelinth7374]

I think it looks great and turned out really well man, it's a nice rig and doesn't matter what everybody else thinks anyway. Its what you like and is your vehicle, plus it's not always about money and is more important to make it yours and do it your way. Since it snows a lot up north, it's perfect to have the Challenger for summer months and thats ideal for crappy weather. If it was stock and you didn't drive it, people would complain that it's a garage queen and are never satisfied lol

[@KCars]

Very well said, can’t please everyone and some people will always have something to complain about. Just gotta do what you like. Thanks for watching!

[@dustybottoms6056]

Thanks for this video I recently had a severe hemorrhagic stroke so my brain doesn't work very well and this video helped me to understand some things. Thank you

[@KCars]

Thanks for watching!

[@monroemando]

Looks awesome man! I'm about to put a Rusty's 2.5" lift and 31" tires on my WJ. I can't wait! Got the tires in my garage, waiting for my lift to finally get here.

[@KCars]

Thanks! WJ will be looking good

[@monroemando]

@@KCars Thanks!

[@KCars]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@wesr1490]

I have a 96 XJ that I just lifted this spring and I felt the same way you did at first. I put a 4.5" Rough Country x series lift on it with 32" Micky Thompson's. When I first saw it and how high it was I thought what did I do? lol But I think it looks awesome and it's a beast. I have no intentions on selling mine anytime soon either so wasn't worried about keeping it stock. I'm planning on doing the slip yoke eliminator and cv drive shaft at some point as well.

[@KCars]

Ya I think it’s pretty common to feel that way after making a major change to a vehicle like that. But in the end I definitely like how mine turned out and like the looks of it a lot more now. The SYE and CV driveshaft should definitely help to give you a smoother ride

[@blackpantherjon9709]

thanks man! this is my first car, 1997 stock. the leafs have slowly bent backwards and now it’s almost squatted because of the age. i’m planning on ordering a 4.5in lift from RC this week, and i’m hoping i like it, i love pictures of lifted XJs so i’m super excited. if you have any advice or anything let me know, thanks for the video

[@KCars]

Sweet! Ya it’s pretty common for the leafs to say like that, I personally wouldn’t recommend RC just from all the things I’ve heard. Check out my XJ playlist for some more videos that might be interesting: kzbin.info/aero/PLCIz0TOjZIkV8MYDzYgP0ZpaBzw_eaCio

[@JoeVizethum]

good points - XJs will be getting more appreciated as a classic

[@KCars]

Getting more and more rare, definitely trying to keep mine clean and not beat it up. Thanks for watching!

[@JoeVizethum]

@@KCars fully agree - will keep mine clean as well !

[@KCars]

💯

[@firebrand07]

Thank you for mentioning wheel backspacing. The present wheels need replacing. Nice jeep!

[@KCars]

No problem, and thanks!

[@GaBOY66]

The only Opinion that matters in this case is yours It's your XJ So fix it up exactly how you want it it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks , I think you're doing a good job keep it up👍👍

[@KCars]

Thanks!

[@ProjectXJ]

XJ's are a great platform for a lot of different uses. If you want to offroad, then set it up how you like it. XJ's are one of the best vehicles of all time!

[@KCars]

💯

[@olliemoto253]

Nice! I have an 01 but I need to fixed these damn leaks before I get it lifted and throw on some 33s

[@KCars]

Ya leaks are a pretty common thing with these old jeeps unfortunately, gotta love them though

[@onefastcyclist]

Nice Jeep! Chains are the best solution on ice. But a modest lift on an XJ enhances its useability! I dropped my transfer case to quell vibrations three years ago - still works and I put my cash into an OX locker instead

[@KCars]

I thought about getting chains but figured it wouldn’t make sense for the little amount of snow we get a few times per year. T case drop is definitely an alternative to the SYE and I’m sure a locker definitely made you’re Jeep a lot more capable. Thanks for watching!

[@keithlucas6260]

Invest in frame plates for the steering box and a cross frame plate as the frame cracks.

[@mitchellmiller7587]

Love the look. I just picked up a completely stock 99 with 134K miles on it super clean former Forest Service vehicle. I'm concerned with all the other things that could go wrong once I get it in the air mainly with the axels. It has the dana 30's on the front and rear. Already planning to weld in stiffeners but if I need to beef up the axels I will wait a few more months to save up. Would love to hear your opinion, thanks.

[@KCars]

Thanks! I’ve heard that the 99 is the best year to get. I haven’t had any issues after getting mine lifted, only difference is I have the C8.25 in the rear which I don’t think is too much different. The only thing I’ve done is get a slip yoke eliminator to get rid of the driveline vibrations

[@4x4adventure_pl]

Great video man. We also have XJ :)

[@KCars]

Thanks! And awesome!

[@terryellis333]

Reliable is an understatement lol. Mike has 310k and runs great.

[@KCars]

Ya these things are tanks. Thanks for watching!

[@josegarrob3182]

Love it dude can you do a only off-road vid pls 🤞🏼🙂

[@KCars]

Planning one in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@Em-lo8ox]

Hey love the vids man, may I ask how does it drive after getting the lift? The stock one used to really pull u back when you press on the gas from how strong it was but now with the lift does it not pull you back ?

[@KCars]

Thanks! By pull back I’m assuming you’re talking about it having good acceleration? I don’t think it has or had good acceleration considering it has 190 HP but then again it’s not meant to be fast. It still drives very well on road with the lift. I did have some vibrations but those went away after getting the slip yoke eliminator and CV driveshaft. I have some on road driving reviews if you wanna check those out as well

[@ekbanjosworld4926]

I'm doin 3.5" Old Man Emu 31×10.50 KO2s Smittybilt tire carrier and bumpers. JKS sway and control arms.

[@KCars]

Awesome, that’ll look great

[@dandahermitseals5582]

Nice looking rig.

[@KCars]

Thanks!

[@mebehigh]

Thanks for the technical spec for the wheel and tire setup man...I'm about to order those same wheels (same offset and backspace) with same size tires. With your package, do you experience any rubbing up front?

[@KCars]

Yes they rubbed the bumper end caps so we had to trim those a little on the bottom. They still rub the mud flaps when I turn hard

[@mebehigh]

@@KCars Thanks man...I can live with that. I dig your truck, looking forward to seeing you continue building it.

[@KCars]

Thanks!

[@chrisrau4239]

Hey man! Love the videos but let’s hit those plastic bumper ends with some heat and restore them back to black! It would look a heck of a lot better

[@KCars]

Thinking about just painting them black or buying new ones. Thanks for watching!

[@aidanmakinster922]

@@KCars if you take and go over em with a blowtorch carefully from a little distence they will go back to looking brand new.

[@DestDroid]

I've had no luck with the heat gun treatment, I just paint mine now.

[@Globbs]

@@DestDroid I have tried it on my Mini Cooper and it did work somewhat but you'll never get it back to how it was, plus the chances you melt the plastic badly are pretty high.

[@jaramia20]

Great looking XJ! Do you plain on regearing ? Stepping up to 4.11s will help with power.

[@KCars]

Thanks! No I’m not planning on regearing, I think gains with only 31s are minimal with different gears

[@mcguireskaratetheartofsurv1942]

Nice

[@KCars]

Thanks

[@davitkvirikadze9585]

Good good👌

[@KCars]

Thanks!

[@dandahermitseals5582]

Needs a decent winch bumper. Check out an EAG bumper and a Zeak 12 or 13 thousand winch. Just check it out. I have an 87 Comanche. Not for sale. I live up in the mountains above the snow line. Get a set of Spartan lockers front and rear. No boulder climbing. Just a successful run up n down the trails of our land to the cabin. . If you haven't, got lockers you're driving a 2 wheel drive rig. On on the rear and one in the front. Dandahermit.

[@KCars]

Lockers would definitely be a good idea, but I don’t really have a need since I don’t really do any hardcore off-roading. Mostly want to keep it how it is now and just continue to restore and preserve it. Thanks for watching!

[@dandahermitseals5582]

@@KCars I feel the same about my Comanche Pioneer Metric ton option. It is very rare. I'm just making practical upgrades for our terrain. A drive up to our place would be what most city boys consider a 4x4 challenge. We just call it a trip to the feed store. Haha I'm 80yrs old and my wife is nearly 70. We live waaay off grid with solar and wind power. Very Old School. Your rig is very sanitary and not butchered. That is my path also. Enjoy it young man. Dandahermit

[@KCars]

@@dandahermitseals5582 sounds like you have a very cool property! Thanks!

[@21BDG]

What size wheel did you go with? Just got my Xj and am trying to see if a 17 would look good with a 33 in tire.

[@KCars]

These are 15x8

[@OneIotaOfaDifference]

My 2001 Jeep Cherokee with a 3" lift kit and axle extenders with 33 inch tires on 16 inch rims handles quite well. Of course, it's not a Porsche, but it handles very well for an SUV. In fact, when I had to have the XJ in the shop for a whole day, I rented an SUV of a different brand, and the clover leaf entrance on the interstate I am able to take at 35 mph with the my 2001 XJ with no problem at all - did not go well doing the same speed with the other brand's SUV. It leaned and swayed so much - I almost lost control of it and almost flipped the stupid thing. Since the rented SUV was the same weight class as the XJ and a lot closer to the ground than my XJ, I didn't think it would have any problem with the speed I took the clover leaf with it, but it did - badly! -- So, if your XJ doesn't handle well - there's definitely something amiss with the suspension.

[@KCars]

Interesting. 35 definitely seems doable in my XJ as well. The fact that a different SUV of the same weight class couldn’t handle as well is pretty surprising. Was it a brand new vehicle?

[@OneIotaOfaDifference]

@@KCars The posted speed limit for the clover leaf was 25 mph. My Cherokee XJ could take it at 35 mph with no trouble - no excessive lean - no feeling of tire traction breaking away. That's 40% above posted speed limit with no problem. The rental SUV was almost new - had about 18K miles on it and it could not take the clover leaf over 25 mph. I had to back off to 20 mph to get the thing to take the clover leaf properly. That's a big difference, which proved how well an XJ will handle with heavy duty shocks, axle extenders and everything under wheel wells in balance.

[@KCars]

💪💯

[@dallasabernathy7158]

You still have it? I bought mine about a year ago and mine is just as clean as yours flawless interior and ALL stock. Also (2001) lasy year they made these My wife wants to keep it all stock and I don't blame her but I've always wanted just a little lift? (If you still own it) How do you feel about it a year later??

[@KCars]

A year later I am more inclined to keep it clean and honestly haven’t been driving it too much to preserve it as much as possible. Just seeing how much these have gone up in value over the last two years I definitely am more motivated to take care of it now. I definitely don’t regret lifting it because I think it looks amazing with the lift and I’m not planning on selling it. If you want your resale value to be as high as possible then I wouldn’t lift it

[@ekbanjosworld4926]

Dude ! I think you could skip the SYE ! Exchange your transmission mount for an XJ with a standard transmission ! That will lower your transmission and transfer case by 1" ! Probably cure your vibration ! I agree with keeping things mild, not too wild !

[@KCars]

I went ahead and got the SYE and it got rid of the vibrations. Thought about doing the transfer case drop but I felt like the SYE was the “better” solution

[@ekbanjosworld4926]

I'd take a serious look at Fluid Film for the underbelly !!! 👍

[@KCars]

Ended up using fluid film on it about 2 years ago and will be using a rust encapsulator paint for the next time

[@slametawaluddin]

You should change your final gear to the bigger size to get the maximum traction of that big tyres

[@KCars]

🤔

[@evanolson1124]

What front end skid plate do you have?

[@KCars]

I don’t have a skid plate

[@Em-lo8ox]

Any website link to the tires and wheels?

[@KCars]

Tires: www.4wheelparts.com//p/pro-comp-31x10-50r15-tire-xtreme-mt2-75031/_/R-BKBR-75031 Wheels: www.4wheelparts.com//p/pro-comp-51-series-rock-crawler-wheel-15x8-with-5-on-4-5-bolt-pattern-gloss-black-51-5865/_/R-FPWF-51-5865

[@Trippingbuddy]

With 2 inch body lift , 31/10.5/r15 will work?

[@KCars]

Anything will work but with less lift you’ll have to do more trimming

[@willmonroe2290]

There is no such thing as a XJ body lift

[@caps428]

@@willmonroe2290 if there is then stay away from that lol

[@MikeOrazzi]

It looks good to me.

[@KCars]

Thanks!

[@MikeOrazzi]

I wanted to keep ours stock, but everything was shot, leafs, shocks, stabilizer, etc. I do have some more vibrations in mine too.

[@KCars]

Did you end up lifting it or just replacing with stock parts?

[@MikeOrazzi]

@@KCars Yes, a 3 inch Rough Country. I'm going to keep the stock 16 inch wheels. I do seem to have a lot of noise and vibration from the drive shaft. I didn't do a slip yoke or transfer case drop.

[@KCars]

Sweet! Might need to get a slip yoke eliminator to get rid of those vibrations.

[@mpl9909]

Nice xj. I have a 99 I went to upholstery fabric outlet in San Diego and bought new headliner material just like stock for like $30 and 3 cans of 3m spray glue and my wife and I pulled out the headliner and reupholstered It in like 2 hours. Sorry yours looks so out of place with that perfect interior. Ha

[@KCars]

lol it’s on my to do list. Thanks for watching!

[@gunsandguitars6678]

I used to have a vocalist in my band and he would cry about every damn thing! I think you think too much? ....It's a Jeep~drive it....

[@KCars]

Thanks

[@officialWWM]

Have you regeared it?

[@KCars]

No

[@officialWWM]

@@KCars what does it drive like?

[@KCars]

In terms of the gearing I haven’t noticed a difference compared to with the stock tires. Suspension feels a little more stiff and it seems to walk around the road a little bit more now. Not anything bad though, I like it a lot better with the lift

[@officialWWM]

@@KCars interesting. I put 31s on mine and the fuel economy was destroyed! It now hunts around the gears at 80kph, where it used to just sit comfortably in top gear. It’s also a little slower off the mark. I think I’m going to regear it :/

[@KCars]

What gears you gonna put in it?

[@hannibal44]

Don't mean to sound negative but you could have said all that in 3 mins. You repeat yourself too much. Have you watched this yourself? Thanks for your opinion but the title and the video don't match. somewhat disingenuous...

[@KCars]

No problem, thanks for watching!

[@robertoferrari5397]

..people who would want you to keep it stock need to go buy a Volvo station wagon.

[@KCars]

😂😂

[@mactheslovac8673]

This dude is irritating

[@jonsdiagnostic5879]

Stop lifting Cherokees just “@@&$ STOP

[@KCars]

Why?