Modified Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Walkaround

Hard core off-road and overland Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk build. This 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk has conquered multiple difficult trails despite being an overland oriented build. This build has a roof top tent, 3in MFC lift, fox shocks. Sean Watson talks about his reasons for buying a cherokee over a wrangler and what he has done and why. Clips of the cherokee in action are shown while he talks.
Channel Members have access to our filming schedule and I want you to be in the videos! The Black Bear crew gets additional easy to edit videos but offer more up to date info on trails (since guides take a while to put together). The Holy Cross crew gets more say in what videos get edited for the channel (video credits and early looks at Trail Guide edits). / @coloradomallcrawlers
Driver:
Sean Watson: Jeep Cherokee KL Trailhawk, 2.0L turbo, 3in MFC lift, 255/70/r17, RTT, Fridge
Channel Info:
My name is Dewie Jones and I’m the reluctant host, videographer, and video editor for the channel. I’ve daily driven a wrangler my entire driving life starting with a 1997 TJ and now I’m in a nine year old 2012 JK. I like the challenge of driving a stock wrangler on tough trails. My buds are not new to wheeling either, but for their own specific reasons, now wheel aggressive SUV based off-roaders like KL Cherokees, 4Runners, Land Cruisers, VW Touregs, and Renegades. We decided Colorado Mallcrawlers was a funny name so that's how we got here.
For trail planning, I use the Funtreks Books (amazon search: Funtreks books). I have the current editions of the Colorado books and Moab. I finish up my trail planning with trails offroad as they can sometimes have more detail as well as user submitted current conditions feedback. I’m testing GPS apps and currently don’t use one. Here’s my video that tells you how I do it. • Find off-road trails t...
Our Trail Guides Playlist:
• Jeep Cherokee & Renega...
Our Colorado Playlist:
• Colorado Jeeping!
As always, thanks for watching!! Your feedback helps me, so let me know if you can help me improve these. Share them with your nervous wheeling buddies (the Facebook groups never let me... self promotion apparently) so they can know that they can do the trail. Subscribe for more trails and off-road content.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

To make it easy to see this Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk on the trails, I made this playlist. These are the trail guides Sean has been in so far. kzbin.info/aero/PLKXEBTz8ZauG2NtgLPqb-LtGh1JRlTosp

[@MetaVizions]

I like Sean, no BS, straight to the point & showing us capability while being resourceful

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

He’s good reviewer… he will likely be leading our gear reviews in the future.

[@immelting9834]

Your buddy needs to get ahold of the guy from the " fearless trailhawk" Channel and make a collaboration. Be cool to see who can get through the toughest of the toughest and come out on top.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

We’ve chatted with Fearless a bit in the past, but I think he’s moving on from the KL soon. I’d really like to do a trail with my KJ (liberty), Zach’s XJ, and Sean’s KL. Maybe in the future… I’m brainstorming 2022 trail ideas right now.

[@traviswolf]

Thanks for this comprehensive video, guys. I just completed the Jeep Adventure Academy at Holly Oaks ORV park here in Detroit MI with my unmodified 2021 KL Trailhawk. It was an incredible experience being the lone KL in a train of JL's and JT's. The vehicle performed flawlessly - I only skipped a couple of rock obstacles because I did not have sliders. My KL only has 8K miles on it, and the trails in the Great Lakes region are relatively tame, so I will continue running the factory configuration for a few years before I lift it and ruin my MPG on the highway. As Sean mentions, the Cherokee is very comfortable on the road and I'm using it to make road trips to visit my family in the northeast.

[@traviswolf]

PS - I appreciate the commentary about having the Rocky Road sliders installed by a professional. I was thinking those looked well within my DIY abilities, but perhaps not.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I think I’d wheel a KL stock with sliders only if I owned one myself. Having a rear locker makes it quite a beast. Thanks for watching!

[@midnitesilverrun8631]

I am actually taking my unmodified 2021 KL Trailhawk with 9k miles to holly oaks at he end of this month.

[@husker_nation]

I have a similar setup on my 2019 KL TH. I have a 2" lift, LED pods, Destination XT tires (265/65/R17), and I have RRO Supersliders coming in (they're on back order) in late August early September time frame.

[@gardnercrossing]

Boys knocking back a few talking off road!! Super cool!!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

We like to talk shop... thanks man!

[@TheArtofRVing]

*This looks so fun....nice disclaimer on the walk a round....great energy*

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thank you! I don’t really know what I’m doing, but I just knew I didn’t want a traditional walkaround (although I have one coming, but that will be a shorty). Thanks for watching and I love the great content on your channel!

[@hayden8693]

I got the Thule tepui kukanem 3 on my trailhawk! Works great with stock rails and Thule crossbars. Got a 2 inch lift with 245/70/17 Toyo AT3 10 ply.

[@007diego2]

Very nice. The 2inch lift is perfect, and the BFG AT tires puts you in that sweet spot many of us search for: Road and off road ready.

[@seanwatson3790]

Ya but I have to change it up. I am putting bfg km3s on. The ko2s are great on the road and great on trails traction wise for most people ( but you'll see soon I had a holiday weekend ruined because of sidewalls on them failing ) and I needed the piece of mind of not being worried about that happening again. And it will totally be at the sacrifice of road and comfort and cold weather handling ....

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Sean, I’d run MTs on my trailhawk if I got one 😉. Diego, thanks for your note and watching!

[@rausundfern]

Yes cherokees are awesome! Would love to see more cherokee stuff! 😍😍😍

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Gotta keep them running, but if we can, they’ll be in more. We’ll address it later, but both Zach and Sean have had hassles dealing with standard warranty work keeping the KLs from being in every video.

[@MikeDiesel67]

Love the Stingray Gray color.

[@seanwatson3790]

That was one of my 2 requirements when I bought it lol. Had to be a trailhawk and had to be that color

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It’s not a bad color!

[@MikeDiesel67]

@@seanwatson3790 it’s a hard color to find, I’m shopping around right now. Hoping to buy one in the next month.

[@seanwatson3790]

@@MikeDiesel67 don't know if that color carried forward to 2020 for some reason. The willys I considered would have been the same color too

[@berserkerusmc7613]

Great rig! Loving the banter between you two.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It’s pretty sweet! Thank you!

[@JonBecker81]

Awesome! I wish I could do all that to mine but mine is a lease. I’ve thought about whether or not I should just buy it and do the lift. I won’t be leasing anymore. It’s killing me having to watch my miles and not being able to mod it. I’d love to drive out there and explore. Thanks for posting this. I’m so glad I found this channel! I’m really looking forward to seeing where y’all go with it. Thanks KZbin algorithm!

[@seanwatson3790]

Mine is leased too. My intention is buying it outright as soon as the lease ends

[@JonBecker81]

@@seanwatson3790 I gotcha. So if you’re planning on doing that then might as well go ahead and mod it. I’m not fully committed to mine yet. I kind of have the Tacoma itch and I miss having a truck. You did a great job with yours but you’re also one HELL of a driver. I’m thoroughly enjoying watching you!

[@seanwatson3790]

@@JonBecker81 thank you! I had to be. It's the first new vehicle I've ever bought. When I picked it I made the decision to all in regardless. That's how they explained it to me at the dealership when I bought it. They called it a lease to own . They said a lot of jeep and toyota guys do that to keep their payments reasonable. 🤷‍♂️

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I feel you! I’m in the market to add a second vehicle and I’m thinking of doing a lease as I don’t know if I’ll like owning a 4 door (currently eyeing the 4XE but I’m all over the place). I’ll keep it stock and I know I can get an off-road lease which covers $4-5k of damage. We’re glad you’re here! I still consider this our experimental phase as we’re new to making these, but next year’s should be better as we’re going to work on getting better footage from the start!

[@kristinafrancis382]

WOW. Actually impressive.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

For sure!

[@OXFOOT]

Awesome! Love to see that thing get up some serious trails.

[@seanwatson3790]

Lol thanks. Sorry you didn't get to see it in person ugh

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Those MTs will fix that 😉

[@seanwatson3790]

@@coloradomallcrawlers glad someone is confident about that haha.

[@ty_thejeepguy]

Love seeing the KL on trails. Would love to one day do a collab between the two channels (or just run some CO trails). Keep on Jeepin' on!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

That sounds fun! I’m down!

[@ty_thejeepguy]

@@coloradomallcrawlers I'll stay in touch! Hoping to take a trip out your way come spring or wait 'till fall! It's been awhile!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

@@ty_thejeepguy where are you at? I want to start running trails outside of Colorado in the future too so maybe we’ll also come your way!

[@ty_thejeepguy]

@@coloradomallcrawlers I'm a little of a jaunt away in South Dakota! We've got some interesting wheeling out here. That's for sure! We'll show you around if you ever make it this way!

[@electrovegas5068]

I'm glad the fellow had the RC 2" lift before and didn't have any issues. I'm putting them on my 2015 KL in 2 weeks. Thought about upsizing the tires, but what's the opinion on that? I'll stay with the factory size if it doesn't look silly. I just don't want to have to alter anything to make tires for.

[@fionalazzarotto4608]

Love these videos with the Trailhawk! I recently bought one (a 2016) and looking forward to adventuring with it!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

They’re sweet vehicles... I’m debating getting one myself. I’d leave it stock tho, but I’d definitely wheel it. Thanks for watching!

[@johnnyverano1373]

Sweet Jeep Cherokee!👍 I love this channel! Colorado Mallcrawlers rocks!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thank you so much! Hopefully we can only make better content for you in the future!

[@seanwatson3790]

Thank you!! I love hearing that. I am building what I want but it's awesome that other people think it's dope too :)

[@TheBroccoliKing]

This off-road driving looks like a lot of fun and the Jeep Cherokee must be a great drive - here in England people often drive the Range Rover or Discovery but this looks cool! Mary and Harry

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

We try to have fun out there! Those are nice and we have a few drivers with them including a future guide. Thanks for watching!

[@NewEnglandAdventureCompany]

I wish i saw this video earlier. Getting info on a rood tent has been such a pain.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Unfortunately we’re a pretty small channel so it takes time for these videos to get out there. But I’m glad it could be useful for others, but I’m sorry it wasn’t able to help you. Thanks for watching!

[@steveengleman9257]

Another great video and excellent information! Thank you! (That Trailhawk is a beast!)

[@seanwatson3790]

Thanks! I appreciate that !!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thank you!

[@RevelCris]

4:55 wowww 😮😮

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It’s an impressive jeep and driver!

[@mushroommike5970]

DUDE how you gonna start your video off like that?? I lOVE IT!!! LMAO

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

The full video is in the cliffhanger 2.0 trail guide… thanks for watching!

[@zackde8795]

Putting that thing to work

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Yes sir!

[@TheHighwinder]

If you're wheeling your KL with any kind of regularity or severity, rotate your tires religiously and replace the PTU fluid regularly (every 30k miles at least). Jeep will tell you this is not necessary, and then POOF - you're spending $4K on a new PTU after it sits on their lot for 3 months because that high failure-rate part is ALWAYS backordered months out.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Good advice! I have wanted to do a video discussing this stuff ever since I learned of it. Finally found someone who wants to discuss it… it’s still an amazing wheeler, but you should know you gotta stay on your maintenance if you wheel them hard.

[@dubv6902]

Great comprehensive video..helping me make decision to buy one of these bad boyz

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Yeah, it’s something else on the trail for sure!

[@dubv6902]

@@coloradomallcrawlers I'm actually on the fence with this cherokee trailhawk, or a Colorado zr2. Trailhawk is $23k and zr2 is $30k. That 7k is what I'm tossing around. What would you pick and why.....much appreciate your input. I'm leaning heavy to the zr2. Front and rear locker 👌😎

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Where are you at? I’m looking and I’m finding the KL Trailhawk for 33-35k. I’ve heard good things about the ZR2, but since I know the Cherokee, I’m leaning that way. Also considering JLU Willys/Rubicon, Willys Gladiator, or used renegade TH now and waiting till 2022 for a more expensive vehicle. However, I haven’t dug into this yet as my job is still sketchy and I’m not sure where I’ll store my wrangler. It’s a tough call, but if you like the ZR2 and it’s cheaper, I say go for it. Trucks need some weight in the back and your breakover won’t be great, but they have good 4x4 systems I’ve been told. Good luck and sorry I can’t be more help.

[@theortegas5502]

Difficult for me to leave a comment so I am just going to say respect for off roading that thing. Looks pretty impressive I'm not going to lie

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Alright, not quite sure how to take that. Thanks I think. Although it’s not a traditional rig like a Wrangler, it’s not much different than a truck or say a 4Runner (the KL has 4low, mechanical lockers, and all terrain tires).

[@theortegas5502]

@@coloradomallcrawlers take it as a compliment. You guys are awesome and brave. I love watching your channel and motivates me to keep pushing forward with my WJ with no fancy upgrades or over size tires. Simple old American machine let's go

[@NorthTexasDirt]

That is a good looking Cherokee. Nice work!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

He made it look awesome for sure!

[@MS-lx6uc]

Subbed! Got a 2019 KL TH and doing the MFC 3” lift, 3/4” wheel spacers and 32” AT Tires :)

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Nice! It’s a sweet ride!

[@outlaw9232]

I enjoyed watching this. Great job.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thanks buddy!

[@outlaw9232]

@@coloradomallcrawlers Have a great New Year's celebration and here's to a better year than this 2020 BS we all just went through. Keep the videos coming. Love the format and humor!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

You too man! I think 2021 will be much better for all of us! Stay safe!

[@likeorasgod]

You guys up north get to have all the fun....I got to drive half a day down here in Texas to get anything half decent to drive through lol To much flat country...I'm running the 2" MFC lift with 265/70R17 (so 31.6" tires which equal to 4.1" lift over stock) BFG KO2's. I had to do the pinch well on the front fender and trim the front liner as it rubs cause the 265's are a bit wider. Next for me is the rock sliders....

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Rock sliders are a must in my opinion. Probably the first thing I’d do if I bought a KL. I feel you on the driving to wheel tho... I started on the east coast so we had a lot of drives to get to the good stuff! Thanks for watching!

[@seanwatson3790]

I just went down a half inch from the tires I upgraded to size wise lol. Now Im an inch smaller and an inch taller lift wise. Wonder how close that actually equals out to. Maybe a half inch smaller for me ? 🤷‍♂️

[@jordanvp]

Great vid! Starting my own cherokee build so this was super helpful!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Glad it was and thanks for watching!

[@jordanvp]

@@coloradomallcrawlers Quick question...how are his stock rails holding up to the weight of the crossbars/RTT? Looking into that myself but finding a lot of vague info on the roof load of the cherokee...any info would be very helpful thanks!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I’ll let Sean answer, but I haven’t heard any complaints from him and he uses the heck out of that RTT.

[@jordanvp]

@@coloradomallcrawlers awesome! Thanks so much!

[@seanwatson3790]

@@jordanvp so far so good. I haven't had any issues with it. Supposedly the roof rating is 150 lbs and my tent is about 140. But I'm looking at adding a 29 lb 180 degree awning and I know that will push it over the rating so I am concerned about that. I know the cross bars can handle a lot more than 150 lbs but I might be looking into a way to reinforce the Stock rails at that point. Side note I have gotten so comfortable with it being on top I rarely ever know it's there when I'm wheeling. Tippy or not. Only time I do is if a tree is low and I hit it. Hope that helps

[@indygamertag829]

I love "Rough County's, Rough Countrys brother if you didn't know, lifts!!🤣

[@ethansmith5253]

Love the setup. I’m also curious about the link to that decal on your back windows, I’m obsessed. 👀

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I’ll show him this, but pretty sure it was etsy. Thanks for watching!

[@seanwatson3790]

Etsy. Custom. 1 of 1 😎. But the original was made for a GC and I asked the maker to adjust it for mine , and then I adjusted it from there lol

[@4x4nerd80]

There are a few Cherokee KL that have gotten warranty work with 2 inch lifts and 32 inch tires. My rear diff went out and the dealer still covered the replacement under warranty with obvious signs of off roading. For a roof top tent, check out the iKamper Mini, thats what I am looking at for my Sting Ray Gray Cherokee 2019.

[@seanwatson3790]

Really????? Where do you live that they did that ?? Cuz we aren't having that luck here in Colorado. I know a ton about that tent actually. I would love it but it's like 3500. So if you want I can start a GoFundMe for one hahaha. It would be perfect for me too . Good eye

[@seanwatson3790]

Warranty work here has been iffy at best. I'm currently fighting a transmission seal leak that is a warranty claim , that was denied because I have the 31.1 inch ko2s and off road it, and that it was misuse of the vehicle. Of a fricken jeep. So they said I caused it. I had to go to an independent mechanic who did an inspection, decided I had nothing to do with it and wrote me a letter stating as such to take back to jeep to get them to cover that work

[@4x4nerd80]

@@seanwatson3790 I talked to Fearless Trailhawk who also had his rear diff go out as well, he used his warranty in Utah and I used mine in Iowa. From what I understand, its dealer specific from the forums. Both his and mine are 2019 models too, so i'd watch yours as it seems to be common. I had to limp out of SMORR in front wheel drive and his went out in MOAB. The issue you're having, I wonder if its related to the reason they pulled the 2.0t from the engine options on the trailhawk....

[@4x4nerd80]

@@seanwatson3790 Forgot to add i'm running the MFC 2 inch lift with KM3 255/75/17

[@seanwatson3790]

@@4x4nerd80 those are bigger than mine. The lift isn't but the tires are. And I downsized a bit , cuz I just ordered a set of 265 65 r17 km3s cuz a future video will show I punctured the sidewalls on 2 tires in a half mile and I am not about that life anymore. But I'm going down a half inch. For the more overlanding camping style videos I'll be doing next year, the 265 will be plenty big enough

[@Daveinet]

I disagree about the front locker. The benifit of a true locker is that you keep your momentum up, because you are not waiting for the BLD to kick in. It would actually be much smoother and less stress on the drivetrain. I've seen several times where you Jeep just stopped, where with a locker, it would have gently rolled right through.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I agree, however, I see Sean’s point also. It’s a good debate only truly settled on the trail. I’m likely going to get an open wheeler as my next off-roader (although I want a willys wheeler with a rear locker and command trac) and I think I could get it everywhere I get my Rubicon, but just different approaches to the terrain. Thanks for watching!

[@Daveinet]

@@coloradomallcrawlers Now having seen the video of Cliffhanger 2, I'd be very curious to see how accent control would improve his ability to roll through on some of the tougher rock crawls.

[@sking2173]

Excellent video! I enjoy the KL’s because that’s what I prefer for the street. The wife likes that class of vehicle because of its flexibility. Sean’s Cherokee looks good and performs well. I haven’t driven the 2.0 turbo, yet, but am eager to do so. The 2.4 is a bit of a slug. Question: Did Zack blow his Cherokee up ??

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thank you! It’s a sweet ride! Zach’s will be in another guide, but he’s trying to figure out it’s future. We’ll talk about it once we know more and have the facts right.

[@Colorado4x4]

I’m dying with your laugh at the beginning 😭😭😭

[@seanwatson3790]

Haha. Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing lol

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Some editor I watch says laughter is good... however, this was a mostly uncut run down of the most badass KL on KZbin 😉😂. I might be somewhat biased, as I think this one is tied with Zach’s 😃. Oh, and fearless does some decent trails, but I don’t wheel with him so my bias is for these two Colorado Mallcrawlers!

[@Colorado4x4]

Hahah. It is what it is. I just like the unedited raw footage deal. 👍🏻

[@andoniades]

Cool rig!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It definitely is… Sean has built a unique off-roader for sure!

[@gerhardschemel3565]

Doing “mods” that can maybe perhaps might void the warranty has filled many nights sleep with nite mares. I was given all kinds of hassles over adding LED lights. I didn’t want to cut or splice any wiring to get power so I tapped off the battery and installed wireless dual (both positive and negative) 8 channel module. Which the dealer said voided the battery warranty. Having just rolled past 49,000 miles the bumper to bumper factory warranty is over and the power train warranty has 10,000 to go. I did purchase a extended warranty from a third party. (at a cost that was a third of the dealers offering) but can’t get any real answers to what will void it. I had a 2016 Renegade Trailhawk which I rolled and walked away. Now I have a 2019 Trailhawk Elite with only lighting mods. So far over 3 dozen switches for 52”light bar dual side flood lights rear flood lights dual front spot lights 22” light bar on bumper underbody lights dash EL lights under seat lights lights on center console color changers around skyroof EL lighting around the opening of the doors white and red LED lights in back hatch and when the hood is opened I have lights Plus 7 additional horns.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Sounds like an interesting build! Keep it up!

[@davids9577]

I'd be curious what 3rd party warranty you found as I need one.. bad. Just went past 36K. Being in Florida, mostly flat non-challenging roads, yet diff had to be replaced at 32K. And at 36,040 it started leaking. If I trade it in now, it will be like throwing away 12K. And if I do trade it in anyways... it sure as hell will not be for another jeep.

[@gerhardschemel3565]

I got it from my credit union I’d contact one in your area

[@FearlessTrailhawk]

Mods do not void warranty. Some dealerships just don't want to do the work so they will give you that line. Only parts directly effected by the mods are subject to loss of warranty work. Rocky Road SuperSliders are the first thing i recommend anyone get if the plan to wheel. Invaluable. I've installed them twice now and there is no way i'd pay a shop to do it. It really isnt bad, especially considering you did the lift yourself. I still think its risky having a RTT on the KL...as we rely in 'tippy' in place of flex...adding that much weight above the center of gravity is asking for trouble.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Both Zach and Sean have had to deal with a lot of BS over warranty work for their Cherokees. We will not cover it up as we are about transparency here. However, Sean and Zach will talk about it instead of me. I am glad you’ve gotten service, but these guys have definitely struggled. It’s also why Zach bought an XJ so he could continue to wheel this summer as he ran into issues with his KL again. Everyone is different and that was just Sean’s rec. If I had a Cherokee, I’d have someone put them on as I want my stuff done right especially with how much we wheel. I use to race jet skis as a kid... my mechanic always told me, you’re the racer, I’m the fixer... don’t touch. It might be flawed logic, but it worked and I feel it’s why I have an incredibly reliable abused wrangler. We’ve talked about his RTT. He’s an overlander so it’s a valuable part of his build. We’ve pushed it on some really off camber trails and he hasn’t gotten tipsy like we suspected might happen. He’s also an excellent driver and I think he has a good sense of vehicle’s balance. I do think it’s a valid concern, but Sean will probably chime in on his experience with it. Thanks for watching!

[@FearlessTrailhawk]

@@coloradomallcrawlers i understand the racer/fixer reference. And in that application it totally works. However, i've seen lots of shops do some shady crap in the name of 'that looks good enough' because they simply weren't familiar with the specific parts or platform. Especially on the installation of these rails fir people i know who had a shop do it. And with the importance of the rock rails, no way i'd leave that to chance. Now, everything else, yep, i pay proffesionals to do that work for me. But simply drilling holes in the seam and installing nutserts...i'ma make sure it is done right, myself. I've got a massive stack of paperwork fir the work i've had the dealership do. Wasn't saying you shouldn't be transparent, but a quick search on many Jeep related groups/forums will yield results similar mine. Just have to find the right dealership. If that means driving farther to get service, then that is what you have to do. I tried a dozen dealerships before i settled on the 2 that i use, one of which is VERY mod friendly...but is an hour away. I probly should do a video covering all the work i've had done, and how much if it was warrantied. Warranty has paid for itself 2-3X over already.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Well stated. I’m at work, but I know Sean has driven all around to multiple dealerships and I’m pretty sure Zach has too. Still, I don’t know all the facts as I haven’t been able to hang or wheel with them lately due to being in Steamboat while they’re still in Denver. I just catch bits and pieces from text messages, but man, I feel for them. If Jeep or FCA ever gave me issues like that, I’d stop buying new Jeeps and start my classics collection. I’m actually in the market now for a second vehicle and I was tossing around the idea of getting a trailhawk, but their issues have kinda scared me away. However, we’re still figuring everything out so if it gets resolved which it might for both of them, then I’d be more likely to pull the trigger. Although right now, the 4XE is my front runner.

[@seanwatson3790]

@@coloradomallcrawlers not only do I not notice the tent up there at all on trails, no matter how I'm angled , but ( as long as I get clearance today from rackstarz in boulder that the crossbars can handle it , I'm gonna look into a 23zero 180 degree awning for the other side. It weights 29 lbs. I know what the weight rating says , and it's only a few pounds over the 150 lbs static but I'm confident my crossbars are more than strong enough to handle that . At no point has the thought of balance ever crept near my head. Especially compared to how convenient the tent is and how cool and unique I think it looks .. I'm actually surprised that other people are as concerned as they are , given how low it's natural center of gravity is 🤷‍♂️

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

Sweet! I've got a 2015 with the mfc lift. It's my dd but love seeing you guys from CO! Sub'ed!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Come out and wheel with us! Thanks for watching!

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

@@coloradomallcrawlers definitely! Do you have a Facebook group or a page where I can track the trail rides? We would definitely come along!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I’m announcing it via my Instagram currently, but that’s all pretty last minute. We do have a Facebook group which was going to be for trail run organization, but currently I’m so busy that it’s just a placeholder. We’ll eventually figure out how to do it, but our main focus is getting better at making videos.

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

@@coloradomallcrawlers sweet I'll check out ig. The vids are looking great keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing you out on the trail!

[@landob20]

Looking into getting one. We have a full size pick up that’s capable but we’d like something for tighter trails and deeper adventures.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It’s a great choice! Extremely capable, but probably not as durable as a primary off-roader like a wrangler. However, we push ours further than most people would ever want to. The good news is it’ll likely get you through anything you challenge it against. Thanks for watching!

[@outbackwack368]

I heard 3" lift does 2 things: 1) Voids warranty aspects and 2) Causes alignment issues and highway behavior issues. Can Sean clarify that? I just got a '22 V6. Thanks!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Yes, the 3in lift will likely void your warranty. Some have gotten warranty work with it, but that seems to go against the norm. Sean’s drives nice on the highway and off-road, but he does keep it in check well. I personally recommend wheeling it stock, but maybe with better tires and rock rails. Honestly, besides Wheeler Lake, a stock Cherokee Trailhawk could do most of the trails he has done. However, I’ll show Sean your comment, but he’s reachable quicker on Instagram.

[@steelgatorcrimsontide7403]

I actually want a Jeep Cherokee trailhawk

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

They’re cool vehicles!

[@Elon_Trump]

what is the best place to find legit Trail hawk mods? I just got a 2017 and want to trick it out a bit. Any recommendations for a first time hawk owner?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Modified KL Cherokee on Facebook seems decent, but I own the wrangler.

[@ironborn8786]

Hot dam I love these trail hawks. Front locker is a question I ask a mechanic. It would not be a real locker. Would be a electric one with a chip. Which is not a true locker.

[@seanwatson3790]

Ya I know. I remember a cherokee forum asking about that , and apparently there just isn't enough room under there , and would interfere with the ptu and everything. I think that it would do better to have the mechanical in the back and a lsd in the front, which i think the point of crawl control is supposed to emulate as much as it can. It's capable of distributing front wheel power and braking more effectively than just your right foot can . Something that I hope comes across in our cliffhanger 2.0 video , cuz it was something that I needed . But still, an electric one with a chip still would be interesting if it worked pretty well...🤔

[@ironborn8786]

@@seanwatson3790 I love watching you and dewie wheel man. Especially the T/H, cause I own one lol. So I a little bias. But still love watching dewie crawl around too! Yes indeed a chip would be interesting!!.

[@seanwatson3790]

@@ironborn8786 thank you. I really do appreciate that. It makes it worth it to do. And it's awesome that all out adventures live forever on youtube in 4k glory lol. No lie I sometimes get in binge watching sessions on my big screen just to watch my Jeep over and over hahaha.

[@ironborn8786]

@@seanwatson3790 I do the same thing man, there is little content on Cherokee trail hawk 4x4ing. So ya I have reached all those vids. And prob will rewatch them again

[@seanwatson3790]

@@ironborn8786 that's why we have tried to make as much as we can. We are learning that reliability can be an issue. But when they are running right they can hang with almost anything on a normal difficult trail

[@AndrewFifield]

Nice ride. I'm building an almost identical spec. One question, do you use a high lift jack? If so, how/where do you stow it?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

He doesn’t have a high lift. Bottle jacks are your friend when space is limited. Thanks for watching!

[@turboes29]

I have 265/70-17's. Havent needed the pinch weld mod and I go more aggressive places than most

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Ah, good to know! Thanks!

[@midnitesilverrun8631]

Good by cv’s and alignment Jeep literally has said to not go above a 2in lift for multiple reasons.

[@jkeithv65]

I'm curious what made putting the rock sliders on so difficult. I installed the same ones on my 2014 GC Overland by myself in a day and didn't think it was that bad. Drilling the holes was the worst part. They are definitely solid sliders though, I loved them!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

He’s never done it before and he likes to make sure things are perfect. Also, I don’t think he had the best workspace. Still, I’ll show him this so he can respond. I know, if I put them on my upcoming Jeep, it’d be a pain so I’m dreading that myself.

[@seanwatson3790]

None of the brass inserts that came with the sliders didn't work at all so we had to completely try to improvise solutions. Needless to say they didn't all go very well. But we had to go off grid because of that. Also we dulled a ton of bits drilling too

[@jkeithv65]

@@seanwatson3790 okay, gotcha. I didn't use any inserts in mine, the bolts tapped directly into the frame. Although yes, the drilling was a real pain and I went through a few bits also.

[@angeldelariva3836]

Great video. Hey Sean. I’m in CO. I’m in the process of doing the HS 2” lift and don’t mind doing the Pinch Weld mod. Deciding on tires and leaning towards KO2s. I’m mainly on road, snow and doing light to moderate off-road. Thoughts on size - 255 70 17 or 265 65 17? Thanks

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I have to head to work, but when I get off, I’ll make sure Sean sees this. I’d stay away from KO2s tho, but watch the latest upload to see why I say that. It’s called Red Cone Failure and has Sean’s Cherokee surrounded by a bunch of off-roaders jacking it.

[@angeldelariva3836]

Wow! Two blown sidewalls?! Has this happened to anyone else? If not KO2s than what? Thanks again.

[@ChuckUnderFire]

I notice the spare isn’t on the roof… those 31’s fit in the spare well, or did he decide to stick with a stock spare and just 31’s outside?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Stock Spare!

[@dillonkelley1937]

3" lift? Any issues with stock CV axles?

[@seanwatson3790]

Not yet as far as I'm aware. Down the line i intend on getting the aftermarket ones but they're expensive so I'm not gonna worry about it until it's time to

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

That was nuts! Why didn't you get a Wrangler again? I have a 2020 Cherokee TH, with the 3.2L, and the dang exhaust hangs down below everything else! I wouldn't have an exhaust system anymore if I tried those trails, lift or not. Rocks would rip it right off. I'm guna mod the exhaust and tuck it up in the tunnel soon. They must have improved the PTU and trans in the 2019+. I had a 2017 TH that blew the trans at 36k and I sure didn't do anything like you're doing in your 2019! Our 2020 seems to be better, but only 7.5k now.

[@seanwatson3790]

I came from an outback xt. I loved that I could take it off the road and still have it be a car on road. I liked that ride and handling and didn't want a truck all over the road mushy feeling. So I looked for what I thought was the most capable vehicle I could find where I would still keep that car feeling. Also every one has a wrangler. What fun is it showing up at a trailhead and parking next to 6 other rubicon's. That's boring. I need to be different and line being unique on the trails 🤷‍♂️

[@seanwatson3790]

Side note my right exhaust tip is smushed flatter so I haven't ripped it off but I have hit it. And I think it does have a pretty good departure angle lol

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

After wheeling with these guys, I’m even considering something like a trailhawk and I’m a 20 year wrangler owner. Still, I’ll always have a wrangler, but these guys have kept up with a Rubicon quite well. Now, durability is a concern that we’re working on figuring out and once we do, we’ll report on it. Likely during our overland videos which will focus more on the people who help film these trail guides (we’ll still be filming off-road trail guides mostly, but the overland videos will be what goes into making them). Thanks for watching!

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

I've had many 4X's, including old CJ's, mostly wheeled in my 95 T100, that I had for 20+ years. Anyway, just before our first KL (2014 Sport 2.4) we had a Forester. We had two dogs, so the Forester was perfect for them, but it didn't have low range and too little ground clearance. One of the kids took the Forester to college, so I wanted something similar to replace it, like you did, but because it works so well for our pups and nicer to drive on the road. Didn't want another Subaru (considered a Crostrek), really wanted 4WLo, no CVT. Jeep name has a place in my heart too. Looked at the Renegade, but too small, too Fiat, no real 4WLo. Bought a cheapo 2015 Cherokee Sport to try out the new zf9/PTU setup for a few years and it seemed good, sized about right, but really missed 4WLo. Stepped up to a 2017 KL TH 3.2L and really loved it, but zf9/PTU failed at 36K. Liked the TH so much we got this 2020 KL TH, and hopefully it'll hold up better. Jeep seems to have been working the kinks out over the years the KL has been out. Escape's had trouble with their PTU at first too.

[@TheDiesel_JLU]

19+ Cherokees are better looking and yes Sting Grey is the color to get 😉

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I won’t argue with that!

[@WillBest-ie4gm]

why did it take so long to replace the shocks with the Fox shocks I was also looking to buy those,. And did you keep the Rough country Front struts or what did you do with those?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

He followed the lead from others when building. Talk to the people on the modified KL groups to get more info and thanks for watching!

[@tonygiboney6417]

Very nice, we have a 2019 Teailhawk and we are having problems finding running boards or nerf bars. Do you a source you can please share

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

www.Rocky-Road.com for Rocky Road Outfitters. Thanks for watching!

[@aaronr8605]

Any issues installing the yakima cross bars? Have a 2020 KL and installed the same cross bars as you last night. Looks like it's pulling the stock roof rails out of their mounting points so I took everything back off.

[@seanwatson3790]

No. I know what you mean, the front parts where the plastic sit in to the cradle thing look like they're pulled a bit out. I think that comes from over tightening the timberline adaptors. I'm a little concerned to add more weight , however I have had this tent on the roof for over a year now , and have off roaded with that on obviously, and it still feels just as sturdy as when I put them on. That said I might either take the Factory bolts out, add a ton of loctite and re torque them, or maybe look for another way to make that more sturdy. I think as long as the timberline thing is tight but not way overkill you shouldn't have any problem

[@danielkarna]

You consider getting a Gobi rack or Rocky Road Outfitters rack?

[@aaronr8605]

@@danielkarna ended up finding a used Gobi, shortly after posting this! LOVING IT.

[@satanlucifer4568]

Loved the video! Just have 2 questions. How was your alignment after the 3" lift and how have your cv's held up after the lift? Ive ordered the same lift and just wanted to know your experience!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Sean will get ya when he gets a chance.

[@satanlucifer4568]

Thank you very much!

[@seanwatson3790]

Alignment isn't good, but at the same time I was told that I knocked my engine cradle way out of wack hitting rocks and off roading ( who knew ??? Lol) so they did the best they could but my rear wheels are out of alignment a decent amount, but they don't want to do another one til I get my control arms replaced this month. As far as axles thought go, my fronts are still fine, but I think the boot in my rear drivers side is torn , but I think that was from bashing that area off of shit , and not because of the stress of the angle , cuz my control arms are cracked too and that's why I'm replacing them.

[@satanlucifer4568]

Wow thanks for the quick reply and honest answer! If you tear your front cv's would you just fix/replace them or upgrade to the rcv's? Also did you get in the buy group for the expedition one bumper!

[@seanwatson3790]

@@satanlucifer4568 honesty is all you'll ever get from me Lol. That's the plan , but hopefully not for a while cuz they are expensive. No I didn't. I wanted to, but didn't have an extra 2k laying around for it , and wasn't sure what the status was for the 19 one at the time. It is something I would like but the guy was like pay for it immediately and then we'll decide and that was too much for me

[@Cowboylifesaver]

One piece of advise. Pick better lines. I could have gone everywhere you have in a stock KK, and had less angles. But good video. Oh, and do you hold your traction control button until it dings before you hit a trail?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Thanks for the advice, but I’m inviting you to come show us. I’ll bring my stock KJ. Trust me these were the lines for our respective wheelbases especially if you’re going to do it open (like I did). I mean this sincerely, so please come out as I love learning from others. Thanks for watching! In response to your edit, no, I don’t in either the KJ or JK. KJ has command trac so I wheel it like I wheeled my 2000 TJ sport. The JK, I wheel in 4low on obstacles like this only using lockers when I fail without them. That invitation still stands.

[@Cowboylifesaver]

@@coloradomallcrawlers Well I wasn't trying to be rude, and I try some harder lines myself, now that I am using a stock Cherokee Trailhawk. Will be a lot like Seans when it's done. But hey keep making these awesome videos. I've watched every one of them, and think a lot of people should no matter where or what they wheel.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

@@Cowboylifesaver no worries, we just get a lot of we can wheel better than you guys or you guys don’t know what you’re doing so it’s hard to tell sometimes. Thanks for clarifying!

[@butters88871]

@Coloradomallcrawlers what tent is your friend with the Renegade using?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I don’t recall, but it should be in this video. His contact info is listed if I didn’t include it. Last I saw, he was selling his as it didn’t fit on his bronco. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4a1l4ljisqoqZI

[@Desert_Fawks]

yeah, you could turbo the v6 and gain even more power

[@TheCodejuice]

Hi. I'm getting a 2017 Cherokee Trailhawk this week and want to have a roof top tent. My confidence is higher with the setup after seeing some of these clips with the tent on. You said Yakima HD crossbars. Did you get the small ones aka 55"? And was it the timberline system or something? I'd ask if you had any problems with the weight of it but it looks solid!

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

He hasn’t had any problems but he just went to a new setup from a fellow Jeeper whose Jeep was totaled. I’ll have Sean get back to you when he has a chance.

[@seanwatson3790]

With the cross bars ( yes 55 inches ) I didn't have a single issue with them. But I wanted to put a 23zero 180r awning on that I bought and apart from at that point it being above it's weight rating , there wasn't a super easy way to mount it to it. But I also like Dewie said, sort of acquired a gobi rack and ladder , that were more modular as far as attaching things to it , but also upped the weight rating significantly so that's what I did. But if I didn't have that happen, I would have kept with the cross bars and went with that ya you are right on both the hd cross bars and the timberline. I paid a lot more for them, but I just sold my used ones on Facebook marketplace for 200 bucks so if you're lucky you can find a deal on them every so often

[@TheCodejuice]

@@seanwatson3790 wow thank you both for such a quick response! I was thinking about the Thule tepui low-pro 2 tent as it's small and pretty light. I see your point on the awning not having a place to attach. This will be my first roof top tenting setup (previously built a bed in an suv) so im hoping to keep the stock rails for now. I'll be sure to checkout the used market. Thanks again!

[@gormauslander]

Why do you need locking front diff if the brake locking system does the same thing?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Braking locking systems are not as effective as mechanical lockers are. I do most of my trail guides without lockers, but there’s definitely times I need my lockers engaged.

[@Colorado4x4]

I spy a Dale’s pale ale too! Put that down!!!!

[@seanwatson3790]

Hahaha. He was in the passenger seat lol. But I wouldn't drink that lol. Amber's and porters for me. And truly haha

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

What’s wrong with Dale’s? I drink all kinds of Beers. Also, we were chilling up there for a while as it was raining and we were waiting to see if it’d blow over so we could get some light to film some more.

[@Colorado4x4]

I love Dale’s pale ale. It’s the perfect trail beer in my opinion

[@Colorado4x4]

@@seanwatson3790 I don’t know that a porter I a good trail beer. Hey that might be a good video. The best trail and camping beer review. 😂

[@Colorado4x4]

@@coloradomallcrawlers the only thing wrong with Dale’s is that there is not any in my fridge right now! Might have to pick some up today. You inspired me

[@LarryRichelli]

I sure wish we could find out how they put 255/70/r17 tires on a 2019 cherokee...I can't seem to get anything bigger than 245/70/r17 on mine and I have the MFC 2" lift on mine. Any chance there could be a video on this. Most of the youtube videos on adding larger tires are for pre 2019 cherokees. Thanks

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Hmmm, I’ll talk to the Cherokee guys... but if I had one, I wouldn’t go too big if it were mine.

[@seanwatson3790]

Ok. They ( factory) didn't. I chose to put them on, and I had to trim a lot of metal and plastic to make them fit without rubbing. And it still did sometimes. There are videos on youtube about what to do to do the pinch weld. But I wouldn't suggest going quite that big. Technically you can make a 32 fit. I think it's a bad idea. Split the difference between stock and mine and maybe go 265 65 r17 instead. Bigger isn't always better my friend

[@dmbrownphotography2449]

Will the Renegade get a walk-around?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Yeah, once we find time to do it. Davon has enough footage that we can make one and he’s down to film it. Only have one other currently filmed which will likely be a short but traditional walkaround of a cool wrangler.

[@AmericanFry]

A cherokee trailhawk shouldn’t be on a trail where it needs a front locker? It should be on a trail where it needs both lockers, the drive modes, hill descent and climb settings and the skid plates if the car has it use it

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Well I’m personally not big on limiting a vehicle’s go anywhere nature, but that was just Sean’s opinion and since he owns one, I defer to him. Still, I like seeing how far a vehicle can go. Thanks for watching!

[@seanwatson3790]

😂 well..I would think I've proven time and time again I'm not above pushing it to its limits. But I also don't want to destroy an almost 40000 dollar daily driver that I am still paying for .

[@jamesbingham4538]

What ever happened to the Liberty CRD build?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

What Liberty CRD build? This is Sean’s KL Cherokee Trailhawk. I (Dewie) have a Jeep Liberty 3.7L gas V6 that is in Tennessee as I didn’t want to leave my parents with just one vehicle (also CO has an auto theft problem and I don’t own a garage). I’ll be filming and working on the Liberty next week as I’m going to TN to help out before winter.

[@t-rexlanding7321]

What is your gear ratio for the Cherokee trailhawk? I have independent suspension on my 2004 Touareg and want to at some point want to fit 37" and have a total lift of 7"

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

That’d be cool to see. His gears are completely stock, 3.734 with the turbo.

[@t-rexlanding7321]

I'm completely stock for now. I have no lift just my air suspension that can give me 12" of lift. Yet my system decided to stay stuck in off-road mode. Need to get that fixed, might get replaced with coil overs depending on price

[@gabedalton5470]

So you guys don't recommend the mfc 3 inch lift.. can you tell me why ? I'm looking to buy it soon but now I'm not so sure.. please give details.. thank you

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Hey Gabe, I’m not a KL expert, but everyone I know with the 3in lift who actually wheels has had mechanical issues. Sean is currently not wheeling because of issues and Zach sold his. I’m not sure if it’s lift related, KL related, or the vehicle just can’t take this kind of wheeling. My guess is the lift is putting too much stress on the KL, but, we are digging into it. Still, I love the KL and have been considering one myself. I would likely put some MTs and rock rails on it and wheel it at stock height. I think it can do most of our trails stock. Also, it’s important to note, mopar doesn’t offer a 3in lift. We will talk about all this in a future video as we want to be transparent. We are just working on figuring out what is the right story so we don’t mislead people.

[@gabedalton5470]

@@coloradomallcrawlers Thank you for the fast response.. I have a 2 inch hazard sky lift with 265 65 17.. I dont do much off road.. so as soon as you guys have time and see what the issue is please let me know.. I think I'm going to stay with what I have for now.. thanks again I love the vids so keep up the good work

[@michaelchambers8902]

I have a 2015 trail hawk. Did u have to put the 2 inch lift on. To get the k02's on ? The wife has a set on her 2012 4 door wrangler an likes them

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I’ll send Sean this way to answer.

[@seanwatson3790]

That depends on what ko2s you are talking about. The stock tire size I wouldn't have had to do anything to modify it. But the bigger ones, and when the 265 65 r17 km3s I have now I would have had to trim and probably lift some.

[@seanwatson3790]

245 65 r17 ko2s would fit just find stock. Just know they are I think load range f and not e like the bigger ones are. I found that a bit weird but they aren't the standard e of normal ko2s or mud tires

[@user-qo7qc5em5t]

How have the axels held up with the lift?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I think he answered someone else here, but find him on Instagram and he’ll answer any questions. @thetrailhawkoverlander

[@braydentoole5263]

What were the side rails you installed?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Should have been said and written in this video, but if not, they’re rocky road outfitters supersliders.

[@jupyder4838]

Could the 255/70R17 tires fit without a lift?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I highly doubt it.

[@freddyj5845]

So would you recommend 2” or 3” lift on a kL Trailhawk? I have a DD Trailhawk and want to try out off roading but I am so scared of messing up my DD.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

You don’t need a lift to wheel the KL… rock rails, good tires and any missing underside protection. Those shouldn’t void your warranty (especially if you get the Mopar KL rock rails), but Jeep will void your warranty for a lift. However, Jeep has said they took bone stock Cherokee Trailhawks through the rubicon trail when it came out. Their marketing also shows it doing trails like we do with it… but they’ll void your warranty for the lift. Hope that helps! I’ll show Zach and Sean this so maybe they’ll get in touch with you. If they don’t respond, they agree with me.

[@freddyj5845]

@@coloradomallcrawlers I really appreciate your fast response! Yes this is very helpful thank you! Keep up the great vids and hopefully I’ll take the leap and start off with some easier trails here in Illinois/Indiana!

[@seanwatson3790]

@@freddyj5845 ok. So it's a tough one. I don't recommend the lift I have , but more ground clearance does help it out a lot. That said Dewie is right , jeep is a bitch and will and has voided a lot of warranty claims we have made out here. Now I have heard of people in other states saying they've gotten dealerships to approve warranty claims that they won't here , but I don't think it's something worth testing that out if you can help it. That said, If you go into it with the mindset that you're gonna be financially able to cover any repair you need to do , without trying to file any type of warranty claim, then I do suggest a 2 inch over a 3. I also don't recommend going as big of tires as it can fit. This trailhawk has a curse of being way more capable than the durability jeep built into it could handle. So if you're gonna upgrade anything, I suggest upgrading parts for strength and durability. Protection and more rugged tires are a must though. Had jeep engineered the long term durability of it to rival the Wrangler , I think it would be the best jeep you can buy for most people. Not sure how helpful that is, but it is born out of a lot of painful lessons for us .

[@freddyj5845]

@@seanwatson3790 thank you! Very helpful! I was already planning on putting rock sliders and maybe a winch. I’ll look into tires and hold off on a lift for now. If I get into it then I’ll look into giving her a lift. Thanks again!

[@seanwatson3790]

@@freddyj5845 figure out what you need based on what you are doing with it. Not based on what other people are or aren't . They aren't wheeling or driving it how and where you do, so your needs won't match theirs and peer pressure doesn't help either.

[@lighto999]

any options for a roof rack for 2021 cherokee KL + 150lb roof tent. dont think cross bars are safe thx

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Not sure man... Sean’s setup works for him and that what he uses. I’d definitely talk to a KL outfitter about any concerns. Thanks for watching!

[@seanwatson3790]

So the cross bars I got were good up to 150 lbs. Gobi makes a good roof rack(although it is quite expensive) That according to rack outfitters are good for 300lbs dynamic and 800 lbs static. I actually just got a really great deal on a rack and ladder , which I'm gonna be switching my tent and my new 23zero 180r awning onto as soon as I get the chance to. That said I have had 150 lbs on my cross bars for well over a year no with 0 issues. And that obviously included off roading with it on. I'd say they are safe enough but it's your rig do what you think is best

[@lighto999]

@@seanwatson3790 thx man

[@tylercostin3787]

I was thinking about doing a MFC 2" lift and 255/70 tire as well. Curious as to what kind of gas mileage you are getting after your lift. Recently went to Jackson, WY and averaged 25mpg round trip. Do you know of anyone that makes a programmer to recalibrate the speedometer to match tire size?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I’ll send Sean to answer this.

[@seanwatson3790]

I am getting terrible gas mileage, but my Jeep isn't an accurate representation of what you'll get , so there's no way for me to answer that. I have a 150lb brick on the roof, plus 80 pounds of sliders , and a ton of weight of camping stuff in the back , and all of that destroys gas mileage. That said, I think I'm at like 21 to 22 highway and like 18 in the city right now ? The engine you have obviously makes a difference. Don't know if you have the turbo or the v6. I did research the programmer thing and wss told that nobody makes them. That it can't be made??? I don't know if any of that is true but that's what I was told

[@tylercostin3787]

@@seanwatson3790 I have the V6 and getting around 21mpg city and it bumps up nicely once on the highway. I think it was you I ran into you at the LQ at 88th & Wads asking about your lift a few months back. Forgot to ask them what your mpg was. Maybe I'll just get some Rocky Road frame sliders and call it good.

[@seanwatson3790]

@@tylercostin3787 ohhhh!!! I remember you! I did get you to subscribe that night 😂 small world. That was brand new to you that day wasn't it ? If I remembered that I would have remembered you had the v6. Lol. You just got off a road trip

[@seanwatson3790]

The lift is good , it would be good for yours too I think. You'd need it for slightly bigger tires but I downsized a bit to 265 65 r17 km3s a week ago. You might be able to upgrade to that and not have to trim or do anything. Sliders , and mts or good all terrains would be just fine. I would consider ( given your situation and how you acquired it ) that a 2 inch puck lift would be a not bad investment. Maybe check out hazard sky's 2 inch over mfc . It is less expensive. I only went mfc cuz I fully did the suspension and shocks too. But up to you

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

Keep driving fast over rocks if u want to break things

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Over 20 years of doing this, FYI, no trail breakage on my vehicles. Thanks for the tip tho!

[@cyclingshecklergmailcom267]

What is your MPG you are getting fully loaded and rigged out?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

It should be in the video, he keeps it loaded most of the time.

[@seanwatson3790]

Right now 21 to 22 highway and about 17 to 18 city. Pretty crap considering it used to get 22 city and 27-28 highway totally stock . I fear it's gonna be worse shortly once I've got a new rack and awning on top. But that is gonna be cool enough I'll be ok with the tradeoff. I hope.

[@AM-lc5ml]

What's your gas mileage like after all those upgrades hist wondering if it's worth it to get TH or Wrangler if the mileage is similar

[@seanwatson3790]

for me, about 17 to 18 highway and 22 to 23 highway. stock should be 22 city and 28 highway. definitely not as good but what are you gonna do?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

For comparison purposes... I get the same mileage as Sean’s lifted Trailhawk with my stock Rubicon. 17-18 in the city, 22 on the highway. Can get 16-18 pulling the camper.

[@seanwatson3790]

@@coloradomallcrawlers which is funny cuz I feel like my gas mileage now is shit haha

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

😂, just imagine what these lifted wranglers are paying, some of them that have yet to hit trails as hard as you have.

[@seanwatson3790]

@@coloradomallcrawlers lol no lie

[@shelbysword9253]

Where are the decals from?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Etsy I believe.

[@hayden8693]

So dobinsons struts on the front and just fox shocks in the rear?

[@seanwatson3790]

Dobinsons hd rear springs along with the fox shocks in the rear . And hd springs around the struts as well.

[@hayden8693]

@@seanwatson3790 thanks man. I have a 2 inch lift and am thinking about getting falken wildpeak at3W. Going to get 245/70R17 so slightly bigger than stock (an inch). I don’t want to mod the pinch welds. So nice to see KL’s off-roading. Last weekend a guy in a wrangler asked me “how did you get here” and I said...I drove here. He was so confused lol

[@seanwatson3790]

@@hayden8693 😂 I have an interesting thought on that. I had people try to talk me into going full 32s. I have trimmed a lot , and still occasionally had to deal with rubbing with the 31.1 Inch ko2s I had. Since then when I changed to km3s( apart from the tire size I changed it to, I went down a half inch to 30.5 inch km3s, and I get no rubbing anymore ( although I already did trim) but I haven't noticed any difference in driving in the minor off road stuff I've done since I went down. And I think that it is a bit easier on my drivetrain now ,.and makes my speedo more accurate. I think the body lift has been a bit more important than the tire size. As long as you have proper e load rated tire and some good sidewall so you can air down comfortably if you need to 🤷‍♂️ just some perspective lol

[@hayden8693]

@@seanwatson3790 thanks yeah that’s what I was thinking. I mean going from 30.5” tires to 31.5” tires will give you what..half an inch more clearance? (I know it’s not all about the clearance but it kinda is haha) And once you air them down that’s basically gone anyways. Also having worse fuel mileage and extra wear and tear, trimming welds and shaping the liner just for that .5” lift isn’t worth it to me, yeah I still can’t choose a tire yet I keep changing my minds but I might get the LT245/70R17 Toyo AT3 or the wildpeaks

[@seanwatson3790]

@@hayden8693 ya and you'd be better off going more agressive tire. If you get something more knobby and more durable to sidewall cuts (my kryptonite lol) that would basically offset that .5 inch a lot more than you'd realize

[@lalomartimez103]

You have the link to the lift kit ?????

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Unfortunately at this time, I’m not recommending the lift kit. I don’t own the KLs so I’m just going off what I hear from Zach and Sean. However, they have both had problems and I think even fearless Trailhawk is now having issues. This lift seems to put too much stress on the vehicle, but that’s just an outsider’s perspective. We’ll definitely talk about it with Sean and Zach this summer and get their take. It’s a MFC 3in lift for the Cherokee Trailhawk so you can find it pretty easily via search.

[@MrPr0k]

Don't see the link to Shawn/Sean's channel on Xbox, PS4, or Android versions of KZbin.

[@seanwatson3790]

I don't think I have my own channel other than just a youtube profile. Colorado mallcrawlers is what I'm a part of

[@MrPr0k]

@@seanwatson3790 Thanks! He mentioned a link at the end, so I was looking. Thanks for clearing it up. Keep wheeling and having fun!

[@seanwatson3790]

@@MrPr0k ohhh. I didn't catch that. I will rewatch, but when I watched throguh myself the only thing I was worried about was making sure I didn't sound absolutely stupid talking in a video. I hate my voice in it lol. So I wasn't focused on that. Just what crap came out of my mouth 😂

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

@Chris Kesling I’ll have to re-watch, if I did say that, I didn’t mean it like that although I think we’ll someday have a KZbin channel from Sean. He does have an Instagram at @thetrailhawkoverlander.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Ok, I see what happened... I was going to link a playlist earlier on the video of Sean’s videos. I’ve haven’t made one and will like make vehicle specific playlists in the future. However, the playlist at the end has a lot of Sean in it as he films a lot of these with me. Thanks for watching!

[@GlazeePlayz]

The srt8 is a hemi Cherokee 😕

[@alexs.5675]

Does anyone tune that turbo engine?

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I’m sure someone does but he hasn’t had a need to do so.

[@grindstone007]

You Bois do any engine building? 🇺🇲🍄

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Nah, but our buddy does. Thanks for watching!

[@BobNob1]

going way to fast up that hill

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

In off-roading, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do… however, that didn’t work in this situation so you were correct. However, it’s easy to Monday morning quarterback in hindsight.

[@H-RutherfordHill]

*should have

[@serrielu8025]

First thing he did was F the rear door up. smh.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Off-roading involves risk… some people aren’t afraid to incur some damage while pushing themselves and their vehicle further. I recently did a trail in Moab with an 8 rating and my Jeep is still on temporary plates.

[@seanwatson3790]

🤣 I never said I was any good at this lol

[@rdizzleoriginal]

Basically the Jeep version of the Subaru Crosstrek. A little more trail oriented though.

[@seanwatson3790]

Oh no. No way man. Proper 4 low. A mechanical locker. Skid plates. Way more power and torque . A bit bigger. Closest comparison to the crosstrek would be a limited version of the renegade or maybe compass. This is a lot more capable. Durability is a question. But more capable. And also more refined on the inside. Jeeps attention to detail as far as luxury is nicer I think overall.

[@rdizzleoriginal]

@@seanwatson3790 Yea but the Crosstrek is pretty capable, while keeping an extra 10k of cash to cushion the butt 😁

[@seanwatson3790]

@@rdizzleoriginal 😂

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

@@rdizzleoriginal hmmm, maybe I should get one of those? Thanks for watching!

[@sking2173]

@@coloradomallcrawlers - a Crosstrek is something you buy for your wife when you’re thinking about trading HER in ...

[@davewhanger6722]

YOU DRIVE A JEEP NOT A CAR!!🤔🤔🤗🤗🤗🤗👀👀👀😆😆😆😛😝😜

[@seanwatson3790]

😂😂😂😂

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I gotta re-watch this, was it me or him who called it a car? I get on him about it, but I do sometimes slip as it’s so buttery smooth (for a Jeep!)

[@seanwatson3790]

@@coloradomallcrawlers 😂

[@MrMischief604]

Willys is pronounced "willis", like Bruce and there is no apostrophe in it.

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

I don’t pronounce much right... you can host the videos if you want.

[@lucasfu580]

"still a nice and comfortable car to drive on the road" 🤣 driving dynamic is probably worse than a wrangler..... why not just buy a wrangler....

[@coloradomallcrawlers]

Because he likes to be different. I own two wranglers… I love them, but they’re boring. My liberty is probably the most fun I have off-road.

[@lucasfu580]

@@coloradomallcrawlers difference doesn't mean always good..... he mods his car in a wrong way, lost comfort from a car, and didn't get too much offroad improvements as expected, cuz it's not even a body on frame with solid axle. If he's rich and just wanna play around, that's a different story.