XJ Jeep Cherokee TD - 3 Inch Lift, 31s And Open Diffs On Rocks And Water

Weekend relaxation with a Jeep on a rainy day. Many crossings trough stream, a lot of water, some rocks, mud and a lots of fun!
1997 Jeep Cherokee XJ
2.5 turbo diesel engine
5 speed manual transmission
NP231 Command Trac transfer case
Rusty's 3 inch lift kit
31x10.5x15 Cooper Discoverer STT PRO tires

[@averagejoe8213]

Nice video! I hope the white smoke doesn't cause any problems in your future! I'm building my first off-roader... a 2000 Cherokee Sport, and it's fun to watch what they are capable of!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks man! It is an old diesel engine that will run on any type of wasted oils. This time it was driven on old engine oil, so that's where the smoke comes from. But it is common for those old diesel engines to smoke under load. I wish you a lots of fun with Jeep!

[@andreimail]

beautiful suv, beautiful place

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@evanfrazier8950]

Great video! I just bought a 1990 XJ for $1000, put a cheap short arm lift and 33s. Took it through some nasty stuff this past weekend and it never let me down!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks! Nice! I have lifted my XJ a little more and now it is about 4.25 inches. After some time I will put 33s as well. I like how XJs looks with 33s.

[@Nigriff]

Beautiful XJ in it's element

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[@Garrett053]

This is great, i am enjoying my own black xj td on 31s. Such a capable all around vehicle!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

My dad has an XJ for years. I had a WJ and on one occasion I found myself in the woods with his XJ. When I saw how great it was on the trail, I sold the WJ and bought an XJ. 🙂 Really capable even stock.

[@4x4adventure_pl]

Kudos to the driver for skillfully navigating the Cherokee XJ through those challenging terrains. Impressive!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks! That would be me. 😁

[@sandorspalms]

Really enjoyed the drive along my friend and hope your doing well👍😁

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it. ❤️

[@nikolaradojicic272]

Odličan predeo za turist vožnju i lepo ide kockica. Svaka čast za video

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Hvala!!

[@nathankendall3467]

Awesome video!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks man!

[@MrFireman164]

So cool!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks! 🙂

[@getoutwithrockandsherri]

What an awesome ride! If I did not know better, I would say you were in my backyard! 😂

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks! It's a very enjoyable trail and the rain added its charm.

[@796andy2]

nice !

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks!

[@JeepinDownUnder]

Nice one!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks! 🙂

[@JeepinDownUnder]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar the next XJ I want to add to our collection will be the later update model like this one, and the plan is to do an LS swap and set it up as a tidy street car.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@Jeepin’ Down Under sounds like a cool project. Too bad they didn't put V8 in the factory. That would be cool too.

[@TopDjir]

hteo sam da te pitam, dok sam gledao klip, šta tražiš tamo pored puta, kada je posle nekog vremena bilo očigledno da ne moraš tuda... ali sada sam pročitao komentare i našao odgovor :) zabava :)

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

A čuj, zašto mi uopće i skraćeno s asfalta?! 😅 Zabava!

[@Valentino46Rossi1987]

Odlican video. Ako se ne varam to ti je jedna od drazih ruta jer mislim da si tuda vec isao i snimao prije. Ako grijesim onda je ocito neka slicna ruta toj. Daj mi malo reci vise o ruti. Koliko je dugacka? Dali je zavrsetak "slijepa ulica" ili ima dalje? Koliko zahtjevna?

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Hvala. Dobro si skužio, bio sam tu već više puta, a sad sam otišao zbog kiše pa ima puno vode, zanimljivije je. Ovaj dio iz ovog videa je ok i za tvornički Jeep i ima mozda nekih 3, 4 km. Ovaj teži dio, tu sam skrenuo s puta čisto iz zabave. Da li ima izlaz, ne vjerujem kao put, ali mislim da bi se možda dalo izbiti na jedan put koji je ispred na brdu. To je vec ekstremnije zbog velike strmine. Taj dio je u jednom videu gdje mi je pukla poluosovina na najgorem dijelu pa nisam mogao ni van iz Jeepa dok me nisu zavitlali. Ali planiramo osvojiti i taj vrh, ali kad se malo osuši... 😁

[@Valentino46Rossi1987]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar Jel ima tamo negdje u okolici jaske neka zanimljiva ruta a da je ipak malo duza za izvozati se i da nije bas ono hard core? I jel imas lokaciju ove rute sa videa? Mozda na wikilocu

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@Valentino46Rossi1987 nažalost ne sjetim se upaliti taj wikiloc tako da nemam rutu. Ali ima tih puteva dosta. Jedna turistička sa nekim zanimljivijim off road dijelovima bi se dala spojiti da traje duže i izbilo bi se na žumberačku stranu. Takoder zanimljivo i za vidjeti, kanjon Slapnice sa slapovima koji su 5 min hoda od rute i razni vidikovci, sve na toj ruti. Na ovom linku je recimo prvi dio te rute (najteži dio se da zaobići). kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4fJmamtrryEocU Ako si zainteresiran, mogao bi ti objasniti ili ću pitati frendove, moguće da netko ima rutu.

[@Valentino46Rossi1987]

Ako mozes nabaviti rutu to bi bilo super. Neznam dali bi mi bilo puno jasnije da mi objasnjavas 😂

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@@Valentino46Rossi1987 a znam, da. 😅

[@onefastcyclist]

Wonderful video ! Staking rocks is part of the game When I was told to get a higher lift - I bought an OX locker instead - never regretted that decision, though I need to use the one in the truck far more often. Are you going to get one with your new lift?

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks! I think I will get a Detroit Truetrac, front and rear, but probably in the latter part of the year. That's the plan. 😃

[@onefastcyclist]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar LSD are a good choice, but you'll have to alter your wheeling methodology: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYfbg3yCra2Wf68 . ARB air lockers wont fit a Chrysler 8.25. but they are expensive and pron to leak anyway. OX will fit and a short cable to a solenoid makes them the best switchable option. Switchable is more expensive, but applying brakes wile going over an obstacle isn't required. Avoid lunch-box, Spartan and Detroit lockers unless you want to live tire scrub on pavement.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@@onefastcyclist yes i saw that video. I think these are rare situations, especially if both front and rear are Truetrac. But if it does happen, applying brake should do the job, especially on a light 4x4 like the XJ.

[@onefastcyclist]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar Probably right - your almost always on muck while I'm on rock, dirt and sand - I'm looking forward to seeing progress on your new build!

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@@onefastcyclist me too. 🙂

[@Antropologopt]

Great video as always. And my questions, high or low and what shift in that mud part, from 3:15.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Thanks man! I was only in high at 6:58 and only in rear wheel drive because this was easy and "faster" part of the trail. 3:15 - 4low and just 1st gear because it's more than enough for this part. Everything else was 4low, 1st or 2nd gear.

[@Antropologopt]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar Thank you. I ask because i am curious want to learn. I have a similar 2.5 (stock; 50/50 tires) that inherited from my father.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@Antropologopt that's nice. No problem man. Ask anything you want to know and for any part of any video. I love Jeeps, driving them and everything about it and I love making videos so it's not a problem at all.

[@dariusiakabos]

Selling XJ, it was not used for offroad The XJ:

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@@dariusiakabos 😁👍

[@gratos1451]

no worries on the 4th cylinder head? he smokes a little…

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

You just have to be careful not to overheat it. It smokes because this engine can run on any type of wasted oils and this time there are wasted engine oil in the tank. 😁

[@andreaskanarios9000]

You had any problems with the vm engine?? also you have the stock diff gears or you ve put 4.11 ?

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

I bought it with an already bad engine, but it still served me well for 4 years. I had a cheap engine in reserve and now it has been in it for a year and it behaves great! I like VM engines in these Jeeps and as you can see in my videos I'm using it. I have still stock 3.73 gears but I'm thinking about 4.56 and 33s.

[@andreaskanarios9000]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar thank you for your answer and i hope you ll never have problem with the engine again.. ( i ve repair the engine two times untillnow and start thinking about a mercedes engine or something else) 4.56 with 33s is the best setup in my opinion that s what i am running now.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@andreaskanarios9000 thanks! My father have also VM XJ and he never had a problem. So you’re the man to ask because I was not sure what to take, 4:11 or 4:56 for 33x12.5x15? I want 4:56 more but I wouldn't want the rpms to be too high at some cruising speed. When you're on the highway at 100 kmh (60 mph) at what rpms does it run?

[@andreaskanarios9000]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar i used to run 4.11 gears with 33/12.5/16 (82-83cm hight tyre) i was very pleased also with the cruising and off road attitude of the car but with 4.56 and the same size tyre i am much better i believe th car has better acceleration ofcourse is now more "short" but i travel with 100-110 klm most of the time. at 100 klm its about 2400-2.500 rpm

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@andreaskanarios9000 thanks! You have stock Dana 30 and 35?

[@user-ct5tx1hw1i]

What diesel engine is it?

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

It's factory installed 2.5 turbo diesel engine, VM.

[@dougdeel2046]

Where is this trail

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Croatia 😉

[@stinkycatankles52]

what trail is this?

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

This is in central Croatia where I live.

[@TomTom-ei1pf]

Pozdrav iz Australije Imam prednji locker kupio sam za Zj ali ima stalan pogon na sva četiri pa ga nemogu stavit Lokka automatski Lako ga se montira 300€ novi je

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Bok! Australija ❤️ Ja sam naručio već prednji i zadnji Truetrac. To je za Dana 30 ako se ne varam? Ako netko od moje ekipe hoće da im znam reći. Trebao bi koji video složiti, 🇦🇺 je prekrasna.

[@TomTom-ei1pf]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar za 15 dana idem u Hr pa ću ga uzet sa sobom Ako koga interesira nikad se nezna

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@@TomTom-ei1pf nema frke, stavim u svoju WhatsApp grupu pa neka dečki vide...

[@theweknd6946]

Bro you trimming fenders?

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

No. Only this two plastic pieces on the rear bumper have been slightly moved back.

[@theweknd6946]

​​@@V8AmericanMuscleCar if I want added weights like oem bumpers etc and want to go to places like in the video should I do higher lift?

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@The Weknd I added 1.25 inch pucks on this lift (not in this video) and now it is about 4.25 inches. Looks better and now it doesn't touch nothing. Maybe I'll put on Buschwaker flat fender flares and then I can put on 33x12.5x15 tires without a problem. You could do that with a 3.5 inch lift kit too so I would recommend that you go with 3.5 or 4 inches to be sure. And you will like the look of the Jeep too. I'll make update video how it looks now.

[@RenoLaringo]

Have a brand new set of 31's that came from my old Isuzu Rodeo and unfortunately these are 6 lugs rims... Useless on my freshly acquired Cherokee. What a shame.

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

Put tires on Cherokee rims.

[@RenoLaringo]

@@V8AmericanMuscleCar I was thinking that but I hope the original ones are big enough. I think it's 15'. They bring me the car tomorrow. That would be great if I can keep my 31's. Thanks for the msg dude! 👍

[@V8AmericanMuscleCar]

@RenoLaringo no problem. Is it lifted or completely stock suspension? I ask because the 31s could rub if the XJ is not lifted.