Which Cherokee to get?
 

Hi I'm new here. My current ride is a suzuki vitara with 4" lift and 31's. I love it's reliability and offroadability and I have put a ton of miles on her. She tows my 14' aluminum boat on a trailer just fine.

However, it is now too small for me! I have a new baby boy and now I want a bigger boat for the family, maybe a 16 - 18' deep/wide bowrider, and its not safe to pull that with the vitaras weight and wheelbase. So I started looking at cherokees.

Wow, when did they go ifs? Is it difficult/a good idea to convert an ifs to a solid axle? If not which year/models/mods would suit my needs? It needs at least 31's but hopefully 33's. I want it for a DD and reliable but still wheelable on the weekends.

Any info you feel is relevant to me would be appreciated.

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

I am looking at the 2004 and less wj's. Why are there less lift options available for them? Are they a different suspension configuration than the xj's that everyone loves to wheel?

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

The gc wj's have a Dana 44 which is a really good axle, but the down fall with the zj/wj d44 is it has an aluminum housing. Scary! Those jeeps also come with a stock Dana 35 rear and those are sketchy on 31's

You may find this article helpful

Cherokee XJ - Dana 44 Axle Upgrade

I know it says xj Cherokee axle upgrade but there is allot of useful axel info on there.

I'm not sure why there are less kits available for them, but this thread also may be useful to you, although I haven't gone through it there may be some good info for you to read.

WJ Suspension Info Thread - JeepForum.com

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

I'm a little bias, I love my xj :)

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

Thanks that helps a lot. I went through 2 aluminum front ends on my vitara before I upgraded it to a steel one! Gotta build it to take some abuse:smile:

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

Np, any time

Any pics of your old rig? I don't judge lol!! I like anything off road ready ;)

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

OK here goes, hope i don't get lynched lol.

2001 Suzuki Vitara 2.0 with 2" bodylift, 2" susp. lift, 31's, ford rims and wheel spacers, 5.13 gears

https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1358346287

https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1358346287

https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1358346287

https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1358346287

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

Well there is an xj in the back ground! I understand why you want to upgrade lol nice :)

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

I got this one :biggrin:
https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1365774209

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

It's a 2004 Laredo optioned up. v8, sunroof, heated leather, hitch, rcx 4" lift, jks trackbar and 265/75/17 on 9.5 rims. The rims are pure mallcrawlers but hey they look nice...for now, we will see how scratched they get from wheeling.

Parts already ordered:

-front uppers and rear lowers from iron man (adjustable and poly bushings).
-jks discos
-skid/truss for the d44a here: NEW Dana 44a Axle Truss and Skid

Currently shopping for:
-rock rails
-either a locker or lsd not sure yet
-front hitch for a portable winch/tow point.

Future plans: fit 33" or bigger tires possibly with cut out flares and another inch of lift.

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

Nice lookin' jeep! Welcome to the cherokee family! I just ordered a tone of parts for my cherokee it's getting some major upgrades for this season

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

I am a little bias as well and think you should buy an xj. Try to stay away from the v6 2.8L (still a viable option if dirt cheap). 97 supposedly has some electical issues but nothing that cant be worked out if it hasnt already and the 2000/01 xj's are known for the 0331 head cracking which once fixed makes it just as good as any other I6.

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

I already bought a WJ. Picture and description is at the bottom of page 1 of this thread. Its a v8:laugh:

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

John,

Sweet looking JGC!

Looks to be in great shape. Glad to see you in a Jeep now. I'm sure I can speak for most and say spring/summer can't come fast enough.

Post back with some new pics once you get a chance to start the mods.

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

I'm absolutely an XJ fan but I won't pretend that it will do well towing a 18' boat without significant modification. Grats on the purchase - glad to see mods already in the works!

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1370395876
https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1370395876
https://www.jeepscanada.com/attachme...ine=1370395876

Thought I would update with a few poser shots! The jeep is coming along slowly...

I got my rear adjustable arms and front upper adjustables installed and ordered rebuild kit from RC for the existing heim joints on the front lower arms. I got rid of the transfer case drop at this time as well. The new bushings really stiffened things up and got rid of the wandering. The steering wheel snaps back to centre much easier with the new arm lengths because it rotated the front axle, adjusting steering caster. The alignment shop told me I ended up with about 6.85* caster. Front driveshaft started going right after that I think because of the change (improvement) in angles. So I pulled it today and will have to take it to a shop to rebuild it.

I installed the JKS swaybar discos which is a lot of fun offroad. Rides nice and soft and seems to make it over anything I point it at.

I still need to paint my skid/truss for the rear 44a and have someone weld it up. Maybe if it stops going below zero here in the north I can do that lol. Also have my front hitch waiting to be installed. I still "need" a rear locker or lsd and some rock rails and then I will have to take a break before my wife cuts me off or kills me.

I did get it all muddy a few times and she goes really good. next time I'll remember to take some mud shots to post. Cheers.

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

Nice!.
I notice you have different headlight units, there was a post on here a couple of weeks ago about what is the difference between the headlights for a lorado and a limited. Your picture shows the difference.
Is your front hitch a custom part or ready made? Some of the ready made ones hang down a fair bit and will reduce your approach angle.

Yeah I had originally ordered a hitch by Curt and I had to send it back because it would have hung well below the front bumper. So I read the forums and ended up ordering one by Warn. A quick test fit tells me it sits inside the bumper although Im not sure how it's going to bolt up. Im sure it will become evident once I remove the front bumper.

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

Yes it should be self evident once you remove the front bumper thing. perhaps you could post up a couple of pictures during the installation, I've done front hitches on xj's, zj's wk's and xk's and it would be interesting to see what the front of a wj looks like with the plastic off the front.

Re: Which Cherokee to get?
 

Ok I will do that as soon as I can find the time.