Huntr

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.

Huntr

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?

cherokeechick

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

cherokeechick

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

Huntr

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

cherokeechick

Np, any time

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

Huntr

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

cherokeechick

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

Huntr

I got this one

Huntr

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.