I've gotta say I'm been impressed with what a KL can do with a small lift and tires
Who here is also exploring in a small Jeep? Cherokee, Compass, Renegade? Post photos, lets see them.
- Thread starter Mid State Overland
- Start date
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
our lift is finally going on this coming week. We got the rough country 2" with springs and struts. No spacers. All in one tidy kit for 1000 bucks. We just got back from a weekend road trip and the pat did awesome with it's new tires and re freshed suspension.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
Off-Road Ranger I
- 1,146
- First Name
- Bruce
- Last Name
- Collins
- Member #
19170
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- GMRS WRKP 397 Groundhog
- Service Branch
- EMS
'99 XJ, 3" lift, rear locker, winch, 31x10-50 BFGs with trusty M416 trailer.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
I wish I could find an XJ around here that's not beat to death, or not full of cancer. I love them.
1991 XJ Cherokee. I removed the back seat completely and built a sleeping platform with trapdoor storage in the rear footwell. I replaced my passenger front seat with one for a 2dr XJ that folds forward. At night I tilt the passenger seat forward and have a sleeping area on the passenger side of the rear cargo area. Works great in all weather and when stealth camping when moving through towns.
![IMG_1304[1].JPG](https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/data/attachments/239/239162-eab30355913e4e46907fb89eabc66a2f.jpg "IMG_1304[1].JPG")
![IMG_1305[1].JPG](https://www.overlandbound.com/forums/data/attachments/239/239163-6e64261808512b80e0c43269386816cd.jpg "IMG_1305[1].JPG")
Winterhawk
Rank I
Enthusiast I
Here's Smokey! Rust free '96 EX-USFS rig with factory skid plates. Will be getting an OME suspension soon. Hopefully I'll be regearing and adding LT235/85r16 tires next year.
Red_Leaf_Overland
Rank V
Advocate III
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
Looks awesome with the new wheels and rack. Love it.
Red_Leaf_Overland
Rank V
Advocate III
Thanks. It actually doesn't have the new rack on yet. Was just able to make a couple changes to te existing one for a trip I had planned.
Guardian I
- 14,980
- First Name
- Corey
- Last Name
- Molinelli
- Member #
19963
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WREM781 on GMRS
- Service Branch
- Army
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
Love to see more patriots being used! Great small platform for overlanding.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
I think I am getting my money back for the lift. It just clunks so bad, even with new struts installed again. It's brutal. I am going to switch to Moog springs, Bilstien shocks and daystar 1.5" lift. It's just sad because everything else about the RC lift is good, ride quality and handling is great, looks great, but the clunk is BRUTAL!
Enthusiast III
Sounds like an excellent combo. My Bilstein rear shocks have been great so far.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
They feel better than stockers? My wife and I were talking and we are going to forgo the daystars and moogs and go with the Murchinsons for the extra payload before squatting. With our gear, the trailer and us in the pat, the stiffer springs will be welcome.
Member III
Here's my 1989 XJ. It's a 2 dr. Limited with all of the gold trim removed and the white bumpers and grill replaced.
Member III
I also have a 1988 Comanche Eliminator that I've started to use a bit more for camping. It's pretty much stock but I'll be putting a 2" lift on it this winter and increasing the tires to 31x10.5x15 (same as the XJ). It's currently a 2WD so it will have limited use but should be fine for some of the trips I do. A 4WD conversion may be in the works.
Enthusiast III
Yeah, it's not like a huge difference but they're good. I replaced so much worn out stuff it wasn't apples to apples though.
I'm also running the Stu coils in the rear (but not the fronts). If I recall they took a while to arrive. RC lower control arm plus Stu coil made my Patriot level with the front, which is just the RC spacer. You'll probably see 2.5 to 3" lift combining it with the Daystar (which'll be fine when loaded down) but probably won't have quite as much up travel as I do. The HD rear coils are definitely firmer than stock but not ridiculous.
I've been thinking of filming an updated rig walk around. Been wanting to do one that's more detailed than the last one I did.
Autism Family Travels
Rank IV
Enthusiast III
If I do the stu's I would not do the daystar. I am not looking for max lift, just a bit more to stop dragin belly pans. and more for the weight capacity. The RC's are stiffer than stock too, but I like it.
