Smittybilt XRC 8 winch on Jeep Cherokee (XJ)

Zone Off-Road 3" Lift Kit

Good Flex with disconnected sway bars

The 3" Zone Lift Kit is inexpensive and has provided an awesome ride for my previously stock XJ.  I have been putting it to the test in the San Bernardino mountains and have been quite pleased.  The install took 3-4 hours and no modification to the brake lines was necessary.  Driveshaft wobble was bad initially, but I chose to add a 1" transfer case drop and that solved the problem.  I highly recommend this lift for a budget lift kit.

White Mountain Trail - Big Bear

Logan's winch bumper

The front bumper was purchased from Logan's Metal Products.  It is the XJ front winch bumper

http://www.logansmetals4x4.com/id9.html

The towbar attachments were custom welded to fit the 1" D-ring tabs built into the winch bumper.

Adapter is 1/2" Steel Tabs welded together with a 90 degree orientation

I used old shock grommets to place in D-rings - which enable perfect fit for 1/2" pins

Driver side Unibody Tie-ins

Passenger Side Unibody Tie-in

Ben's Jeep Cherokee - John Bull Trail - Big Bear.avi

Ben's Jeep Cherokee at Pismo Dunes.avi

Third row seat

I was able to install a folding bench seat in the back of the XJ.  I had to remove the spare tire on the driver's side and I had to remove the gas tank to find the best place to put the seat.  I had to place the seat all the way over the driver's side due to not being able to place the seat mounts over the unibody construction.  This seat uses 2 front mounts and a single center rear latch.  This is a Bestop Trailmax II fold and tumble rear seat designed for CJ7's for flat mount.  Here is a link to the installation instructions on a CJ7: http://www.bestop.com/images/installation_guides/39441.pdf

 I was able to install a folding bench seat in the back of the XJ.  I had to remove the spare tire on the driver's side and I had to remove the gas tank to find the best place to put the seat.  I had to place the seat all the way over the driver's side due to not being able to place the seat mounts over the unibody construction.  This seat uses 2 front mounts and a single center rear latch.  This is a Bestop Trailmax II fold and tumble rear seat designed for CJ7's for flat mount.  Here is a link to the installation instructions on a CJ7: http://www.bestop.com/images/installation_guides/39441.pdf

The front left portion of the seat presses against the wheel well. I had to dent in the wheel well for a better fit.

Close-up of right front seat mount

Right Seat Mount underneath front of gas tank
 (had to remove for this project)

Left front seat mount near rear left wheel well

Close-up of left front seat mount

Rear Latch mount in front of rear bumper