Best Lift Kits for 1987-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ: Snow Guide

The best lift kits for a 1987-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ add 2.5 to 4.5 inches of height, clear 31- to 33-inch winter tires, and turn a factory-ride grocery-getter into a genuine snow rig. The XJ was built for this: a light unibody, a solid Dana 30 front axle on coil springs, a leaf-sprung rear, and the bulletproof 4.0L inline-six with real four-wheel drive. Drop in a few inches of lift and a set of 3-peak-mountain-snowflake all-terrains and your Cherokee will walk through unplowed driveways, snowy trailheads, and rutted back roads that stop a stock crossover cold. Below are our four favorite XJ lift kits in stock at NLP Performance, matched to real tire sizes, fitment years, and what each one takes to install right.

Why Lift a Cherokee XJ for Winter?

A lift kit helps a Jeep Cherokee XJ in winter by adding ground clearance and making room for taller, more aggressive snow tires — the two things that matter most in deep snow and slush. The XJ already has the right bones for cold weather: a curb weight of only about 3,000 to 3,300 lbs that floats on top of powder instead of plowing through it, full-time or part-time 4WD through the NP231 transfer case, and solid axles that shrug off frozen ruts. What it lacks from the factory is clearance. Stock XJs roll on roughly 29-inch tires (225/75R15) with limited fender room, so the belly and bumpers drag the moment the snow gets deep.

Adding 2.5 to 4.5 inches of lift raises the differentials, frame rails, and bumpers up out of the snow, sharpens the approach and departure angles for climbing plowed berms, and opens the wheel wells for 31- to 33-inch all-terrains. Pair that with a true winter-rated tire carrying the 3-peak-mountain-snowflake (3PMSF) symbol and the difference between a stock XJ and a mildly lifted one is night and day the first time you hit an unplowed road. In our Tampa shop we build XJs for customers all over the Snow Belt, and the recipe almost never changes: a few inches of quality suspension, the right tire, and corrected geometry.

How Much Lift Does a Cherokee XJ Need?

For winter driving, a 2.5- to 3.5-inch lift is the sweet spot for most 1987-2001 Cherokee XJs, and 4.5 inches is the practical ceiling before you need driveline upgrades. More lift is not automatically better — every inch past about 3 inches starts changing geometry (caster, track-bar angle, and driveshaft angle) that has to be corrected to keep the Jeep driving straight and smooth. Here is how the common heights map to tire fitment on an XJ with the stock Dana 30 front axle:

• 2.5-inch lift: fits 30- to 31-inch tires with little or no trimming. The easiest, most street-friendly winter setup.
• 3-inch lift: fits 31-inch tires easily; 32s usually need some fender trimming.
• 3.5-inch lift: comfortably clears 31- to 32-inch tires — our recommended all-around winter height.
• 4.5-inch lift: opens the door to 32- to 33-inch tires (with trimming) but typically calls for a slip-yoke eliminator and CV driveshaft.

For wider winter tires, aim for wheels with around 3.75 inches of backspacing so the tire clears the control arms and still tucks under the fender. And remember the Dana 30 front axle is the XJ's weak link — it is happy under 31s and 32s, but pairing 35-inch tires and front lockers with a stock Dana 30 is asking for trouble.

The Best Lift Kits for the 1987-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ

We picked four in-stock XJ lift kits that span the whole winter range — from a bolt-on 2.5-inch budget kit to a 4.5-inch max-clearance system — so you can match the lift to your snow, your tires, and your wallet. Every kit below fits the 1984-2001 (or 1987-2001) Cherokee XJ and is in stock at NLP Performance.

1. Superlift 2.5-Inch Lift Kit — Best Budget Winter Lift

The Superlift 2.5-inch kit is the smartest-money way to get a winter-ready XJ. Around $250 buys the springs and shock package to net about 2.5 inches of lift — enough to clear 30- to 31-inch snow tires without cutting fenders or chasing new geometry. Because it stays under the 3-inch threshold, you usually avoid needing a slip-yoke eliminator, an adjustable track bar, or caster correction, which keeps the install simple and the on-road manners stock-like. For a daily-driven XJ that just needs to shrug off snow days, this is our budget pick.

2. Skyjacker 3-Inch Dual-Rate Long-Travel Kit — Best Ride Quality

If you want the smoothest winter ride, the Skyjacker 3-inch Dual-Rate Long-Travel kit is the one to beat. It uses Skyjacker's Softride dual-rate front coils and American-steel rear leaf springs with Black Max shocks, giving you a soft initial rate for highway comfort on icy commutes and a firmer secondary rate so the Jeep does not wallow under a load of gear. The extra travel keeps a tire planted in frozen ruts and off-camber snow where a stiff budget lift would lift a wheel. At roughly $700 it is the priciest 3-inch option here, but the ride and articulation are why XJ owners keep coming back to Skyjacker. Expect to add a few geometry pieces (below) at this height.

3. Tuff Country 3.5-Inch Lift Kit — Our Top Pick

The Tuff Country 3.5-inch kit is our top pick because it hits the exact winter sweet spot — enough lift to clear 31- to 32-inch snow tires, matched front coils and rear leaf springs engineered by a company that has built XJ suspension since 1988, and a limited lifetime warranty — all for around $550, well under the $600 mark. The 3.5-inch height keeps the Cherokee looking right (no mall-crawler rake), rides level whether you are empty or loaded with ski gear, and leaves plenty of belly clearance for plowed berms and ruts. It is the kit we install most for customers who want one honest do-it-all winter height. At 3.5 inches you will want to add caster correction and an adjustable or relocated track bar (see the install section) to keep steering crisp on ice.

4. Skyjacker 4.5-Inch XJ Kit — Best for Max Clearance

When the snow gets deep and you want 33-inch tires, the Skyjacker 4.5-inch kit is the move. The extra inch of lift over our top pick opens up 32- to 33-inch all-terrains (with some fender trimming) and the biggest approach and departure angles in this guide for climbing over drifts and plow piles. Just go in with eyes open: at 4.5 inches the NP231 transfer case will usually want a slip-yoke eliminator (SYE) and a CV rear driveshaft to kill driveline vibration, plus adjustable control arms and a dropped or adjustable track bar to reset caster and re-center the axle. It is more build than a daily-driver needs, but for a dedicated winter and trail XJ it is the right foundation. Budget around $760 for the kit itself.

XJ Lift Kit Comparison: Height, Tires & Price

Here is how the four kits stack up at a glance. All fit the 1987-2001 Cherokee XJ (the Superlift and Skyjacker kits extend back to 1984); confirm your exact year and 4WD configuration before you buy.

Winter Install & Setup Considerations

A Cherokee XJ lift install is straightforward hand-tool work, but a few winter-specific details separate a Jeep that drives straight on ice from one that wanders. Here is what to plan for, especially at 3 inches and above:

• Caster correction: Raising the front end rotates the Dana 30 and pulls caster out of spec, which makes the steering feel vague — dangerous on snow and ice. At 3 inches and up, adjustable control arms or offset ball-joint/control-arm bushings restore positive caster and on-center feel.
• Track bar: Lift changes the front track-bar angle and shifts the axle off-center. An adjustable track bar (or a relocation bracket) re-centers the axle so the tires sit square in the wells — match the bar to your lift height (a 0-3.5-inch bar versus a taller 4-6-inch bar).
• Slip-yoke eliminator: On the NP231 transfer case, lifts around 4 inches and up steepen the rear driveshaft angle enough to cause vibration. An SYE plus a CV driveshaft fixes it. The 2.5- and 3-inch kits here usually skip this.
• Brake lines and bump stops: Check that the front brake lines have slack at full droop and add extended bump stops as needed so a compressing tire never contacts the fender in a snow rut.
• Alignment and tires: Always finish with an alignment, and pair the lift with a true winter tire carrying the 3PMSF snowflake symbol. Clearance without grip is only half the equation in snow.

Most 2.5- and 3-inch installs are a weekend driveway job with basic tools, a floor jack, and jack stands. Step up to 3.5 inches and you are adding caster and track-bar parts; at 4.5 inches plan for the SYE and driveshaft work too. Need a hand speccing the full parts list for your XJ? Our Tampa team builds Cherokees for winter every season — browse the full lift kits collection or suspension collection and reach out.