Project XJ TrailRunner is a winner! Carefully selected equipment turned this stone-stock '99 XJ Cherokee into a versatile, dual-purpose, daily driver and trail 4x4. As for off-pavement prowess, the XJ more than proved its mettle at Moab, Utah, during the 2006 Easter Jeep Safari.
A film crew outing for Four Wheeler TV provided just the right setting to test the XJ Cherokee in a variety of terrain and traction situations. The Lockhart Basin Trail, a designated route that took a hard pounding of rain and snow melt in the early spring, offered the landscape and texture for great four-wheeling and breathtaking scenic backdrops. Lined up amid a string of high-end trail runners, the XJ Cherokee faced newly created rock obstacles and challenges of near-Rubicon proportions. Locals described the trail this year as worse than usual, which kept the cameras rolling steadily for a full day of trail pounding.
The XJ Cherokee fits nicely...
The XJ Cherokee fits nicely alongside the Wranglers and other off-pavement trail rigs. Note the great ground clearance of Project XJ, its stock transfer case location neatly tucked into the chassis/body. The breakover angle is superior to the low-slung Wrangler skidplate/crossmember. Despite its 101-inch wheelbase, the lifted XJ negotiated the roughest terrain and narrow canyons with ease.
Project XJ Cherokee TrailRunner passed every test. Full-Traction Suspension's 6-inch long-arm lift and the Toyo 33-inch tires delivered the ground clearance desired and even more breakover clearance than the lifted Wranglers among the group - despite the TJ's shorter 94-inch wheelbase. The XJ's transfer case tucks well up in the body tunnel, placing the NP/NV231 unit and its crossmember higher than on TJ and LJ models.
The beefy ARB front bumper and Warn's rugged Rock Crawler bumper with tire carrier at the rear made for exceptional approach and departure angles. Great breakover clearance and picking decent lines in the boulder-strewn trail sections contributed to the XJ never touching its chassis or bumpers to the ground. Wheel travel and control were exceptional.
Traction never faltered, with ARB Air Locker differentials and 4.10 gearsets providing a versatile setup for crawling through the rocks. Up or down, even with the AW-4 automatic, control was excellent. ARB lockers assure that each wheel receives equal torque, and gearing felt plenty low, even with the stock 2.72:1 Low range ratio. The PowerTrain Industries CV-type rear driveline and Advance Adapters slip-yoke eliminator provide an extra margin of safety and reliability, while Borla's header and exhaust system add a nice performance edge. The exhaust system rides high in the chassis, readily clearing debris and obstacles.