Essential Upgrades for a Jeep Cherokee on a Budget

I feel that there are some basic upgrades to Jeep Cherokees (yes the XJ- the boxy predecessor to the Grand Cherokee) that are not only cool, but also improve the safety, comfort and performance of the vehicle. First, I want to say these upgrades don't necessarily have anything to do with off-road, but just improve the vehicle in general. So, whether you have a 2 or 4 wheel drive, it doesn't matter. The vehicle that I performed these upgrades to was a '98 4X4 Sport (mid trim level).

First of all, while this package comes fairly well equipped, the seats leave a lot to be desired. The sport seats are basic Chrysler cloth- the material itself is durable enough, but the design of the seat is cheap. The bottom cushion is too short and does not offer great support for drives of any length. The top portion of the seat feels flexible and unsubstantial (re: cheap). An additional issue I had was that I am over 6 foot tall. The seat tracks in Cherokees do not go back far at all and the limited leg room is annoying.

So, the solution is actually two different upgrades: new seats and seat extension brackets. The best thing about Jeeps in this era have many interchangeable parts among different models. What you will want to do is find seats from a Grand Cherokee. Any year from 1993-2004 will work. Yes, you read that right. The mounting holes on these seats will fit the XJ's seat tracks. Prices on seats will vary greatly. Some people know what these seats are worth and some can be priced outrageously (especially the 99-04 Limited leather seats). What I suggest, is do what I did: go to a self service junk yard and find an older Grand Cherokee ZJ. I got two leather bucket seats out of a 93 in decent shape for $17 a piece.

Next, you will need to purchase some "Big Boy" brand seat extension brackets (around $60 for a pair) from your local off-road shop. Simply install the brackets and the seats. If you need help on the mechanics of the installation, there are several articles that cover this on the web. Now you can enjoy the added comfort and luxury of leather seats and an additional 3 inches of legroom! This is by far the best modification that I ever made to any vehicle.