If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to take your Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee off-roading, then you can comfortably put your mind at ease. With almost 50 years of production history behind the Cherokee line alone, don’t forget that Jeep is the original off-road vehicle manufacturer. It can handle anything that you can throw at it.
And if you’re the owner of a first, second, or third generation Cherokee, a proud SJ, XJ, and KJ proprietor, then you have reason to hold your head particularly high. You’re actually the owner of an amazingly resilient bit of automotive history, so it’s perfectly understandable why you wouldn’t want to start thrashing it now.
With that being said though, it’s still a Jeep. Fortunately there’s a nice selection of mild off-roading accessories available that are perfect for loading up the family or friends for the occasional light-duty off-road daytrip. No rock-sprouting trails or knee-deep mud required – just letting the good times roll the way it can only happen with a Jeep.
source: pinterest.com
Cherokees with style
It’s really no surprise that casual off-roading is growing in popularity. It’s a way of enjoying a very capable, but cherished 4WD vehicle away from the pavement without hurtling it through a sandpit. And for the SJ, XJ, and KJ off-roaders who prefer to keep it casual, there are a few choices of Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee accessories that are worth investing in that are just as practical as they are good looking. After all, it doesn’t take much to make these off-road veterans a pleasure for weekend excursions. And who’s going to complain if it can be done with a bit of style as well.
Rack it up
A roof rack is one of the most popular and useful upgrades you can make to a vehicle. Whether you’re using it for transporting a piece of furniture picked up at a local flea market, or to store a few extra provisions for when you’re headed to the bush, they’re perfect for everyday use, any day of the week.
They’re also pretty much standard kit for any 4WD, but let’s face it, they look a lot more natural on some vehicles than they do on others. With the Cherokee’s high sides and angular roof lines, it doesn’t matter if it’s a flat platform rack or a basket-type roof cage. In a tough black powder-coated finish, it’s the kind of low-profile addition that has retro-mod written all over it.
Easy-fit mounting hardware installs racks perfectly along Jeep rain gutters without damaging their classic trim. With sturdy cross member support, racks even make solid mounting platforms for other Jeep Cherokee accessories like:
· Light bars;
· Tent and awning brackets; and,
· Tube conduit clamps.
source: pinterest.com
Taking a breath
Mounting a snorkel on your Jeep doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to start fording though lakes and rivers. It does mean, however, that your engine has a superb opportunity to benefit from breathing cooler and (more importantly) cleaner, ram-induced air that it would be likely to get at hood-level.
Along with all the necessary plumbing, fastening, and connecting hardware, a snorkel kit consists of:
· A front-mounted snorkel body;
· A ram-air snorkel top; and,
· An under-hood mounted air box.
Made from tough Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), snorkels are long lasting and good looking accessories that are built to withstand the brutal heat and UV exposure that breaks down most plastics.
As for their performance, it’s important to remember that their main function is to duct clean, dust-free air into the engine. Regardless of whether you’re sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic trying to get out of the city, or racing down a dusty trail in the bush after you’ve gotten out of the city, they’ll do it to perfection. Make no mistake, though, a snorkel won’t transform your Jeep into a submarine – at least not without a host of other mods to protect your engine’s entire electrical system as well.
Keep in mind too that even where Jeep Cherokee parts and accessories are concerned, snorkels aren’t bolt-ons. There’s cutting and drilling involved, so you’ll want to give careful thought to whether it’s a mod that you’re ready to punch holes in sheet metal for.
Bonnet Scoops
It’s probably safe to say that no other accessory has the ability to capture attention or the imagination more than bonnet scoops. A tough, ABS aftermarket one might be just the detail that’s needed to set your Cherokee off from all the others out there.
Measuring 590mm x 450mm x 70mm, they’re big and they’re bold but when painted to colour match your vehicle, they’ll make a powerful visual statement. They’re non-functional attachments though, and yet, with a good understanding of how air behaves along the nose of your precise Jeep model, it’s not impossible to make one fully functional that can actually provide a few benefits.
The final word
At the end of the day, it’s only normal to want to spend some time with your Jeep off road. It’s what they were designed to do, after all. At the same time though, it doesn’t mean you have to have the urge to launch it at every muddy bog hole you pass.
Sometimes all it takes is a few light mods and some casual off-roading to comfortably remind you of what your Jeep’s made of. And the beauty is no matter which Jeep Grand Cherokee accessories you install, underneath it all it’s still going to be a Jeep.
If you’re a proud SJ, XJ, or KJ owner, why not take a look at what’s available for your Jeep today. You’ll be glad that you did.
