A TrailReady winch bumper...
A TrailReady winch bumper and Rugged Ridge 8,000-pound winch with synthetic line sit at the front of this '97 Jeep Cherokee XJ. A set of Rocky Road Super Sliders fortify the rocker panels and also serve as a step.
Rock protection and recovery are two important elements to successfully tackling a trail and making it home for the night. If you don't have protection where you need it you might end up broken down and stranded. Same goes for having the proper recovery equipment should your vehicle become stuck. Our '97 Jeep Cherokee XJ had the suspension in place to handle most trails but operator fears of rock rash and getting stuck held it back. Searching for quality equipment that would look as good as it worked, we turned to two long-time players in the industry, Rocky Road Outfitters and TrailReady.
The Rocky Road Super Sliders are made from 3/16-inch steel and mount on the sub-frame as well as along the body seam. This is said to better distribute the load across the length of the uni-body Cherokee. The Super Sliders also create an easy step-on area for reaching roof racks or simply to ease vehicle entry. Rocky Road Super Sliders are available for many vehicle makes and models.
TrailReady redesigned its Cherokee winch bumper recently and we got one of the first samples of the new design. The bumper still retains all of its original features; most of the design changes were cosmetic. The bumper weighs about 80 pounds and features an integrated 3/16-inch sub frame with a 1/8-inch steel outer skin. In addition to improved ground clearance and approach angle the TrailReady XJ winch bumper can be equipped with up to a 9,000-pound winch. The new TrailReady XJ winch bumper fits all model year Cherokees and most Commanche models. It not only looks good it offers great body protection and features fully boxed welded shackle mounts.
With parts in hand we landed at Jeep Solutions in Long Beach, California. A full service Jeep and 4x4 shop, Jeep Solutions can tackle all types of repairs and installations as well as custom projects. The installation was quick and easy.
The Trail Ready bumper features...
The Trail Ready bumper features an integrated front lower skid plate, dual D-ring mounts, and two integrated light mounts.
The bumper weighs around 80...
The bumper weighs around 80 pounds and features an integrated 3/16-inch sub frame with a 1/8-inch steel outer skin. Holes cut in the lower skid plate allow ample airflow and also serve to cut weight.
With the Trail Ready bumper...
With the Trail Ready bumper supported on a stand it was lined up with the factory bumper mounts and then bolted in place using the provided hardware.
The new Trail Ready XJ winch...
The new Trail Ready XJ winch bumper fits all model year Cherokees and most Commanche models. Plenty of space is offered so that most winch models will sit low in the bumper and not obstruct airflow to the radiator.
The Trail Ready bumper features...
The Trail Ready bumper features integrated light mounts and buckets...
...designed to direct the...
...designed to direct the light forward.
The Rugged Ridge 8,000-pound...
The Rugged Ridge 8,000-pound winch with synthetic line features a 5.5hp series-wound motor and a three-stage planetary gearbox with a 172.8:1 gear ratio. Included with the winch is an aluminum fairlead, a winch remote control, control box mounting hardware, and hook pull strap.
With the bumper in place the...
With the bumper in place the Rugged Ridge winch was set in the bumper and readied for installation. The control box cables were routed and connected to the winch and battery. Here the fairlead is secured to the Trail Ready bumper using provided hardware.
The winch was installed in...
The winch was installed in the bumper using the provided hardware.
Rocky Road Super Sliders are...
Rocky Road Super Sliders are made from 3/16-inch steel and mount on the sub-frame as well as along the body seam. The Super Sliders are shipped with black powder coating.
Jeep Solutions installer Nick...
Jeep Solutions installer Nick Beall clamped the sliders to the body to determine proper placement.
A strip of metal with hole...
A strip of metal with hole locations is provided with the Rocky-Road Super Sliders and is used as a template for drilling the mounting holes in the body pinch seam.
After marking the mounting...
After marking the mounting holes Nick drilled in to the Cherokee's pinch seam and frame.
The Rocky Road Super Sliders...
The Rocky Road Super Sliders were then bolted to the uni-body frame rail and body pinch seam. Underside protection is ample and the top side also functions as a step.
The Trail Ready bumper looks...
The Trail Ready bumper looks great at the front of the Cherokee and keeps the Rugged Ridge 8,000-pound winch with synthetic line nicely stowed away from damage from obstacles. We also like the flat top sections, which make a helpful step for when carrying out engine maintenance.
We trimmed the edge of the...
We trimmed the edge of the bumper a bit where it meets the tire so it would follow the lines of the fencer. With 35-inch tires on this Cherokee we needed the extra clearance but with 33-inch-or-smaller tires you should have plenty of space.
The Rocky-Road Super Sliders...
The Rocky-Road Super Sliders look great and work even better. In addition to offering body protection and a step for easy in and out from the cab, the Supersliders also create an effective lifting point for Hi-Lift Jack use.
The Rugged Ridge winch control...
The Rugged Ridge winch control offers easy operation in the palm of your hand. The grip is tapered for a good fit in your palm and the "line-in" and "line-out" buttons are clearly marked with lettering and a differently colored light for each direction.
Rugged Ridge offers its very...
Rugged Ridge offers its very complete winch recovery kit to complement its line of quality winches. The recovery kit features a durable carry bag with shoulder strap filled with a heavy-duty, 20,000-pound snatch block; a 2-inch x 30-foot, 20,000-pound recovery strap; a 3-inch x 6-foot, 30,000-pound tree-trunk protector strap; a pair of heavy-duty, zinc-coated D-ring shackles; a pair of leather recovery gloves; and a winch-line damper. Also shown is the winch control, Rugged Ridge's Tri-Fold Off-Road Shovel, and a Rugged Ridge winch strap with handle for easy and safe handling of the winch hook.
The Rugged Ridge winch line...
The Rugged Ridge winch line damper features pockets, designed to be filled with rocks in order to effectively control and ground a severed line. The damper also features printed winching instructions with diagrams of safe and danger zones for bystanders.