Need Extra Lift for Your Cherokee KL?

MFC Offroad rises to the occasion with its exclusive Two-Inch Lift Kit for the 2014-2019 Jeep Cherokee.

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Words by Mathieu Godin @pathfinder_overland

Any serious off-road vehicle needs essential ground clearance. Some vehicles are personally modified to meet specific needs. Others are lifted right on the manufacturer’s production line. When it comes to the 2014-2019 Cherokee Trailhawk, it has a lift of one extra inch from Jeep and even though it has proved its overall off-road performance, ground clearance is its major weakness.

As it stands, the 2014-2019 Cherokee Trailhawk has a ground clearance of 22 cm (8.7 in), which is not any higher than the Subaru Crosstrek. While owners of Jeep Wranglers can enjoy plenty of aftermarket options, added lift support is a little different if you own one of the newer Jeep Cherokee KL’s. It’s this lack of support for KL owners that brought MFC Offroad into the game for much needed ground clearance for the Cherokee KL.

“We developed the first commercially-available lift falling within Mopar guidelines,” says Jesse Lambros, owner and fabricator at MFC Offroad. “We saw a void in the market and created a world-recognized brand for newer Cherokee KL aftermarket support with products available on five continents."

Since my plan was to turn my new 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk into a true overland performer, I knew a small lift wasn’t going to be an option. It was a requirement. Suspension components are critical and I wanted to outfit my Jeep with one of the best and reliable products. I know from my experiences that lifting a vehicle is sometimes a hit or a miss. So, during my online research, MFC Offroad caught my attention with its two-inch lift system and I decided to give them a try.

Advertised as the only two-inch lift kit that fits the 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk, it’s made of billet 6061-T6 aluminum parts and will fit any 2014-2019 Cherokee. The kit also includes brake-line relocation brackets for added safety. According to MFC Offroad, Cherokee KL owners retain all aspects from the factory and can fit up to 32” tires with minor trimmings. The process is called the “Pinch Weld Mod” and the instructions are on its web site.

While there are less expensive lift options, MFC Offroad’s lift kit appeared to be of better quality with a lifetime warranty. On top of this, I found some Canadian Jeep dealers that were selling new Cherokees Trailhawk outfitted with this lift.

For convenience and peace of mind, I asked my local Jeep dealer where I bought my Cherokee to do the installation and the necessary wheel alignment. They had no problem doing the installation. It’s a simple one and the lift comes with detailed instructions. I was also provided with a new set of Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S in the size of 245/70/17 for a future review and they were installed at the same time. These are slightly larger than the OE 245/65/17 Firestone Destination A/T, but they would have fit without the lift.

Driving off the dealer’s lot, I immediately noticed a difference in the driving due to the new lift and tire combo. The steering had tightened up a bit and the vehicle didn’t feel like I was driving a car as much anymore (although the Cherokee is car-based). It also felt a little heavier due to the larger tires, but not that much. In my opinion, this is how the Cherokee Trailhawk should come from the factory. After all, it’s trail-rated!

I gained about 6.35 cm (2.5 in) of lift with the lift and tire combo. So, this setup now allows me to take the road less traveled knowing that I’m better equipped for when the going gets tough. As I recently found out during a short trip to Nova Scotia, this small lift makes a lot of difference.

The Full Deal with the MFC Offroad Two-Inch Lift Kit

The Complete Kit includes:

  • Four adjustable billet aluminum front strut spacers
  • Two billet aluminum rear spring spacers
  • Brake line, ABS line and speed sensor line relocation brackets
  • Factory bolts and nuts along with a set of screws for correct clocking of the rear spacer

Front Kit includes:

  • Four adjustable billet aluminum front strut spacers
  • Brake line, ABS line and speed sensor line relocation brackets 

Rear Kit includes:

  • Two billet aluminum rear spring spacers
  • Factory bolts and nuts along with set screws for correct clocking of the rear spacer

Product Specs:

  • Machined out of billet T-6061

Price: $475.00 USD

www.mfcoffroad.com

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