Best 3 Inch Lift Kit for Jeep XJ – My Favorite

I own an auto repair shop, and I always find customers wanting to lift their Jeep XJ to get that smoother ride they’ve heard about from others.

And this is possible because of the added clearance. But that’s not all the benefits that you can get from lifting your Jeep XJ.

What else?

You can fit in bigger tires, which will give your vehicle such a rugged look that it would turn heads!

Even that’s not all the benefits you could achieve from lifting your vehicle!

Increased visibility, better access to the bottom of the truck, and better towing experience, among other things, can be achieved by lifting your Jeep.

What I recommend?

I recommend getting a 3-inch lift for your Jeep XJ as it’s the most lift you will get without overdoing it, which can sometimes change up the factory settings.

Are you wondering which 3-inch lift kit to buy now? It can be confusing with all the options that you will find in stores.

Don’t worry!

I made a list of the best 3-inch lift kits for your vehicle that will give you all the benefits I’ve mentioned and more.

5 Best 3-Inch Lift Kit for Jeep XJ

Installing aftermarket modifications for a sport utility vehicle is something to be taken seriously. And a 3-inch lift kit is no joke!

So trying to find the right one for your vehicle so that you don’t end up wasting your money can put you in a dilemma.

No worries!

As I’ve already mentioned, I’ve picked out the best 3-inch lift kits that you can install on your Jeep XJ without worry.

1. Rough Country 3″ Lift Kit for Jeep XJ 2WD/4WD

Rough Country 3" Lift Kit for Jeep XJ 2WD/4WD

Rough Country is a brand known for its quality aftermarket products and the price tag of these products, which is pretty affordable.

The first product in question is the 3″ Lift Kit from Rough Country, which is the best lift kit out of the bunch while being really affordable, considering it’s a lift kit.

Isn’t that great?

This product from Rough Country comes with a lot of advantages, like protection, performance, and a rugged style for your vehicle.

What about the parts?

You can expect great-quality shock absorbers made out of premium Nitrogen charged N3 that has 10-stage valving, which is custom-made for your vehicle.

This redesigned lift kit comes with the aforementioned shock absorbers that are so versatile that you won’t find something like this anywhere on the market.

And you will love the added ground clearance you will get after installing this lift kit on your Jeep XJ.

Compatibility?

You can install this lift kit to your Jeep XJ without any issues at all. That’s because it’s compatible with all of the models of the Jeep XJ from 1984t to 2001.

So if your jeep is one of these models, you can rest assured that the lift kit will fit your vehicle without a hitch.

However, if any of the models have an AX5 transmission, the lift kit would not be compatible anymore.

Installation?

Installing this lift kit to your specific model of Jeep XJ is going to be so easy that you can do it all by yourself.

And the best part about this kit is that you don’t have to use any special tools like a coil spring compressor to install it.

Just attach those bolts, and you’re good to go!

And guess what?

You can fit larger tires in the wheel well of your jeep, and the size of the tires can go up to 32 inches.

And the extra ground clearances combined with the larger tires will give your vehicle such a cool look that you are bound to love it.

My Opinion: The added ground clearance, the shock absorbers, along with the easy installation process alone should be enough to convince you to buy this lift kit. But it’s also affordable while having such features!

2. Supreme Suspensions 3″ Front Leveling Lift Kit

Supreme Suspensions 3" Front Leveling Lift Kit

Another praiseworthy brand is Supreme Suspensions, which does produce quality products that I can vouch for.

And the 3 Inch Front Leveling Kit from the brand Supreme Suspensions is truly something to be admired.

Affordability?

This specific leveling lift kit is so inexpensive that it’s the cheapest one on the list!

But don’t be alarmed by its price because it definitely lives up to the brand’s name with its performance.

Is it compatible?

Oh yes, it is compatible with your Jeep XJ and causes no issues while you try to install it. It can fit Jeep XJ models from 1984 to 2001.

So you won’t end up causing any problems like wearing out your jeep’s suspension when you install this leveling lift kit.

However, if any of these Jeep XJ models have welded bump stops on them, you might have trouble trying to fit the leveling lift kit on them.

How it levels and lifts?

It will lift the front of your jeep a whole 3 inches to match the height of the rear end of your vehicle and make it completely leveled.

However, as the front of the Jeep XJ is 1.5 inches higher than the back of the jeep, and you will be lifting the front 3 inches taller, you might get the trendy Cali lean look because of this kit.

How does it do that?

The coil spring spacers that are made out of high-density Delrin for durability will do all the heavy lifting for your jeep.

And that will give your vehicle such an increased ground clearance that your jeep will look more rugged, like you!

Freebies!

Yes, you will be getting extra ground clearance and a leveled jeep with this leveling lift kit, but you will also get a freebie!

And the freebie is a can cooler made out of premium neoprene!

Let’s say you are installing this leveling lift kit on a hot summer day, and you need a cold beer or two to keep you going. Just use the can cooler it comes with!

My Opinion: This lift kit does what it says it will do and gives you a freebie can cooler too! All that is under 50 bucks only! You can’t argue with that!

3. Rough Country 3″ Lift Kit for Jeep XJ 2WD/4WD

Rough Country 3" Lift Kit for Jeep XJ 2WD/4WD

Yes, another Rough Country lift kit! That’s because they are that good! They make their products using high-quality materials and yet ask for a low price.

The 3-inch lift kit from Rough Country is such an amazing quality lift kit that comes with an easy-to-digest price tag.

What does it comes with?

This 3-inch lift kit comes with track bar brackets that help you keep the correct geometry of your jeep’s suspension intact.

That’s because these brackets will keep the axle and the entire alignment of your suspension straight.

It also comes with lifted leaf springs that will help make your ride smoother, as it can stabilize your ride.

Is that it?

No! This lift kit does wonders to make your ride even smoother with the lifted coil springs that this kit comes with.

It also comes with some hardware to make the installation process so much easier for you that you can do it yourself.

My Opinion: You can expect greatness from this 3-inch lift kit, which is why I say you should buy it now. Or, at least, add it to your cart!

4. Waverspeed 3″ Front 2″ Rear Leveling Kit

Waverspeed 3" Front 2" Rear Leveling Kit

The operating angles of your vehicle’s driveshaft need to be around one to three degrees. If they get even slightly over three degrees, your vehicle’s universal joint will wear out prematurely.

And if you use a lift that comes with spacers that have transfer case drops, you won’t have to face that problem as they will take care of the extra like angles caused by the lift.

The 3″ Front 2″ Rear Leveling Kit from Waverspeed has three kinds of spacers with transfer case drop.

That’s not all!

This lift kit is a leveling lift kit, meaning it will not only lift the whole jeep, but it will also level the front with the rear.

It lifts the front of the jeep 3 inches and then adds 2 inches of height on the back.

So the front is lifted 1 inch to get leveled with the back, and then the extra 2 inches on both sides lift the jeep higher.

More on the spacers!          

The spacers that come with this leveling lift kit don’t only have those transfer case drops, but they are also powder coated to protect them from rust and corrosion.

And they are manufactured from thermoplastic materials that help them withstand various hard weather conditions while giving your vehicle a smoother ride.

About compatibility:

This one is definitely compatible with your Jeep XJ as long as your jeep is one of the models from 1984 to 2001.

Moreover, this leveling lift kit is pretty easy to install; you don’t even need a helping hand, let alone professional help to install it.

What’s more:

Plus, you don’t even need tools like a coil spring compressor or even long shock absorbers to install this kit in a way that everything works smoothly.

You can even use your factory springs and shock absorbers instead of having to buy more aftermarket components.

And it’s really cheap too!

My Opinion: You get all these benefits from just one affordable leveling lift kit. So why won’t you buy it? I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed with it.

5. Rough Country 3″ Suspension Lift Kit

Rough Country 3" Suspension Lift Kit

The Rough Country brand is such a great brand for aftermarket components that I had to pull up another lift kit here, which is the 3-inch lift kit.

And it is comparably very cheap for a lift kit, making it completely affordable for you if you have a tight budget.

Still not convinced?

Let me tell you a little bit about what this kit comes with and how the units benefit you!

It comes with front lifted coil springs to make sure that you achieve a much smoother ride and also enough durability to get your jeep working its best in off-road scenarios.

And the lifted leaf spring for the rear end of your vehicle that this kit includes stabilizes your jeep enough to ride even smoother on tough terrains.

Not only that!

This 3-inch lift kit from Rough Country also consists of hardware and U-bolts for better mounting experience when you are installing the kit.

And to make your vehicle even smoother, this kit gives you premium N3 shock absorbers, which can absorb most of the bumps that come your way.

My Opinion: I love the Rough Country brand for its affordable and quality product, such as the lift kit in question. I wholeheartedly recommend that you buy this one.

What People Also Ask

How high should I lift my Jeep XJ?

You can install a 3-inch lift kit on your Jeep XJ without having to face any problems,

Installing a 2-inch lift kit is also a great idea, but you won’t get as many benefits with that as you will with a 3-inch lift kit, such as better ground clearance.

What about going higher?

If you want to go for a higher lift, like a 4-inch lift kit, you might have a hard time maneuvering your vehicle as it might change up the stock settings of your jeep.

How much is a 3-inch lift kit for a Jeep XJ?

It costs a lot to install a 3-inch lift kit on a Jeep XJ, to say the least.

You might have to spend as little as 1,000 dollars to even as much as 20,000 dollars to install a 3-inch lift kit for your Jeep XJ.

Too much, right?

However, you might have to pay that much if you hire a professional to do the whole installation process for you.

But if you were to do it all by yourself, which can easily be done if you have even a little bit of auto mechanics knowledge, you can get it done for cheaper.

Is a 3-inch lift good for a Jeep XJ?

Installing a 3-inch lift kit is great for your Jeep XJ.

It can give your vehicle so many benefits that you’ll be left wondering why you didn’t think of doing this before.

These benefits can look like these:

  • A better ground clearance
  • Increased visibility that helps avoid accidents
  • You can get better access underneath your jeep
  • You’ll get an overall smoother and safer ride
  • Now you can install larger tires
  • Towing heavy loads will get so much easier
  •  Your vehicle will get a cooler appearance

Do I have to lift my Jeep XJ for bigger tires?

Yes, if you want bigger tires, you would have to lift your Jeep XJ.

People lift their Jeep XJ to be able to install larger tires. It’s not possible to do so if you don’t install a lift kit.

Why is that?

That’s because if you don’t install a lift kit to your jeep XJ, the ground clearance of your jeep will not increase.

And because of that, the wheel well will not expand. The wheel well of your jeep is what gives your vehicle enough space to hold tires of any size.

So if the wheel wells that are holding the present size of your tires do not expand, you can’t fit in larger sizes of tires.

It’s just not possible!

What size tires fit a 3-inch lift?

If you install a 3-inch lift kit to your vehicle, you can fit larger sizes of tires up to 35 inches big.

You can get so many benefits if you install bigger sizes of tires, like 35 inches tires. The benefits can include the following:

  • The bigger tires will mean that the traction and grip of your tires will increase a lot
  • Increased traction will mean that your vehicle will be able to move through tough off-road terrains like it is no big deal
  • You’ll vehicle will provide you with a much smoother ride
  • Bigger tires mean a more rugged appearance

Final Words

Installing a 3-inch lift can mean a lot of benefits for your Jeep XJ, including better ground clearance, better visibility, smoother ride, and more.

I suggest you don’t install a higher lift than a 3-inch one, as it might offset the factory settings of your Jeep XJ.

So beware of that!

I hope that the five 3-inch lift kits I’ve talked about today help you decide on the one for your jeep because I know how hard it can be to find the right one.

Happy shopping!