Jeep Cherokee Forum

Jeep Cherokee 1984-2001: Lighting Modifications

Upgrade the exterior lighting of your Jeep Cherokee for improved visibility on the road at night, or during times of low visibility.

By Charlie Gaston - October 28, 2015

This article applies to the Jeep Cherokee XJ (1984-2001).

Upgrading the exterior lighting on your Jeep Cherokee XJ could not only ensure your safety on the road at night, but also give your Jeep the attitude and personality you've been dreaming of since you first stepped inside your cabin. While there are plenty of lighting modifications on the market competing for your dollar, here's a rundown of the ones that appear to have been manufactured specifically for the Jeep Cherokee XJ. We'll even throw in a few DIY modifications for those of you who want a custom job, but don't want to pay top dollar for it.

Exterior Lighting Modifications

For the 1984 to 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ, you have two main options to modify your exterior lighting: you can either purchase a new lighting setup, or modify your existing lighting setup with a custom, do-it-yourself (DIY) project. Here is a good mix of both options.

Truck-Lite LEDs

DIY Cost – $120-$165

Professional Cost – $230-$275

Skill Level – Easy; only household tools are needed.

Well-built with a durable metal housing and a hard-coated polycarbonate lens, Truck-Lite LEDs are tough and built to last. Moreover, they look aggressive on the road during the night. You might need to get used to the visible split line, defining where your high beams end and your low beams begin. These pure-white LEDs will blow you away with their 5,800k output; expect incredible light output during the day and at night. However, Jeep owners living in areas where there is a lot of heavy snowfall or frequent wet conditions will want to go with a different brand. Truck-Light LEDs fail to produce enough heat output to combat snow and rain. Recommended if you're looking for a great off-road upgrade, an aggressive look, and a durable set of lights.

Stinger Light Bar

DIY Cost – $200+

Professional Cost – $550+

Skill Level – Easy to Moderate; you'll need to remove your front grille and carry out other modifications to your Jeep during the installation process.

A cheap way to modify your Jeep is to add a large light bar or Stinger bar to your original manufacturer equipment (OEM) bumper. With this modification, it's highly recommended that you reinforce all your working parts, so your lights (or your bumper for that matter) do not accidentally come undone while you're on the road. Bolt the light bar directly to the upper bolts on your bumper, and consider the size of the light bar you want to install before heading home from your local auto parts store. For a stock bumper, you might want to stick to a small light bar and save yourself some time and money. Some welding might be needed for this project. Recommended if you're looking for a cheap modification that will change the look of your Jeep.

Angry Eyes and Smoked Tinted Lights (DIY)

DIY Cost – $19

Professional Cost – $75+

Skill Level – Easy; no special tools are required.

This is the cheapest and easiest way to get a custom look for your Jeep. Best of all, you can complete this DIY project direct from the comfort of your home garage. To achieve the "angry eyes" look, simply apply tape to the bottom portion of the light and spray the top portion with VHT's Night Shade. Allow the paint to dry and then remove it.

For the smoked tinted look, apply two to three coats of Night Shade to the lamp cover; it's not necessary to sand the cover beforehand or add a clear coat once you're done. Speak to a local law enforcement officer before carrying out this DIY project to ensure you will still be in compliance with state law by smoking out your lights. Recommended if you're looking for a small upgrade that will complement the look of your Jeep.

Spyder Roof Rack and Bumper Light

DIY Cost – $150

Professional Cost – $300+

Skill Level – Easy to Moderate; this is generally considered a DIY project.

Most Jeep Cherokee XJ owners go with a square configuration up top to complement their Jeep's rugged side-to-side design lines.

Many off-roaders generally prefer to mount their roof rack higher on their Jeep to prevent spray from mud and deep puddles from dirtying up the structure.

Round lights tend to be the preferred choice for a roof rack, while square lights tends to be the clear winner for a bumper setup. Recommended if you're looking for a DIY project to make your Jeep off-road ready.

Related Discussions and Video