I got a 2005 rubi LJ. My initial intent was a rock crawler. I enjoy breaking and fixing my rig as much as the next but i didnt want to start with a $20k jeep. I would like to swap my focus for this vehicle to a more expedition style. I am gonna have 3 passegers at max (me, gf, and dog). I would like to avoid getting a trailer but its always a possibility.

I have added 4" fully adj control arm lift
front anti-rock
RK HD steering
MC fenders
bushwacker rears
Chicago 9k winch
1" front pucks
1" BL with 1" MML (will be adding absolutly flat TT skid)
durbaked interior
custom front and rear bumpers w tire carrier
35" BFG MT with soft 8's

Here are some random pics of where i am at with the build
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu50/weinbern/Photo-0245.jpg?t=1282423582
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu50/weinbern/hardrock4-24012.jpg?t=1282423612
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu50/weinbern/Photo-0084.jpg?t=1282423719

Just gonna post some random thoughts i got...

What suspension is best (I am leaning towards Clayton or RK on 2.5 or 4-inch lift)?

Can i build a roof rack for a RTT (>1k #'s)?

What RTT are best for 2 people and a dog?

What gear ratio is best for a fully loaded LJ with 6spd tranny on 35's?

Clayton all the way for the lift. Only gotcha is you can't do an entirely flat skid with it as the mounts are on the bottom of the frame rails. Clayton's optional skid is the nicest I have seen though, integrates with the arm mounts and has a separate crossmember to hold the drivetrain up when you take the skid place off to work on it.

My wife has the stock 4.10s with her 35s (same tires as you but on the stock rims) and it drives great. I'm torn on whether 4.56s would be better or not. I've got 4.86s with 37" tires and am also happy.

Edit: Both our LJs are 6 speeds.

I have a 2003 Wrangler Rubicon with the stock 4.10 gears and 35" tires. Around town I just drive with the overdrive switched off and it's fine. (4spd auto.) I let the overdrive engage if I'm driving on the highways at over 60mph... Maybe not the best plan, but it's worked fine so far...

I have a pretty heavily armored 05 LJ 6 speed with 255/85-16 KM2's (approx 33.5 x 10) with 4.56 gears and it's just enough, especially when its loaded and towing a trailer going camping. I'd go with 4.88's with 35's.

I didn't like 4.88 and 35s on my 06 LJ 6-speed. I changed them to 4.56 and I'm much happier. The 4.88s made 1st gear useless on the street and I was always searching for 7th gear. I really like how the power band is with 4.56 over the 4.88s. If you had an auto, I would tell you 4.88s for sure but not in my 6 speed.

I'm in the planning stages of a totally flat skid for my Rubi unlimited right now. I have an auto, which is bigger than your 6 speed, but I don't think you'll get a totally flat skid with only 1" of BL without cutting the floor and tranny tunnel. The 241 is just too damn big.

I installed a 3" body lift. I'm planning on raising the stock motor mounts 1.5" (may do less for tranny tunnel/firewall clearance, but that's where I'm starting) and then raising the transmission and t/c as much as I need to to get a flat belly. I'm going to use an AEV low-pro tranny mount to attach the tranny to a seperate crossmember.

After I get everything sorted, I'll cut as much out of the BL as I can. My guess is that with a bit of tub hammering, I'll end up with between 2" and 2.5" of BL.

So I guess my feedback is you may want to buy a bigger Performance Accessories body lift since they are about the same price and then cut it down as needed.

I'm in the planning stages of a totally flat skid for my Rubi unlimited right now. I have an auto, which is bigger than your 6 speed, but I don't think you'll get a totally flat skid with only 1" of BL without cutting the floor and tranny tunnel. The 241 is just too damn big.

I installed a 3" body lift. I'm planning on raising the stock motor mounts 1.5" (may do less for tranny tunnel/firewall clearance, but that's where I'm starting) and then raising the transmission and t/c as much as I need to to get a flat belly. I'm going to use an AEV low-pro tranny mount to attach the tranny to a seperate crossmember.

After I get everything sorted, I'll cut as much out of the BL as I can. My guess is that with a bit of tub hammering, I'll end up with between 2" and 2.5" of BL.

So I guess my feedback is you may want to buy a bigger Performance Accessories body lift since they are about the same price and then cut it down as needed.

Check out undercover fabworks "100%" flat skid. It can be done with a 2" BL or 1" BL with there lower tranny mount. I am not a huge fan of BLs. good luck on your rig.

I didn't like 4.88 and 35s on my 06 LJ 6-speed. I changed them to 4.56 and I'm much happier. The 4.88s made 1st gear useless on the street and I was always searching for 7th gear. I really like how the power band is with 4.56 over the 4.88s. If you had an auto, I would tell you 4.88s for sure but not in my 6 speed.

doing some real high tech math 30/35 ~=~ 4.1/4.88. I drove my jeep home from the dealership then swapped out those pereli's for some bigger tires. I remember orignially driving it and the 1st gear is basically useless in stock form. The 4.0L has plenty of torque to start in 2nd. Now i am just curious if its worth going for 600 bucks (4.56 gears and master overhaul kits) for 10% lower gears....

by the way this how the beast looked when i picked it up.
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu50/weinbern/Jeeponthelot.jpg?t=1282603786

Check out undercover fabworks "100%" flat skid. It can be done with a 2" BL or 1" BL with there lower tranny mount. I am not a huge fan of BLs. good luck on your rig.

That's not an absolutely flat skid as you said you wanted in your original post---it hangs down 1". That 1" is the equivalent of having 2" taller tires. If you're cool with that much drop wait for the Savvy, it's engineered one hell of a lot better.

And that UCF tranny mount is the biggest piece of shit I've ever seen. I think I'll stick to the AEV one, even if they are a pain in the ass to order from because they won't call back.

Besides, I want my skid and my crossmember to be independent of each other.

UCF has a few differnt types of tummy tucks.... I have heard mostly good things about them. I had my doubts about the tranny mount considering they wanted 100 bucks for it and dont look like much at all....

But any ways... I mocked up a simple roof rack in paint. My goal is to make a removable rack for the rare times i take of my hard top. Once again i wanted something that will support 1k#'s. I know its in paint but i was bored and i worked with what i got. I would like to go with square tubing because Im pretty new to all this and i feel that woudl be easier. Any ideas on size of material and thickness?

http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu50/weinbern/Jeeprack.jpg?t=1282678624