Choosing a lift for 35s without ruining daily drivability

I use my JL during the week and run forest roads most weekends. I want 35s, but I do not want a tall, stiff setup. The truck already has a steel bumper and winch up front.

Start with actual loaded weight and tire clearance, not the lift number alone. A complete kit with geometry correction and matched shocks usually drives better than a cheaper spacer setup with stock damping.

I ran a 2.5-inch system with high-clearance fenders before moving to 35s. It kept the center of gravity reasonable, but the front driveshaft angle needed attention after adding the winch and armor.

That is the part I was missing. I was comparing advertised lift heights without considering the bumper weight. Did you correct caster at the same time?

Yes. Caster correction made a bigger difference on the highway than another half inch of lift would have. Budget for alignment, bump-stop planning, and a recheck after the springs settle.

Also measure the tire at real trail pressure. A 35-inch tire on paper can be a very different shape at 18 psi, especially when the axle articulates. That measurement prevented me from buying the wrong wheel backspacing.