So re-enlistment is coming up and that means a awesome bonus and looking into dumping about 5000 into my DD 88 XJ. it's specs: rebuilt 4.0, 31x9.5r15 toyo's, 99+ intake, 703's, BA10/5, non c-clip D35 and D30 up front, 231, pretty much stock everything. Looking to build a good trial rig for the desert, also it is a DD so trying not to totally kill the MPG's. My question is would it be better to put a large amount of money into the lift this , or this or this and leave the axles stock (but still swap out the D35 for a 29 spline 8.25, that will happen regardless) or get http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/ult...na-p-5493.html and http://www.4x4groupbuy.com/store/zon...ee-p-8814.html or something like it or neither and getting some bumpers and a winch and lights, decisions, it keeps me up a night

 

I think you should combine them. Beefing up the axles with no lift or tires would not be the best thing, nor would lifting it and leaving everything else stock. It depends on how big of tires you want to run, and whether the axles will be locked. Swap the 8.25 in, get a lift (the Rubicon Express kits are a good bang for your buck) and some 33s, and get a slip yoke eliminator for the rear driveshaft if lifting 4" or more. I am not looking now, but Rubicon lifts were available with a SYE kit included in a package price when I looked last.
Shopping junk yards and craigslist for the 8.25, bumpers, and other armor could save you some cash.
You'll want some kind of locker in the diffs for a trail rig that hits the big stuff, and you won't want to go beyond 33s on the stock 30 and 8.25. You could get away with bigger, but you might lose some peace of mind.

 

JY 8.25 found one hiding in a pull it yourself place, as for tires i wasn't actually planing on going bigger, hoping a locker would compensate, or a winch