I have a great idea.
You say you are broke.
OK save all money and wheel that machine stock.
It may not be the most romantic idea, but I will Promise you something. You will become the best wheeler in your group.
A lot of us started wheeling before the locker craze, we could only wish to be able to afford a
Limited slip in the rear. We went out and learned how to do it with what we were given by the factory. Spring overs were a way to get around buying springs, We learned howw to read a trail, we learned about tire placement and traction.
I see so many newer guys who could not put their front passenger tire within 12 inches of a spot, why? They do not need to, it is so easy to let throwing money at the Jeep do what others can do with skill and knowledge.
Let us just call it wheeling 101
I went through it and I seem to get places faster than a lot of the younger guys with with less damage and more control. I also run smaller tires and they tease me a bit, till we get to a place you need finesse.
We have a famous hill climb around here on one of our trails, it is actually about 6 hill climbs all tied together and is a real pucker job going up. low gears and a steady foot as you are at angle and doing rocks, it is a blast. I love to go down it on a busy Saturday just to freak out the newbies. Oh and while they are trying it in TJs and JKs I love to do it in one of my early CJ5s.
skill and knowledge will overcome every time.
Go ahead, a few years of learning will get you a lot further down the trails than breaking every cheap mod you can think up and breaking down on trail only to get someone to pull you out. We all know that guy who breaks down every run, and yes we talk behind his back.