I've seen a few threads like this and I thought I'd give it a try to help me track my own journey.
I'm not new here but its been about 5 years since I owned a 2015 JKU Rubicon.

This time I went with a 2015 JKU Sport. I would have liked another Rubicon due to already having the locking diffs and sway bar disconnects... but it is 2021 and the car prices are not your friend. So the Sport it is.

In this market I didn't have a lot of must haves... I wanted white with automatic windows cause lets face it I ain't got time for manual windows.

This was the night we brought it home.

 

Waiting for the weekend and got to work by taking off the top. I did the ole' tow strap lift.
- Parked Jeep in garage and marked tires with tape on the floor to know were to park each time to reattached the roof
- Marked were I wanted each eye bolt to go in conjunctions with a stud by using a piece of string and an anchor (bolt) to line everything up
- Placed 4 eye bolts into the ceiling attached ratchet straps to each bolt

Backed in and took the roof off. Has been off since the third day I got it.

I added a Best Top mesh bikini top with a header (actually kept this from my 2010 JKU). Fits great and keeps the sun from pounding you at a red light.

 

Long story longer... I wrecked my 2015 a couple months after putting the brand new wheels and tires on it. I kept them since they had no damage and they have been moved from place to place with me or kept in storage for quite some time.... Knowing that I would buy a Jeep again.

Flash forward to now... these things have been sitting in the garage so I knew I had to lift this thing and get these tires out of there. I sweet talked the wife into being ok with me buying a lift. Yesterday, I lifted it and put the tires on. I went with the Rubicon Express 2.5 inch, I had it before and liked it. Plus I think it's the best value out there for a 2.5 inch lift.


Lifted

 

Cleaned up the wheels and tires this morning.

Overall, the lift gave me 4" in the back and 4+ in the front (my tape marker flew off on a test drive) and it leveled it out pretty well.

Still need to add the spare. I thinking I might need some sort of support for the tail gate since those wheels and tires weigh quite more than the stock option.

Here is the before and after.

Before

After

 

One thing I am debating is mounting my spare tire.... I have the 5th tire and wheel and want to mount it. I keep going back and forth on a upgraded hinge/mount and a bumper with a tire carrier. At this point I am thinking since I am adding the weight of a 35 I should just upgrade the hinge and save it from the added weight of a bumper plus a tire.

Trying to decide what my best options are for each.

 

Well, there is another option between hinges and a carrier. Go with no spare at all. Save the money on parts to mount it, and save 85-100lbs of weight you're going to truck around daily. You're never going to need that spare for normal on-road use with those tires, and even if you go wheeling it's a shot in the dark. You could always truck one along for a wheelin trip in the back. Invest in a good plug kit instead. I know that option isn't for a lot of folks, but it is a valid option. Most people just like that classic look of a big tire in back I guess.

**I'm not suggesting no spare at all, just leave it at home in the garage.

 

I agree on the weight issue but like you said I am one who prefers the look of the spare on the back, and the spare has been bought so that money ship has sailed long ago. The weight issue is the reason I have changed my thought of getting an all in one bumper... I honestly love the look of the ACE Pro series bumper with the tire carrier but the bumper and tire together would be nearly 300lbs.

 

If you are fine with the looks/function of the factory rear, then get a quality hinge carrier. They are perfectly fine for a 35. I am not a Teraflex fan in general, but if I were buying one I'd buy theirs and not one of the knock offs that have flooded the market with their design. The MORryde hinges and carrier should be a consideration as well. I've never minded the look of the factory rear bumper at all if something sturdier isn't needed for off road purposes.

Not trying to junk up your thread. Just can't tell if you were asking for comments or just thinking outloud.

 

No worries… I’m always open for suggestions. Thanks for the comments!

 

You say you would have liked a Rubicon. If I buy a JL then it will be a diesel and will be a Sport as it already has the Rubicon size diffs and I will make mine into a Ruby with lockers/gears of my choice and sway bars of my choosing and shocks and suspension etc. I will save the Ruby money. I don't even like leather seats. Cold in winter and sweaty in summer and you slide all over them offroading.