- What kind of jeep are you running? Rubicon? Sport?
- What size tires do you run now or want to run?
- What wheeling will you do? You mentioned easy trails..........but as you get out more you might find easy trails less enjoyable and want something a little more... stimulating
- Why 3 inches?
- Will you do the lift yourself? or will you have someone install?...............changes the pricing as I am assuming the pricing that you have is for parts only
- If you aren't changing wheels what is is your current wheel tire configuration? A lift will change tire position relative to things like suspension parts, brakes and fenders so your existing Tire Rims may rub
- Why a suspension lift at all? If you are not going to do anything but easy trails you would likely be better suited to get a good aftermarket bumper and a winch for those in case spots, a suspension lift might be overkill for what you want it for
Some of your questions depend on the answers above
My experience is probably largely different than yours............I want my rig to withstand a reasonable amount of wheeling.......you mentioned 2-3 times a year, I have already been out 5 times in 2011.....and broken stuff 2 out of 5 times so what you will need vs what I or others do may or may not be relevant.
Get to know as much as you can about your rig, having some knowledge of what it will and won't do with you at the wheel is largely different that what mine will do with me at the wheel. Go out on a couple of open runs with a group such as this (assuming your rig meets the minimum trail requirements set by the leader) and see what others have and how their rigs handle different things..........ask questions funnily enough Jeepers seem to like talking about their rigs
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You are only limited by what you can do to your rig by money and time............but I would spend both wisely on what you want/need not what others think you need.