Ken, with regard to your question about lifts, I am not sure if this will help, but I think I had a similar question about mine. You might want to check out http://www.quadratec.com/jeep_knowledgebase/.

I am really interested in the airing down issue because my tires are only 30x9.5. I am looking at air compressors because I think one would be a good idea and I was advised to get one in another post, although I hope the law of diminishing returns would not apply here.

I bought a little Slime 12V compressor and it works great. It takes a little time to air tires up, but it was only $15.

You guys are killing me with the chat. If your still running 30"'s or 31"'s, your not looking for the gnarly trails were deflation and added traction and major clearance are a concern. Although without the bigger tires, it might be a traverse expedition to proclaim a victory. When it is time for you to get board of those trips to the scenic trails and get serious about crawling or expedition on different terrain, then I would think bigger tires and on board air.
It all boils down to different strokes for different folks.
If the time comes, then go with it.
I personally would not run the combo listed prior, it seems unstable. I think an ORV needs to be on at least a 8" or better. And the stock 30"'s look good, but I like at least a 33". A clearance issue! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Airing down not only give you better trax.......but it softens some of that teeth jarrin too! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Brownie, you've got an air compressor! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

When I first started wheeling, I went through several small inexpensive air compressors. Yes, and I can remember the long time it took to refill the tires for the highway. As the tires got bigger on the Jeep, over time, I had to stop and cool down the small compressor between filling a tire and the next. Some of my pals started installing OBA systems under their hoods; suddenly, instead of 10 or 15 minutes to fill each of the 35s, it was taking seconds! I found I was becoming a nuisance begging to fill my tires from their compressors. The york compressors under their hoods were gerry-rigged (these were the early days before Kirby's kits) and required constant maintenance. I found an electric York compressor OBA system and installed it; it takes about 50 seconds to fill my 37s from 14 lb. to 32 lb. Major investment for me, but worth every penny!

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Hey, Steve. Is your head swelling, or what? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Hey, I can appreciate your enthusiasm. But, it's like what you said above, basically, four wheeling is different for many different folks.
I agre with you about the 10.50s on a 7" rim; I wouldn't do it either. But, the point is to help some four wheelers avoid a punnishing jarring Jeep ride when off road, whether it's on 31s or 35s. Or, possibly understand that airing down the tires will provide greater traction. In regards to ground clearance, four wheeling offroad requires acquiring some techniques and knowledge. An experienced four wheeler can finesse his/her Jeep over most trail obstacles, nullifying ground clearance issues that stop most new-to-the-sport four wheelers. I personally like having the advantages I've built into my 94 YJ; these days, it's almost like "point and shoot" on many trails. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I thought I was staying pretty neutral on the topic. Not to disagree with the airing down topic and staying with the (know your trucks limit thing). I too have built some advantages but that comes to getting off the norm and getting into some more extreme things.
All I was saying in the above was that you or anyone else, with or without exp. is not going to go and buy a stock TJ or JK off the lot. Then take it to, lets say Ruby trail and run it. There is no way the stocker is going to go there. With or without airing down. That's why I said when it's time to go bigger, that is up to the person at hand and what they want their truck to do.
A lot of the guys here trailer their Jeeps to the trail, I choose to have a not so extreme choice. I like to drive mine on the street as well as trails. so I chose a not so extreme Jeep build that is reliable and street legal. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I would like to wade into the air pressure / clearance topic. Simply put the small decrease in clearance is more than offset by the increase in traction. And like the others have said the other benefit is a smoother ride. We have a rock trail that we run here summer and winter - as long as the snow doesn't get over 2 feet deep. The entrance is beside an old granite quarry. With snow approaching 2 feet in the deeper spots I could get about 15 feet up before spinning to a stop. Thats with 25psi in the 35 bfg mt's. Airing down to 10 psi the Jeep made it all the up the hill and pretty much over the trail the whole day, although a winch is still needed in a couple of places due to steepness and slippery icy spots. We did have a young fellow in a basically stock YJ with 31,s who was also able to follow us aired down, he did need a pull every so often though, you should have seen his face on one pull, we had just crossed below a drifted in beaver dam and even with 3 of us breaking trail he did not have the clearance so I hooked a strap to him and since there was a fairly flat stretch after the dam I gave him a ride at about 25 mph hooked up to the strap. He was laughing so hard when we stopped he could hardly stand. As far as rim size I have used my 35's on both 8 and 10 inch rims and they both work.

Hey Fred, where did you get your electric york at? I have been wanting to get one of the under hood engine driven ones, but from what you said it sounds like they are pretty troublesome. I don't have an AC system in my Jeep and that's where I would put the udner hood york.
I got my little compressor in case of a flat, to compliment my tire plug kit. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

By the way, most of the trails we run, even though no extreme in any measure...They are narrow..between lots of trees, and have been rutted out by 35+ inch tires. There are spots where we can just barely creep by on the edge of the ruts, and sometimes you can't avoid falling into them. So in those cases airing down would not be all that practical. And for now I'm too young to worry about a jarring ride. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Brownie, okay ... to each his own. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Check out Oasis Trailhead Compressors for the electric york, also Kilbyenterprises.com for complete OBA systems. I also am a fan of compressed air/CO2 tanks. I think in hindsight, I would have gone this route had I been aware of it: check out www.offroadair.net <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />