Basics to build good off roading vehicle?

Alright, I'm all about off roading, muddin, anything to do with getting dirty. I have been tagging along with friends, and have decided to build my own. I prefer Chevy trucks and Jeep's. I really don't know the first thing I would need to do. I'm just asking for basics here  

Basics are pick a 4x4 you like. Look at avaible componets lifts, ect. Pick what you plan on doing the most "mudding, rock crawling, trail riding". Figure out if you can use as toy only or need as daily driver to. Then pick lift size or no lift which is affected by tire size which affects gears and so on and so on. First truck keep it simple. I would not go higher than a 6" lift no bigger than 36" tires and would look for a cheap, used, well maintain vechical that only needs a lift and tires. Then use it and you will be able to figure out what you what to change and modify. Pick a truck that you will most like keep and be able to modify.