About all I can add to this is that you will need a full size spare tire to get through tech inspection (or have cash in hand to bribe the inspector). Your VX is very capable as it sits. I can tell you this however, I lead Moab Easter Jeep Safari Trails when my VX was basically stock other than tires.
Here is a story that happened to me last year (I hope if the guy involved reads this he does not become offended and I am NOT Jeep bashing) but the chances are slim to none he would.
As some of you know my wife Linda is also an Easter Jeep Safari Trail leader. Last year I was “mid gunning” for her on Gold Bar Rim. If you haven’t been on a trail before, “gunners” are officials that help the trail leader and are positioned at the end and middle of the group. Anyway I had two guys in back of me in a CJ7. The driver was not very experienced but his buddy was of course his buddy wasn’t driving and got a kick out of the whole ordeal. As I remember he asked me a few questions about the VX before we started and at stops along the way. The questions turned to comments about the capability of the VX and their surprise on how well it was doing. (I get that a lot) We were almost to the lunch spot where there are several “walls” with bypasses.
EJS trail leaders are asked to take the easiest lines so that we do not set an example that could cause a problem with less skilled drivers or less capable vehicles following our example. But the trail was clearly marked with the “painted gold bar” going directly up the wall instead of the bypass that everyone in front was taking. With a bit of hesitation on my part (because of the example I was about to set) I crawled up the wall without any tire spin. (I did have the front ARB locked)
OK next was the tall geared CJ7 with the inexperience driver who had to take the same line as I did even with my caution relayed over the radio and letting him know that I thought he should take the easy way up. As human nature goes that was the wrong thing to say. On his second attempt, the rear drive shaft on the CJ7 was over taxed to the point of utter destruction.
Now for the ‘mid gunner” to get to earn his pay (we really don’t get paid as we are volunteers but you know what I mean). Out came my tow strap and the CJ7 was towed back off the trail by the VX. OK yea it was worth it. We as trail leaders get warned every year about the joy some of us get at others expense when they break following our example but just once in a while…
As I said before, you own a very capable vehicle just the way it sits but sign up for the easier trails to get your feet wet. It is not all about the challenge. If you have never been to Canyon Country you will have enough to do just looking at the views.
