It’s only my opinion but with a stock Dana 44 you should go no larger than 37s. 38s are going to be even more stress on your axle and brakes. You’re going to rub a bit with 37s and even more on 38s when you flex. I know there’s tons of guys who run 38s and 40s on their D44 but without trussing...
As an actual guy who has a JLUR with 37s for over a year and had 35s on it before. Yes you should ReGear to 4.88s Your Jeep will be much happier with these gears. Your gas mileage will be better Your engine and tranny will not have to work as hard.
It’s definitely not easy to find the right group when it comes to a club. I was very fortunate to live in San Diego where the most welcoming group resides The San Diego Jeep Club