A class at your local CC is a great way to go. Thats what I did, took a welding class for a year, bought my own little 90 amp MIG and off I went!! I would love to get my grubby mits on a plasma cutter, but that must wait for now.
As for the bending, I cheated somewhat with a little trick I learned from Chris from the TTORA board (
www.bajataco.com). Instead of using tubing, I used schedule 40 black steel pipe and a pipe bender I got from harbor freight for about $85. Much cheaper than the $1000 or so for a mandrel and the dies needed, plus material is inexpensive as well. The measurements are harder to figure, but with a little bit of practice it is totally do-able.
As for the added clearance, its hard to figure exactly, but my new bumper is about 2-3 inches higher than the stock bumper and if you add the were the bolt on hitch was that adds another 3 inches or so. Also, the Q panels are very susceptible to damage from the tailpipe getting shoved into it from larger boulders on the decent. I am still trying to figure on how far back I am going to trim the exhaust, just off of the last bend next to the spare, or after the bend over the axel.