To root you can use the app framaroot. Custom recovery is a little more involved as it is tied to the kernel. You have to flash a kernel with custom recovery that is compatible with your ROM, and this is available for both the stock ICS or JB. To flash a kernel without a pc, you can use the Mobile Odin Pro app after you root (available from the play store).

I do recommend doing this by PC in case you do something wrong. With a PC you can put the phone in download mode and re-flash the stock ROM.

 

Cool, just m,ake sure you follow the OP's directrions for the ROM you wish to try out. Remember if you are on Stock Jelly Bean (GC01), and want to use an AOSP ROM like CyanogenMod you will need to have an ICS modem (baseband), flashed in CWM recovery. Mobile Odin won't do modems's on your device.

 

There are several. This phone is the same as the Epic 4g Touch, and so can use any ROM for that device, including CM10 and CM11 (Kit Kat)

I happen to like the Touch Wiz Jelly Bean ROMs, and am fond of Project X.