Welcome to APUG Matt.
In regards to your first question (about cameras brand), the great thing about LF is that it doesn't matter nearly as much as it does with 35mm and medium format. With LF the lenses are not camera-specific, so you don't get nearly as many "holy wars" about camera brands. Having said this, I will offer you a few thoughts but I also need to ask this question: Does the $1000 cover only the camera, or do you need it to cover the camera, lenses, light meter, film holders, dark cloth, etc.? The answer to that might change some of the recommendations below.
As to specific cameras: Two that are excellent choices (all of this is just my opinion so take it for what it's worth) are the Tachihara and Shen-Hao 4x5 field cameras. The price is almost equal for both (around $600 new), but they embody two different philosophies in camera design. The Shen-Hao has every movement you could want, it has replaceable bellows, and it has an international back so you can use it with all of the things that require such a back (many roll film holders, for example). The Tachihara has all of the movements you'll need for landscape and portrait work, leaves out some movements that are useful for table-top photography, has a simple spring back, and is significantly lighter than the Shen-Hao.
Both are fine cameras, and the limitations aren't as hard-and-fast as they first seem (for example, you can get a roll film holder that will slip under a spring back but it will cost you more than an international back roll film holder, and when you consider the weight of your full pack the difference in the weight of the cameras doesn't seem nearly as big)...the real isues are whether or not you'll use the camera for more than just the landscape and portrait photography you've mentioned, and whether the flexibility in the camera will be important to you. If you want one camera that will allow the ultimate in flexibility and are willing to carry an extra three pounds, then the Shen-Hao is hard to beat. If weight matters and you don't care about anything other than landscape and portrait work, then the Tachihara will do everything you need.
Personally I chose the Shen-Hao because I wanted the international back and the ability to use bag bellows with very short lenses, and I've been very happy with my decision. I've put the camera through a lot over the last 2+ years, and it stil feels and operates like new. I have no doubt that the Tachihara would hold up just as well...but the Shen-Hao met my needs better.
I would strongly recommend a field camera rather than a monorail due to the ease of carrying the camera into the field and setting it up. You can use a monorail in the field, but it's not nearly as convenient as using a camera designed for ease of transportation and setup.
On to your questions about lenses: The first thing I'd recommend is that you consider what you vision is like in 35mm and then multiply your three favority focal lengths by 3 to find out approximately what lenses will give you the same vision in 4x5. Are you more of a wide-angle shooter or a telephoto shooter? You can get a good idea of what focal lengths you would be most comforable with by thinking about your photographic vision this way.
Having said this, my favorite combination of lenses are a 90mm, a 150mm, and a 250mm. Basically wide, normal, and long. Many people would recommend a 210mm rather than the 250mm lens for the long end of a set like this...and they're probably right for them. But for portraiture I appreciate the longer reach of a 250mm lens. In addition to those, my next two would be a 210mm and a 300mm.
As to specific lenses...it's hard to go wrong with any recently made LF lens. If you're shooting color you'll probably want newer lenses for the excellent multicoatings that are available. If, on the other hand, you're doing B&W work, then older lenses can give your wonderful results and some have a vey special character to their images that makes them attractive. Soft focus lenses for portraiture, for example.
There's lots of good information on the web abiut lenses, but in my pack I'm happy with the Schneider Super Angulon 90mm f/8, a Nikkor 150mm, and a 250mm Fujinon. These lenses ended up in my collection for various reasons, but each is a good lens. For the 90mm I didn't need the extreme movements that the f/4.5 and f/5.6 lenses allow, and the f/8 lens is easier to carry. For the 150mm and 250mm lenses, any lens that's been made in the last 20 years will be more than good enough. In fact, any lens that's been made in the last 50 years will probably be fine. I have my lenses because the right deals came along at the right times, not due to anything that makes these lenses whole bunches better than other lenses.
One thing to keep in mind is the size of your lenses. (Kerry Thalmann has a wonderful article on his web site about lightweight lenses.) For me, I'd not planned to stray too far from the car, so I didn't worry about the size of the lenses. Only you now if heavier glass will be a problem for you. If it is, then keep the size of the lenses in mind when you're building your kit. If not, then heavier lenses tend to be less expensive than lighter lenses.
You have so many options in LF that it's hard not to freeze up and never actually make a decision. I highly recomend that you figure out what focal lengths you want and then move forward from there to figure out what lenses you want. The 90/150/250 combination makes sense for me, but it's not for everyone.
Best of luck as you build your kit. There are plenty of good deals for LF lenses out there once you've figured out what you want to do...and any modern lens will be very nice.
Be well.
Dave
