Ron,
"If you want a soft riding 4x4, get a new one"?
That's kind of a cop out isn't it? I've been able to get leaf sprung cars to ride smoother. One way is with fiberglass springs. Another is with new springs and shocks.
When I look under the truck and see something like 7 or 9 rusty leaf springs with no arch left in them, it's pretty obvious to me why my truck rides so rough. It's also apparent that by buying new springs, rather than a whole new truck, I can get a better ride. How many people do you know will sell their AD truck and buy a new truck rather than just buying new springs?
Sorry, but your response kind of lit me up a little.