Squirrely ride and small block + AAL question

Uhh EDIT 9/27/13: yeah, so clearly a TL;DR post, but all I did was move some crap around in the bed of the truck and it's 100% fixed. Sleeping platform + mattress on top was kinda bouncy and carrying ~100 lbs on top of mattress between a tire I need to get mounted, tool boxes, and random crapola. Moved tire as close to the cab as possible and relocated some other items. Glad I got off my lazy ass and did that before letting myself be at the mercy of a mechanic.

• 5100's all corners, regular travel ones in rear, 2.5" setting up front
• Stock springs in the front
• Wheeler's 3 leaf progressive 1.5" leaf pack in back with overload left in
• ~8,000 miles on this setup
• 265/75/16

So, everything was good from when I installed them about 8 months ago until maybe a month ago. The ride quality really wasn't bad up front and the rear shocks helped a lot when i added them (new) maybe 2 months ago. Could have driven it like that forever.


Now, it's like my control has been reduced 50% on the highway. If I let go of the wheel on a perfect section of highway, I actually go straight. If I let go on anything less than perfect, and especially with little bumps, the steering wheel jerks left and right. Even with both hands on the wheel bracing for the bumps on my morning commute, I'm thrown closer to the shoulder or the neighboring lane. I got the truck aligned after things had settled a week after install and it came out in spec - caster not as high as everyone recommends but my rubbing was cured by removing the mini mudflap in front of the front tires


What changed: new wheels that stuck out an inch or so further. It seemed a little less stable but my tires were also overinflated. One got sidewall damage a few days later so I replaced all four with load range E heavy bastards, same 265/75/16 size. It got much worse after that, but I also had two instances of hitting a rock off road that stopped the truck dead in its tracks on the old ones, probably contributing to the sidewall tear.


I know load range E tires make you feel the bumps, but the bumps throw the truck around. I'm at 36PSI, even wear, tires should be out of their initial break-in where they can track a little strange. Also windy days make me swerve worse than I can recall. Here's what I'm thinking, any opinions would be greatly appreciated...

1. Maybe the alignment got thrown off or some part got screwed up during those two cases of hitting a rock at ~5mph that stopped the truck
2. The wheels 4.5 offset (8.5" wide wheel) have affected the alignment
3. Load range E tires are said to be bumpier, and bumpier means less control?

Just trying to get informed before I go to an alignment shop that tries to take me for a ride. The bumps I hit were startling, my first time ever being stopped by something I hit, but the trails were fairly mild all things considered, I'm sure people roll over them fine if they have more momentum.


Lastly, I was always level or minor bro lean at worst with this setup, probably due to my camper shell. Now, I carry an extra ~150 lbs back there with sleeping platform and tools, so it's slight bro lean at best. I'd prefer not replace a leaf pack with 8k for a 2". Rake doesn't bother me, rake is better than any kind of bro lean, but I don't want to max out the travel of the rears. Many people say 1" blocks aren't that big of a deal, but how about a 1" block when you already have a leaf pack? Would prefer not go lower in the front, plate bumper up front would probably get me back to level but that's an expensive solution with a long wait list


Anyone who read all of this is a saint, thank you