Thanks for being here and ? about shocks

I am so relieved this forum is here, first of all! Thanks so much for taking the time to help people understand their vehicles!!
I love my Rodeo, even though it's been the most high maintenance of all those I have driven, it has rewarded me with much safety and fun.

I had the shocks repaired about a year ago and ever since, it is like driving on square tires when on gravel or if I hit a bump/pot hole.

The mechanics I see now are trusted and they say this is just because the shocks are too good. It's never been a really smooth ride, but this is really irritating, as I live on gravel and must drive it daily to come and go (over a mile of gravel). The tires on the truck are heavy duty compared to typical tires...would this be a factor at all?

Also, I just re-read the faq about the transmission clunking and intend to try the slip yoke grease first (thank you for that awesome faq resource!)...the slipping has gotten considerably worse of late and there is a new element. when i reach the end of our gravel road there is a stop sign and slight incline to meet the paved road...the clunk is really loud here and the tires sort of grip, as if the brakes are locking up in this rapid shudder (for lack of a better word)...it loses power here and i just have to ease slowly onto the road, thankfully, there is little traffic here, so i have that option, but i sure could not pull out in front of fast moving traffic safely these days. also, on the highway, when accelerating to pass, power is diminished, to the point, i have thought it might die...so, i just don't do it, unless i can ease into the pass and not punch the gas.
the fuel filter has been replaced about 5ish months ago, and it was quite dirty...should i replace it again? or are there other issues i might want to investigate.

I'm about to buy another vehicle, but want to keep this one possibly...after replacing the engine once and rebuilding it after a thrown rod, i feel I can never re-coup my investment ;) after visiting here again, it seems plausible that this truck might serve me for many more miles if I treat her right :)
thanks again!
Jan.

It IS a truck, not a Cadillac. It's not supposed to be mushy.

I'm on my second set of Monroe Sensatracts. I had one shock start leaking at about 50k on them and I recently swapped them all out ...