I have an '03 SE with 176k miles. The past couple of years I have noticed what, as best as can describe, as some "skipping" while taking some small bumps / hits going around the corners. The vehicle just doesn't seem to track that well. Small, square-edged bumps have felt like big bumps when encountered ... pretty harsh hits.
That said, I have just had the mechanic replace the factory shocks all around with a mid-priced Gabrial Ultra. Thinking that after the new shocks were put on that I would experience a "magical" ride, I was pretty disappointed to find the truck's ride had not improved. In fact, it seemed worse. Seems the front end "lifts" a little more upon acceleration from a stop and "dives" when braking.
Three days after installation, I replaced the worn rubber all around with a Michelin MTX tire + alignment. The new tires improved the ride a bit but there's still an underlying issue with the truck taking bumps/hits.
Any help / advice to my prob would be appreciated. Thanks!

Have you ever changed your springs/torsion bars? Also, check the gap between your front bump stops (upper and especially lower) and the spot that the bump stops hit.

Never have replaced the springs/torsion bars. Maybe time to do it?
can you explain the bump stop gaps check? Thanx!

Those are still crappy shocks too...a set of Bils would be much more along the lines of what you were expecting.

I was considering some Bils ... they were + $30 more/each tho.
Wish I would have pulled the trigger on those.

I hear you, but, If I could sell you a stick of wood with eyes for shock mounts, for $30 less than the crappy Gabriels, would you have bought the stick because the Gabs were $30 more?